Center for the Future of Arizona | Pathways Project

Pathways to PostSecondary



	Susan Carlson

Viewpoints
Arizona Republic
September 14, 2008

School innovation holds key to a smooth process

By Susan Carlson, Executive Director
Arizona Business & Education Coalition

Assuring a smooth transition from high school to postsecondary education will require innovation of both the K-12 and postsecondary education systems. The education pathway should be a seamless pipeline from entry to pre-school through college and graduate school.

Currently, separate and competitive K-12 and postsecondary funding systems create disincentives and put up barriers to a seamless pathway. In the interest of our students’ future, we must collaborate to improve the alignment of these systems.

The Arizona Business & Education Coalition has begun to study the K-12 funding model. The governor’s P-20 Council is contemplating the study of postsecondary funding. We must consider the kinds of skills students will need to be competitive and the level of education this will require. How we modify our current funding models to these new realities will be an important focus of ABEC’s review.

We are hopeful that whatever public education model evolves for Arizona’s future, the funding mechanism will be adequate to ensure that all children receive a 21st century education and depart the system with 21st century skills. We look forward to working with the Center for the Future of Arizona and others on these issues.

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