The Governor and her P-20 Council have been the impetus for planning and implementing significant policy changes in the state’s education system and continue this work today.  A number of accomplishments, to date, are listed below:

• Recommended that the Arizona State Board of Education (SBE) increase high school graduation requirements from two years of mathematics to four, and two years of science to three. The recommendation included increasing the level of mathematics rigor to a level better aligned with college and work readiness.  In response, the SBE not only increased the required number of mathematics credits, but also the level of mathematics rigor.  Previously, Arizona high school students were required to reach the level of Geometry; under the new requirements, all Arizona high school students will be required to reach the level of Algebra II.  The P-20 Council worked with the SBE to bring this recommendation into policy.
  
  
• Provided specific recommendations for the increased rigor of the Mathematics Standard, which included developing language for 11th-12th grades and a bridge to college level work.  This language was entirely new. The P-20 Council is working now to bring recommendations to align Arizona’s English Language Arts Standard.
  
  
• Working to implement the Algebra II End of Course assessment by May 2008.  The first operational administration of this exam will occur in many of the 15 partner states in May.
  
  
• Commissioned the report, “From Education to Work: Is Arizona Prepared? The Alignment Project Report,” in 2006 which provided the baseline data for many of the P-20 Council’s recommendations.
  
  
• Facilitated discussions and meetings with and between the Arizona Board of Regents and the State Board of Education to address the issues of alignment of K-12 curriculum, assessments, and graduation requirements that will prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce.
  
• Engaged education policy boards in the work of the P-20 Council.  Representatives from First Things First (Arizona’s early childhood board), the State Board of Education (K-12) and the Arizona Board of Regents (public higher education) are part of the P-20 Council.  Each group provides an update at each P-20 Council meeting.

• Completed the report, “Strengthening Teacher Quality and Support: Next Steps for Arizona,” and integrated the recommendations into the work of the P-20 Council (2007).
  
  
• As a result of the abovementioned report’s recommendations, Governor Napolitano included teacher pay raises – $100 million and $46 million, respectively – in her 2006 and 2007 budgets. 
  
  
• Governor Napolitano’s FY 2008 budget included $4.75 million in grants for STEM teachers and related activities.  The State Board of Education received $2.5 M to promote improved pupil achievement in math or science by providing supplemental funding for innovative programs. The Arizona Board of Regents received $2.25 M for scholarships to attract, graduate and retain more teachers in STEM disciplines.
  
  
• The Governor will build and fund a new, centrally located STEM Center that will improve and align STEM education in Arizona to ensure that all Arizona students are prepared to meet the demands of the 21st century.  The STEM Center will provide the innovative programs, research, training, and communications that will assist the State in its current STEM education and teaching reform efforts.

• Recommended that the Arizona Department of Education and the State Board of Education (SBE) implement personalized graduation plans.  SBE has adopted Education and Career Action Plans (ECAPS), which will be required for the entering freshmen of 2009.
  
  
• Partnered in hosting the state’s first Summit on 21st Century Skills in October 2007.
  
  
• Working to enhance the academic content within Career and Technical Education programs of study, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education.  It is expected that the CTE and mathematics standards will be cross-walked beginning in spring 2008.
  
  
• The legislature created an early college scholarship program that provides grants for students graduating early to attend a postsecondary institution (2007).

• Providing scholarships to teachers ranging from $1,500 to $2,000 for teachers to attain the state Reading Endorsement.
  
  
• Created and distributed literacy toolkits for Arizona 4th, 5th and 6th grade teachers through the support of a National Governors Association Grant (2008).
  
  
• Hosted three regional Adolescent Literacy Forums through the support of a National Governors Association Grant (2007).
  
  
• Worked with the Alliance for Excellence in Education in the preparation and presentation of the report, “Improving Adolescent Literacy in Arizona,” (2005) which is the baseline for the work being done by the Literacy Committee.

• Recommended that the Arizona Department of Education and the State Board of Education (SBE) implement personalized graduation plans.  SBE has adopted Education and Career Action Plans (ECAPS), which will be required for the entering freshmen of 2009.
  
  
• In 2005 the Governor signed the NGA Compact on State High School Graduation Data committing to taking steps to implement a standard, four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.  The Arizona Department of Education has implemented this definition.
  
  
• Working to ensure implementation of the 10 Essential Elements of a Longitudinal Data System.  Elements 1, 2, 3, 8, 10 have been implemented; 4, 7, and 9 are in the process of being implemented or have the ability to implement; and the Committee is working aggressively to effect implementation of elements 5 and 6.
  
  
• Adopted goal to increase the graduation rate 12% by 2012.

• Commissioned “A Feasibility and Demand Study for the State of Arizona,” to determine gaps in access to degrees in all parts of the state. This work has resulted in a number of collaborative planning efforts including the work of the Arizona Board of Regents, the Arizona Legislature and the P-20 Council itself.
  
  
• Governor Napolitano’s final budget included an increase in the state contribution to the Arizona Financial Aid Trust (2007).
  
  
• Governor Napolitano’s final budget included increased funding for the private postsecondary grant program (2007).

• Will launch a public awareness campaign in fall of 2008. This effort includes major foundations, agencies and interests in an unprecedented coordinated campaign to raise awareness of the importance of increased educational alignment and attainment to make Arizona more globally competitive.
  
  
• The campaign is named “Expect More Arizona”.
  
  
• Expect More Arizona will have a significant paid and free media presence across the state and will include an interactive website that provides a call to action and integrates all educational information through one portal.

• SB 1512 (Signed by Governor into Law, 2006)
  Provides $2.5 million additional funding for the Arizona Department of Education to continue development of Arizona’s data system. 
  
  
• SB 1045 (Signed by Governor into Law, 2006)
  Requires integration of K-12 student identifier numbers at public universities and community colleges.
  
  
• HB 2206 (Bill stalled but included in final budget, 2007)
  A $2.25 million teacher student loan program was created to encourage more teachers to enter into the mathematics, science and special education teaching fields.
  
  
• SB 1069 (Signed by Governor into Law, 2007)
  Established the early graduation scholarship program, which is designed to provide an incentive (financial aid of up to $2,000) for students to graduate early from high school and promptly move into a postsecondary education experience.