Preparing Students for Success in the Workforce and Community
VISION
Arizona has a diverse, well-educated, highly-skilled workforce participating in a thriving economy.
MISSION
Advance the postsecondary attainment of Arizonans by acting as a statewide catalyst for collaboration, public awareness, public policy, and data-informed planning and measurement.
OBJECTIVES
1. Drive a statewide strategic plan and performance report that identify statewide goals and actions that can be taken by partners to increase attainment
2. Bolster partners and catalyze collaboration to increase attainment
3. Propel a public awareness campaign about the importance of attainment
4. Advance public policies that promote attainment
Currently in Arizona, only 42 percent of adults have education beyond a high school diploma. However, in less than five years, nearly 70 percent of jobs will require education beyond high school. In order for Arizona to be competitive, we need to focus on increasing the number of individuals who are equipped with a high value professional certificate or degree.
To that end, a group of 60 community, business, philanthropic and education organizations throughout Arizona have formed an alliance to Arizona more competitive through the power of education by supporting a goal of 60 percent of adults, ages 25-64, with a professional certificate or college degree by 2030. This initiative, called Achieve60AZ, will work to achieve a more highly educated population in order to build Arizona’s workforce and attract more business to our state. This will increase the tax base and decrease poverty. Increasing the number of Arizonans who earn education beyond high school will lead to a more diverse, knowledgeable and innovative workforce that can compete nationally and globally.

Achieve60AZ has four main strategies:
Strengthening the K-12 Pipeline – Increase college readiness and high-school graduation rates
Completing Credentials – Implement policies to make it easier for Arizonans to finish their certificates or college degrees.
Increasing Access – Raise awareness about options beyond high school and make them more affordable.
Aligning Workforce Needs – Engage businesses, governments and educators to identify and close the skills gap.
Governor Ducey is committed to helping Arizona achieve this ambitious goal. We recognize that it will take commitment and perseverance on the part of all of us. We invite you to visit Achieve60AZ.com to sign up and to learn how you can be a part of this important initiative.
Learn more at achieve60az.com.
ACHIEVE60AZ NEWS
NEW APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED
September 4, 2018
Achieve60AZ has announced the appointments of Darcy Renfro, Chief of Staff to the Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District,and Julie Pastrick, President & CEO of Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, to Achieve60AZ's Board of Directors. Darcy Renfro was one of the original architects of Achieve60AZ and her extensive knowledge of postsecondary and workforce development will be critical to the future of Achieve60AZ's work. Julie Pastrick serves as an eye on how Achieve60AZ connects to Northern Arizona and brings with her a great deal of expertise in business development and regional growth.
ACHIEVE60AZ SELECTS DIRECTOR, POLCIY & COMMUNICATIONS
July 30, 2018
ARIZONA AWARDED GRANT TO CLOSE ATTAINMENT GAPS
July 17, 2018
VALLEY EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL TAPPED TO HEAD STATEWIDE EDUCATION INITIATIVE
December 18, 2017
The Board of Directors of Achieve60AZ is pleased to announce the selection of Rachel Yanof as the initiative’s first Executive Director. Achieve60AZ is a community-based initiative whose mission is to advance the post high school attainment of Arizonans by acting as a statewide catalyst for collaboration, public awareness, public policy, and data-informed planning and measurement. (Read More...)
ACHIEVE60AZ ANNOUNCES COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLEGE SUCCESS ARIZONA
October 26, 2017
Achieve60AZ announced a collaborative partnership with College Success Arizona, today, which will oversee the initiative’s operations. The collaboration will formally begin November 1st.
Achieve60AZ was launched in September of 2016 and serves as an independent alliance of over 70 community, philanthropic, nonprofit and education organizations aimed at making Arizona more competitive through the power of education. The effort is supported by Governor Doug Ducey and communities and organizations across the state.
College Success Arizona is an Arizona-based, statewide, non-profit organization working to make postsecondary education more accessible for students. Since 2005, College Success Arizona has provided over $16.7 million in scholarships and specialized success services to nearly 1,300 Arizona high school students attending Arizona colleges and universities.
“We’ve been working with the Achieve60AZ initiative since its inception, and we’re honored to continue our work by providing managerial support of the program through this collaboration," said Rich Nickel, President and CEO of College Success Arizona. “The goals and objectives of our organization go hand in hand with the mission of Achieve60AZ, which is to increase the number of degree and certificate holders in our state.”
Achieve60AZ will continue to be led by a separate board of directors including Rich Nickel, President and CEO of College Success Arizona; Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community College and Chair of the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council; Eileen Klein, President of the Arizona Board of Regents; and Vince Yanez, Senior Vice President of Arizona Student Success Initiatives at Helios Education Foundation.
“Achieve60AZ continues to progress with College Success Arizona serving as a collaborative partner,” said Eileen Klein, President of the Arizona Board of Regents and Achieve60AZ Board Member. “Advancing success for all beyond high school is crucial for our state’s future workforce and to boost individuals’ prosperity. The synergy between these organizations will enable our initiative to reach more people as we work to increase educational attainment in Arizona.”
College Success Arizona has added the Achieve60AZ mission as a strategic priority for their organization, and this will be prominently included in the organization’s strategic plan. College Success Arizona is committed to maintaining the engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders and community leaders across Arizona in activities to ensure the growth and success of the Achieve60AZ alliance. This collaboration will serve as the next step in helping Achieve60AZ evolve statewide.
ACHIEVE60AZ RECEIVES LUMINA FOUNDATION ATTAINMENT CHALLENGE GRANT
April 20, 2017
Achieve60AZ has been selected as a recipient of the Lumina Foundation’s Attainment Challenge Grant. The $100,000 grant will allow Achieve60AZ to develop and complete strategic, communication and business plans to ensure ongoing support for Arizona’s community effort to increase attainment rates of college degrees or certificates for all Arizonans to 60 percent by 2030. (Read More...)
ACHIEVE60AZ DIRECTORS ANNOUNCE PROJECT MANAGER
February 16, 2017
Christine Thompson, a long-time education advocate in Arizona, has been appointed as the new project manager for Achieve60AZ. (Read More...)
HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ACHIEVE60AZ WITH $100K GRANT
January 20, 2017
Achieve60AZ is pleased to announce its receipt of a grant of $100,000 from Helios Education Foundation. These funds will be directed toward capacity building, fundraising and other efforts that will help support the alliance in its mission to boost postsecondary attainment and workforce training among Arizonans. (Read More...)
ACHIEVE60AZ Alliance
More than 60 community, business, philanthropic and education organizations in Arizona form this independent alliance that is fueled by a community-based effort to make Arizona competitive through the power of education. Their goal is to generate greater awareness of the importance of increasing Arizona’s level of educational attainment while building support to improve college entry and completion; boost adult education and training; and fuel a pipeline of competitive talent for Arizona’s employers.
The following organizations have endorsed the postsecondary degree attainment goal and are working together to make Arizona more competitive through the power of education.
A for Arizona
ACPE
Apollo Education Group
Arizona Board of Regents
Arizona Charter Schools Association
Arizona Commerce Authority
Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
Arizona Community College Coordinating Council
Arizona Community Foundation
Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Arizona GEAR UP
Arizona School Boards Association
Arizona State University
Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Arizona Superintendent Association
ATRA
AZ Chamber of Commerce
AZ Commerce Authority
AZ State Board of Education Vocational Education Board
AZ Transfer
AzCAN
Center for the Future of Arizona
College Success Arizona
Dine College
Early Childhood Development Health Board
East Valley Partnership
Eastern Arizona Community College
Expect More Arizona
First Things First
Flagstaff Chamber
Glendale Union High School District
Goldwater Institute
Grand Canyon University
Greater Flagstaff Chamber
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Educational Management Council
Greater Phoenix Leadership
Helios Education Foundation
ITT Tech
Jobs for Arizona's Graduates
Maricopa County Community College District
Midwestern University
Mohave County Community College District
Molera Alvarez
Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University College of Education
Northland Pioneer College
Penrose Academy
Piper Foundation
Read On Arizona
Southern Arizona Leadership Council
St. Xavier University
Stand for Children
State Board for Charter Schools
The Arizona We Want
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Universal Technical Institute
University of Arizona
University of Arizona College of Education
University of Phoenix
Veridus
West Coast Ultrasound Institute School of Imaging & Nursing