Screenshot from the town hall, "Inside the Issues: Education Solutions for Arizona".
Submitted photo/Arizona Media Association
Inside the Issues: Education Solutions for Arizona
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The Issue:
Arizona faces pressing questions about how to strengthen its education system from early learning to higher education. Families, educators and policymakers are seeking common ground on solutions that will prepare students for the state’s rapidly changing future.
The Stats:
Arizona ranks near the bottom nationally in per-pupil spending and continues to wrestle with teacher shortages, literacy gaps and funding challenges. At the same time, enrollment in post-secondary programs is declining, and more than 70% of jobs in Arizona will soon require some form of education beyond high school.
The Solution:
The Arizona Media Association and Arizona Local News Foundation are convening a first-of-its-kind statewide town hall to bring together leading voices from across the education spectrum. By amplifying local media and coordinated storytelling, the initiative aims to foster community-wide dialogue and actionable strategies for progress.
A first-of-its-kind town hall focused on education solutions debuted late last month with education advocates and officials aiming to improving learning in the state.
"Inside the Issues: Education Solutions for Arizona" was a statewide town hall featuring leading voices on early childhood, K-12 and post-secondary education. Moderated by Arizona journalists, the discussion tackled access, affordability, quality and the future of education in a rapidly changing state without partisan politics.
Presented in partnership with the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, the Arizona Media Association, the Arizona Local News Foundation and Riester, this event is part of a collaborative effort to spark meaningful conversations on one of Arizona’s most critical issues.
The town hall aired the week of Sept. 21 across local TV, radio, digital and social media platforms.
Veteran Arizona journalists Steve Goldstein and Olivia Fierro moderated the event.
Organizers intentionally structured the panels to reflect Arizona’s geographic, cultural and institutional diversity. Topics span early childhood, K-12, post-secondary pathways and the future of education in a changing state.
Each segment features a candid discussion between a variety of experts.
Building blocks of education: early childhood
“Research shows better education is a top priority for Arizona," said Goldstein. "Tonight you’re about to hear what’s working, what data shows needs improvement, and where we can go from here in a neutral, solutions-focused conversation.”
The K-12 Education panel included a lively discussion of how residents can improve Arizona's public education system and kicked off with an important question from Goldstein:
“K–12 education is the cornerstone of our system. But our schools face challenges — teacher shortages, funding pressures, equity gaps. How do we ensure every child in Arizona has the opportunity to thrive?”
The third segment focused on the ways to improve post-secondary education and workforce preparedness.
“Post-secondary education — university, community college, or technical training — is increasingly part of the conversation about career success," said Fierro. "Today, fewer than half of Arizona high school graduates enroll in any post-secondary education and even fewer complete their degrees or credentials. Let’s talk with our panel about access and solutions.”
Panelists for post-secondary education and workforce preparedness were:
The closing discussion shifted from individual segments to the bigger picture: how Arizona can adapt its education system to demographic, economic and cultural shifts while keeping politics out of the conversation.
“We’ve looked at the full picture tonight — from early childhood to K–12 to higher education," said Goldstein. "The solutions are not easy, but they are within reach if we work together.”
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that solving Arizona’s education challenges requires more than policy debates at the Capitol. It requires broad, community-level conversations that draw on trusted local voices and highlight innovative solutions already emerging across the state.
With Arizona facing demographic shifts, evolving workforce needs and persistent inequities, this statewide collaboration is designed to generate both awareness and action.
Organizers hope the town hall will spark a cycle of informed dialogue that strengthens education outcomes for students of all ages.
Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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