Student outcomes are shaped by the choices governors make. Let’s make sure Arizona’s next governor chooses to set clear goals, back evidence-based strategies, and turn strong policies into real classroom support that helps students do better.
- Arizona ranks 46th in the nation in Grade 4 Reading.
- Arizona ranks 45th in the nation in Grade 4 Math.
- The state’s overall gap is largely explained by how it serves English Learners, who score 24 points below the national ELL average.
- Arizona is tied with Oregon for last in 4th grade reading among English Learners, scoring 24 points below the national English Learner average and far behind peer border states including New Mexico (12 points ahead of Arizona) and Texas (33 points ahead of Arizona).
A Governor’s Roadmap for Improving Student Outcomes
1. Set clear, measurable goals for student outcomes in Arizona and hold school systems and leaders accountable for them.
Clear goals give state leaders a standard to work toward and a way to measure whether students are actually making progress.
2. Pass and implement evidence-based policies
High-dosage tutoring, the science of reading, and high-quality instructional materials can improve learning when they are implemented well and reach students across the state.
3. Commit to public reporting and transparency
Parents deserve to know how schools are performing. Taxpayers deserve to know dollars are being used well. Voters deserve to know whether progress is happening.
4. Prioritize strong leadership in the state education agency
Governors can recruit strong leaders, align them to clear goals, give them the authority to deliver, and hold them accountable for results.
