Phoenix, Arizona - Americans for Prosperity Foundation is announcing a significant new It's Working issue education effort to tout Arizona’s untold educational successes. The organization is spending six figures to tell Arizonans the facts about how charter schools, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and other policies are enabling more Arizona children to obtain a quality education.

The organization’s unique issue education effort entails heavy digital video and display ads, direct mail, events, and non-stop grassroots contacts at the door and over the phone. The organization intends to show the public how Arizona schools are among the best in the nation thanks in large part to policies increasing educational opportunity.

“Arizona schools are leading the nation, thanks in large part to charter schools, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and other policies enabling families to give their children the best possible education. The facts are clear: Arizona schools have made great strides by increasing the opportunity for all Arizonans to get a quality education. Arizona has five of the seven best schools in the nation, led the nation in academic gains for six consecutive years, and has the top charter schools in the nation. Arizona is doing something right, and families and taxpayers deserve to hear the facts.

"Our It's Working initiative will tell the story of Arizona's educational success and the policies that are giving families more opportunities. Thanks to charter schools, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and other policies increasing opportunity, children are succeeding and our schools are improving. We look forward to sharing these facts with tens of thousands of Arizona taxpayers, families, and students.”

Increasing Educational Opportunity is Helping Arizona Schools and Students Succeed

Arizona students are outperforming the nation thanks to policies giving families more educational options. Charter schools and other innovative reforms are helping children obtain a quality education, regardless of their income or zip code. 

  • Arizona has five of the top seven schools in America, according to U.S. News and World Report.
  • Arizona charter schools are among the best in the nation, according to University of Arkansas Professor Jay Greene. 
  • Arizona schools led the nation in academic gains from 2009 to 2015 (despite decreased funding during this period) according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

Arizona charter schools gained an outstanding 16 and 15 points, respectively, on fourth grade math and reading scores, while Arizona schools overall gained six and three points in each category. Nationwide gains amounted to just one point in each category, according to the NAEP.