Arizona education groups merge to close gap between classrooms and careers

PHOENIX — Two of Arizona’s leading education advocacy organizations announced plans to combine forces, with Education Forward Arizona set to absorb the Arizona Business & Education Coalition’s programs and assets, a transfer expected to close by the end of June.

For 24 years, ABEC has served as a neutral convener bringing superintendents, employers and policymakers to the table around a shared goal: making sure Arizona students are prepared for the state’s economy. Education Forward Arizona, which already advocates for the state’s Achieve60AZ postsecondary attainment goal, says it will carry that work forward and expand it.

The announcement comes as Arizona’s semiconductor and healthcare industries are growing rapidly, intensifying pressure on schools to produce a pipeline of qualified workers from within the state rather than recruiting from out of state.

“We have all these great opportunities in Arizona and so many more coming to the state, but right now it does feel like sometimes our students are being left behind in the preparation and career-connected learning that it really takes to get those jobs,” said Rich Nickel, CEO of Education Forward Arizona. 

One of the clearest priorities to emerge from the transition is a push to begin career awareness in middle school, a significant departure from the norm. Currently, most career exploration in Arizona schools begins in 11th or 12th grade, which Nickel said is often too late for students to build the academic foundation they need for their chosen field.

Education Forward Arizona plans to champion career awareness starting as early as sixth grade, helping students connect their interests and passions to specific fields and understand what preparation those paths require, whether that means a registered nursing program, a trade certification or a four-year degree.

“We need to start thinking about what career or what passion we might be preparing for. And so we want to be a really big part of that.” said Nickel. 

Beyond the classroom, leaders say consolidating the two organizations will amplify advocacy efforts at the state legislature, where education funding and workforce policy decisions are made. Rather than two separate groups making similar cases, a unified organization is expected to carry more weight with policymakers.

“By joining these forces, it will create that more robust voice, more powerful voice, and one that should be listened to.” Nickel said. 

The transfer is designed to preserve ABEC’s existing relationships with school district leaders and business partners. All current ABEC programs are expected to continue under Education Forward Arizona. Tracey Benson, ABEC’s president and CEO, will serve as an advisor through the transition.

This story is made possible through grant funding from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund. 

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