Achieve60AZ is now 14% away from its 60% goal and 10 years away from its 2030 deadline, according to an update released on Oct. 8.
Achieve60AZ is a community alliance of organizations that are dedicated to making post-secondary education accessible to all Arizonans so that it can reach its goal of 60% of all Arizona residents having postsecondary credentials by 2030.
Each year, Achieve60AZ releases a report to record Arizona’s postsecondary attainment progress according to the Arizona Education Progress Meter, which was created by Expect More Arizona and the Center for the Future of Arizona.
Organizations that have stated their support for Achieve60AZ include the City of Phoenix, the City of Tempe, the Grand Canyon Institute, the Arizona Department of Education and many others.
The 2020 attainment report reflected an increase in the number of postsecondary credentials attained since 2019, bringing the total percentage of Arizonans with credentials from community colleges, trade or vocational schools, or universities from 45% to 46%.
After providing the progress report, Achieve60AZ outlined its plans to increase equity and opportunity for all Arizona learners going forward.
“Eliminating postsecondary attainment opportunity gaps is only the start,” the report said. “In 2020, we know that the same postsecondary credential does not open the same doors to people of different skin colors, and that cannot continue if we are working toward a more thriving economy for all of Arizona.”
Achieve60AZ outlined a plan to reach a higher standard of racial equality, which includes disaggregated reported data, focusing attention and resources toward Black, LatinX and Native American communities, and building a community-based fund dedicated to increasing investment in financial aid for minority communities.
Additionally, Achieve60AZ plans to make postsecondary education more accessible for adult learners by creating systems specifically designed for working individuals who plan on completing their postsecondary credentials through part-time enrollment.
Arizona Department of Education Postsecondary Coordinator Andrea Glenn said that the AZDE supports Achieve60AZ for a multitude of reasons.
“As students gain higher education, the probability for employment rises. Students and adults with degrees in higher ed. increase our economic growth with their earnings, their buying power and their ability to give back in a philanthropic way,” Glenn said.
Glenn said that as a first-generation college student herself, the impact of a postsecondary credential was lasting and beneficial to her family and that Arizona must do its best to ensure that others have the same opportunity.
Another allied organization is the downtown’s Arizona Science Center. The Arizona Science Center’s Chief Academic Officer Beth Nickel explained that the center tries to support Achieve60AZ in many ways, one of which being youth-involvement programs.
“We spend a lot of time really looking at how we can work with families, students and even educators through professional development programs that instill love and curiosity for science,” Nickel said.
The Arizona Science Center’s contribution to the Achieve60AZ goal is primarily found in their educational, STEM-related programs for children and families, such as Girls in STEM events and the Teen Advisory Board.
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“We really understand the link between the programs that we offer as an educational institution and postsecondary attainment, and ultimately a stronger economic standing, a stronger workforce, and an even stronger education system for the next generation,” Nickel said.
Also allied is ASU Preparatory Academy, Arizona State University’s K-12 public charter school.
ASU Prep. allows students to take ASU courses for college credit while completing their standard high school classes, which allows many students to matriculate into postsecondary institutions with already-completed credits.
Dr. Anna Battle, the head of schools for ASU Preparatory Academy, noted that within careers that require college and trade school training, people of color are absent in Arizona.
“That means the workforce is not diverse, nor representative of all people who live in Arizona,” Battle said. “Increasing postsecondary attainment helps build diversity, equity, and a brighter future for all.
Despite the challenges that both educators and students have faced this year, Achieve60AZ and their allies are confident that with help from community members, Arizona will achieve its 60% postsecondary attainment goal by 2030.
Contact the reporter at clparri2@asu.edu.
Cami is Downtown Devil's co-executive editor. Cami is a third-year student studying print journalism and political science. When she's not writing or editing, she enjoys hosting radio shows, playing piano and bass, and teaching art classes at a local art studio.
