(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Central Arizona College.)
By Erica Little | Pinal Central
Higher education pays off for most students in Arizona, yet the state is not producing enough graduates to meet workforce demand. That gap has real economic consequences, but in Pinal County, Central Arizona College is helping turn education into jobs, higher incomes and regional growth.
Polling by Center for the Future of Arizona and Education Forward Arizona shows broad, bipartisan agreement on the importance of education. About 85% of voters statewide — including strong majorities of surveyed Republicans, Democrats and independents — say Arizona needs to increase the number of students who pursue and complete education or training beyond high school, whether through universities, community colleges or trade schools.
Support is also growing for the state’s Achieve60AZ goal, which aims to have 60% of working-age adults earn a degree or credential by 2030. Two-thirds of voters back the goal, a 5% increase from last year.
