Role: To make recommendations to the P-20 Council on priorities and strategies to achieve the Council’s goals related to improving education in Arizona. The Steering Committee will assure the integration of the vision, mission, and strategies into the activities of the Council and its committees; review and evaluate information, programs, and policies as appropriate for the P-20 Council; and respond to the interests and concerns of the Council membership. The Steering Committee will also review, update, and communicate the work of the Committees to the Council; ensure that results and recommendations from studies or reports are communicated to the Council; and develop strategies and policies for review by the Council.
Education Alignment Committee (Goal 1)
Chair: Dr. Karen Nicodemus
Role: To systemically address educational alignment in programs and policies from preschool, K-12, and postsecondary education into life-long learning opportunities.
Education/Workforce Pathways Committee (Goal 2)
Co-Chairs: Dr. Jim Zaharis and Susan Carlson
Role: Create vehicles for students to achieve graduation requirements; integrate relevance and skills needed in high schools through programs such as career technical education and assessment; create awareness of career opportunities available and 9-12 preparation necessary to pursue these opportunities after graduation that will meet the needs of growing industries in Arizona.
Teachers Committee (Goal 4)
Co-Chairs: Dr. Kino Flores and Dr. Ron Marx
Role: Develop a teacher training delivery system to insure uniform access to high quality professional development; identify opportunities and obstacles in recruiting good students to be teachers; conduct a survey of Arizona’s teachers to find common working condition impediments; and identify pay gaps across counties and districts that differently reward the same levels of experience.
Data, Assessment & Graduation Committee (Goal 5)
Chair: Dr. Sybil Francis
Role: Build a robust assessment system and expand data capacity to enable data-driven decision making for improving high school graduation rates and alignment of the P-20 educational pipeline; and linking data systems across the entire education pipeline from preschool through postsecondary education.
Adolescent Literacy Committee (Addresses NGA Grant)
Chair: Kristen Rex
Role: Implement the NGA grant for adolescent literacy by developing a state literacy plan; building school and district capacity to identify and assess struggling readers’ specific needs; and building public awareness of the adolescent literacy crisis.