by Glenn Hamer and Lisa Graham Keegan
The Arizona State Board of Education yesterday took another step forward in raising the bar for student achievement. By approving revised standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and math, the Board continues to fuel Arizona’s momentum in education gains. Our special thanks go to Superintendent Diane Douglas and Board Chairman Reg Ballantyne for their leadership and commitment to helping Arizona students gain the meaningful skills they need for life after high school.
It’s especially notable that the standards approved today were suggested, reviewed, and approved by more than 200 Arizona teachers following months of public comment from their peers as well as parents. Making sure Arizona’s standards are rigorous while preserving local decision making on curriculum was a priority for Governor Ducey and our state’s educational leadership. Teacher leaders from across our communities have fulfilled this call.
The national story about Arizona education is one of remarkable progress. Compared to their national peers, Arizona students are at or near the top in learning gains in math, science, and reading according to recent NAEP results. We’re grateful to the Board of Education for advancing that progress with required regular review and improvements to the standards that are guideposts for students on a bright path for the future.
To read more about the revised K-12 standards, click here.
Glenn Hamer is the president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Lisa Graham Keegan is the executive director of A for Arizona.
