Statement from Dr. Sybil Francis, CFA President & CEO, on Governor Ducey's FY2022 Budget Proposal

The Center for the Future of Arizona is excited that Governor Ducey’s FY2022 budget includes $1 million to support the Arizona Personalized Learning Network, as part of the larger $4 million for education innovation. The future of education needs to be learner-centered, redesigned around the individual needs of students to help them reach their full potential – and to thrive in college, career, and life. These funds will support Arizona’s schools to make the shift to learner-centered education, including quality professional development for educators to effectively implement personalized learning.

Led by CFA, The Arizona Personalized Learning Network provides support and training to school districts and charter networks committed to personalizing learning for their students. Based in research, personalized learning meets individual students where they are, ensures mastery of academic content and social and emotional skills, and fosters student ownership in learning. From a systems perspective, personalized learning has the potential to close achievement and opportunity gaps, increase educational attainment, and prepare a highly skilled workforce ready to innovate for our future. Equity is central.

Redesigning school systems around learner-centered education is a big shift. Schools need support to do this work well. Governor Ducey’s FY2022 budget will support further expansion of the Arizona Personalized Learning Network, making it possible for more Arizona schools and individual educators to meet the needs of every child through personalized learning.

Reaching more than 85,000 students, the Arizona Personalized Learning Network partners currently include Mesa Public Schools, Amphitheater Public Schools, Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District, Yuma Union High School District, KnowledgeWorks, and Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.

The Arizona Personalized Learning Network builds on CFA’s decade of work with policymakers, public schools, and communities to expand learner-centered education in order to create more excellent and equitable outcomes for all Arizona students.

CFA looks forward to deepening and expanding this critical work across Arizona to support the success of every child and create a stronger and brighter future for our state.

Sybil Francis, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Center for the Future of Arizona