MEDIA CONTACT:
Lindsay Hansen
C: 480.205.6195
lindsay@ldhconsulting.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PHOENIX – Governor Katie Hobbs announced a $20 million dollar increase in funding to support dual enrollment throughout the state of Arizona, an important investment in Arizona’s students and future workforce. Businesses continue to struggle finding talent and ensuring our students are highly educated is critical to ensure Arizona’s long-term economic success.
“We applaud the Governor’s commitment to education,” said Todd Sanders, President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber. “In her first State of the State, she addressed the need to increase funding for dual enrollment opportunities, which means more students will have an opportunity to earn college credits while they are still in high school. We share the same goal through the Foundation’s ElevateEdAZ program.”
ElevateEdAZ prepares individuals for college and career through stronger alignment between education, business, and the community. The program aims to improve students’ college and career readiness, focusing on high-wage, high-demand pathways, like health sciences and business management. Increasing attainment of early college credit, such as dual enrollment, is a key metric. According to a recent Helios study, students who take dual enrollment classes are 2.1 times more likely to attend college, which can have a significant impact on the state’s workforce.
“We encourage high school students to take as many dual enrollment courses as they can to work towards a postsecondary or industry credential before college,” said Stacy Derstine, Vice President, External Affairs, Arizona Public Service and chairman of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation. “It gives them an early start on college education while saving time and money. We also know students who participate in dual enrollment are significantly more likely to attend and complete a post-secondary education.”
This fall, ElevateEdAZ, Maricopa Community Colleges, Phoenix Union High School District (PXU), and Mesa Public Schools (MPS) collaborated to increase dual enrollment credit attainment. As a result of this partnership, facilitated by Shan Strategies, PXU and MPS experienced a 40% increase in enrollment. A student survey conducted through this collaboration identified cost as a key barrier to enrollment, a problem that will be resolved with this investment.
“Businesses understand the importance of early postsecondary education, which is why the Arizona business community has been working alongside ElevateEdAZ to increase access to dual enrollment. This funding will help more students across Arizona meet education requirements and prepare our future workforce,” said Jaime A. Molera, Partner with Molera Alvarez.
The new funding will allow schools and programs like ElevateEdAZ to expand dual enrollment opportunities for students across Arizona and help them attain early-college credit and industry-recognized credentials, preparing them for future college and career opportunities.
Interesting Numbers:
- In less than five years, nearly 70% of jobs in Arizona will require an education beyond high school. However, only 42% of adults currently meet that education requirement. In response, the state announced an ambitious goal: 60% of adults, ages 25-64 will hold a professional certificate or college degree by 2030.
- Students who take dual enrollment are 2.1 times more likely to attend college and 1.2 times more likely to persist in college.
To learn more or partner with ElevateEdAZ, contact: Brittany Holmes at bholmes@phoenixchamber.com.
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About ElevateEdAZ
Launched in 2020, ElevateEdAZ prepares individuals for college and career through stronger alignment between education, business, and the community. ElevateEdAZ is a strategic education initiative of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation.
About the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation
The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation (the Foundation) convenes and catalyzes business, education, and community to enhance college and career readiness, develop a stronger workforce, and build healthier communities throughout Arizona.
The Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, leads the charitable and education initiatives of the Greater Phoenix Chamber under the four pillars of education, workforce development, wellness, and research. Through strong alignment between education, business, and community, the Foundation prepares individuals for college and career and serves as an intermediary to convey workforce needs and champion scalable workforce solutions. In addition, the Foundation makes Arizona and the Greater Phoenix region known as destinations for healthy talent and healthy communities through workplace wellness efforts and publishes data-driven research to inform policymakers, business leaders, and the general public.
About the Greater Phoenix Chamber
Representing 2,400 businesses across the Greater Phoenix region, the Greater Phoenix Chamber promotes regional prosperity by serving as a catalyst for economic vitality and strong communities. The Chamber pursues this mission by collaborating with business, political and community leaders to grow the regional talent pool, create a regional approach to economic development, and drive a pro-Arizona agenda.
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