92nd Arizona Town Hall
Who Will Teach Our Children
April 27-30, 2008
The 92nd Town Hall recommends a fundamental redesign of both Arizona's PreK-12 education system and the post-secondary system that supports education preparation programs. Changes must be implemented to ensure that each child in Arizona receives the quality education necessary to be competitive in a global marketplace.
While the Town Hall recognizes that change will take time and significant resources, nine goals must be advanced on an urgent timeline.
Define teaching as a distinguished profession.
Promote teaching as a distinguished profession.
Provide teachers with professional pay linked with systemic education reform.
Restructure Arizona's system for funding PreK-12 public education.
Implement a consistent, statewide professional development system with a strong mentoring component.
Focus teacher recruitment and retention efforts in areas of high need.
Improve pre-service programs.
Streamline the certification process.
Recognize early childhood education within the teaching profession.
Arizona recently announced its commitment to the “Tough Choices or Tough Times” reform agenda, a major redesign of state education systems intended to help students succeed both in school and the workforce. Below are several news releases regarding the "Tough Choices or Tough Times" coalition to overhaul the state education system.