Gov. Jan Brewer announced new plans to improve Arizona’s education system in a press conference Thursday at the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix.
The governor unveiled a new initiative that will help the state achieve goals set in her education reform plan released in January.
The “Arizona Ready” initiative aims to increase high school graduation rates, increase the number of third grade reading standards, improve low performing schools and increase the number of eighth graders achieving at or above national assessment standards.
Key strategies of the plan were developed in partnership with educators across the state, Brewer said.
“Improving education is why I entered politics in the first place,” Brewer said. “That’s why we created Arizona Ready.”
The governor also said the children who entered kindergarten this year would be the first group to be tested on more rigorous standards when they enter third grade.
“In the 2013-14 school year, third graders with AIMS reading scores that fall far below the third grade level will not be promoted,” Brewer said.
Then, in the 2014-15 school year, new assessments for students in grades three to 11 will be introduced, she said.
“Third to 11th graders will take their first diagnostic tests in the fall (of 2014) to determine what skills they must master to be on track for college and career readiness,” Brewer said.
Along with the Arizona Ready initiative, the governor said she was excited to launch a website in correlation with the plan — arizonaready.com.
“This website provides tools like a timeline of important changes that parents need to know, daily messages about how to help your child succeed, and the opportunity to connect with other parents and teachers to learn from their experiences,” Brewer said.
Additionally, the Arizona Science Center, in partnership with the governor’s office, will be offering one free child general admission for every adult general admission purchased and will provide all credentialed educators with a free educator membership to the center, in order to develop their skills and extend their training, Brewer said.
At Thursday’s press conference, strong emphasis was put on improving students’ skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also referred to as STEM.
“STEM education is an education that truly enables you to do different things in your career … I think the importance of what we are doing today is going to prepare Arizonans for the future,” said Bill Harris, president and CEO of Science Foundation Arizona. “Really, what we’re doing is going back to the old days of the Sputnik era; this was done by a high bar and a high expectation for performance. That’s the foundation for Arizona Ready. That’s the foundation for our future.”
To boost Arizona students’ STEM skills improvement, the governor announced the state’s participation in a national high school competition, The Real World Design Challenge.
According to its website, The Real World Design Challenge is an annual competition that provides high school students the opportunity to work on real-world engineering challenges in a team environment.
“By participating in this initiative, teachers and students will have access to millions of dollars in state-of-the-art engineering software, training in the use of this software, and access to professional focusing on the 21st century focusing on STEM skills,” Brewer said.
Rebecca Gau, director of the Governor’s Office of Education Innovation, called Arizona’s participation in the competition “a wonderful opportunity that will bring fun and opportunity to STEM education.”
Shadow Ridge High School senior and architecture program student Darien Harp was invited along with his peers to participate in the competition.
“I think we have a fair chance,” he said.
Harp said he hopes to pursue an architecture career one day and he believes the Real World Design Challenge will help him reach his goals.
Opponents to Brewer’s initiative include state Rep. Anna Tovar, D-Tolleson, the House minority whip.
In a statement released Thursday, Tovar said the governor continues to “build on empty promises” when it comes to funding education.
She pointed to Proposition 100, a temporary state sales tax increase passed by voters in May 2010.
“She created a perception that she would use the sales tax hike for education but this year turned around and made another massive cut to education — $273 million to universities and $180 million to K-12,” Tovar said. “She then handed that money over to bail out, through tax cuts, big corporations and rich CEOs, not middle-class families.”
In the statement, Tovar questioned the governor’s actual support for education.
“Gimmicks and websites don't make up for cuts that increase class sizes, eliminate access to books and technology and limit access to full-day kindergarten,” she said.
Reach the reporter at kmmandev@asu.edu
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