Education (P-20) & Workforce

Developing our workforce

Arizona’s ability to support a dynamic and growing economy depends on a competitive education system that prepares students for college and careers.

A strong education system ensures a robust talent pipeline, making Chandler more attractive to businesses that rely on top talent to innovate and grow their operations.

The Chandler Chamber champions policies and initiatives that strengthen Arizona’s business climate through workforce development and education.

Get a FREE digital copy of 'How We Stand 2025'

First Name*

Last Name*

Phone*

Email*

How did you hear about us?*

Please verify your request.*

Developing our workforce

Arizona’s ability to support a dynamic and growing economy depends on a competitive education system that prepares students for college and careers.

A strong education system ensures a robust talent pipeline, making Chandler more attractive to businesses that rely on top talent to innovate and grow their operations.

The Chandler Chamber champions policies and initiatives that strengthen Arizona’s business climate through workforce development and education.

Guiding principle

Guilding principle

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce supports a globally competitive education system that produces college and career-ready graduates.

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce supports the development of a labor environment that is globally competitive and meets the unique needs of Arizona employers.

Four key issues

#1: Ensure equal, equitable, and accessible education¹

#2: Preserve the ability for businesses to manage their workplace and workforce without undue government overreach

#3: Maintain Arizona’s status as a “right-to-work” and “employment- at-will” state

#4: Support legislation and programs that seek to make the education-to-workforce pathway easier, such as apprenticeships, internships and upskilling and retraining programs

#1: Ensure equal, equitable, and accessible education¹

#2: Preserve the ability for businesses to manage their workplace and workforce without undue government overreach

#3: Maintain Arizona’s status as a “right-to-work” and “employment- at-will” state

#4: Support legislation and programs that seek to make the education-to-workforce pathway easier, such as apprenticeships, internships and upskilling and retraining programs

KEY: F = Federal, S = State, L = Local

The Chandler Chamber supports

Region

A strong, world-class education system² that is stable, equitable, and rewards high-performing public and private schools

F | S | L

Reform of the Aggregate Expenditure Limit for public education to ensure schools have the authority to access and spend legislative appropriations

Advocating for sustainable financial investments and simplification of the P-20³ education and higher education programs, including the New Economy Initiative⁴

F | S | L

Equitable funding for community colleges and universities, including strategic research investments

F | S | L

Public funding assistance for students to reduce education debt, including Arizona’s 50/50 Resident Tuition model⁵ in combination with an increase in debt education

F | S | L

Innovative programs that increase equitable access to and integration of one-to-one technology to improve classroom instruction

F | S | L

Metrics⁶ that evaluate widely-accepted education indicators to measure Arizona’s progress in education from early childhood through college and career

S | L

Student mental and physical health or “whole student” care

F | S | L

Policies that require trained and qualified proctors for mandatory student performance evaluations in district, charter, private and online schools as well as colleges, and universities, and placement tests to further protect the integrity of the evaluation

S | L

Advocating for policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion⁷

F | S | L

The modernization of Arizona’s P-20⁸ funding system that will address critical issues⁹

F | S | L

The Achieve60AZ program and other statewide attainment goals that address Arizona’s workforce shortage

S | L

Greater equity in cross-delivery models¹⁰, including student transportation, and accommodations for special needs students

F | S | L

Pro-school choice policies that include equitable accountability measures.

The inclusion of key competencies in classroom instruction¹¹

The opposition of OSHA and other government entities unilaterally expanding the definition of a “safe work environment”

F | S

Legislation that clearly defines the burden of proof on employers for wage and entitled time off disputes

F | S

Responsible legislative and administrative reforms that ensure the effectiveness of the Arizona unemployment insurance program

F | S

Reform of the Fair Wages & Healthy Families Act¹² that eases the burden on businesses for the paid medical leave requirement

F | S | L

Programs that decrease the regulatory costs of medical care and workers’ compensation for employers

F | S | L

The reduction of regulatory burdens on trade and technical businesses in offering apprenticeship programs

F | S | L

Programs and policies to assist veterans’ transition into civilian life and the workplace

F | S | L

Incentives to hire special needs students as a pathway to fill the workforce pipeline

F | S | L

Common-sense regulation¹³ in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul industry

Efforts to expand access to affordable and quality early childhood education

F | S

Footnotes

1: Equality means that everyone is treated the same way, regardless of
their differences. Equity means that everyone is provided the resources they need to succeed.

2: World class education system includes; curriculum that focuses on reading, writing, financial and economic literacy, civics, history, entrepreneurship, research methodology, critical thinking, business education, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) to prepare students to enter the workforce.

3: P-20 refers to education beginning from “the early years of education through college and career.”

4: The New Economy Initiative aims to create 40,000 new jobs by 2041, increase economic output to $6.9 billion by 2032, and double the state’s
investment in return, much of which can and should be generated within the space ecosystem.

5: Arizona’s 50/50 Resident Tuition Model is designed to prevent tuition increases for resident students and split the cost of education between the students and the state.

6: Education Forward Arizona’s Progress Meter is a non-partisan source of information about where we stand as a state on key education metrics.

7: Non-discrimination statutes and ordinances prevent discriminatory
practices based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, marital status, or familial status. These measures align with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles by promoting equal treatment and opportunities for all individuals.

8: P-20 longitudinal data systems are state-level educational databases in the United States designed “to capture, analyze, and use student data from preschool to high school, college, and the workforce.”

9: Critical issues include: teacher shortages; school construction; facility maintenance; student achievement; graduate rates; dropout rates; student testing; reading levels; student attendance tracking system; Career and Technical Education (CTE).

10: Cross-delivery models emphasize a variety of struggles and gaps for student education by adapting learning around student needs. By developing a variety of platforms, such as hybrid and online learning or community institutional partnerships, cross-delivery increases access and equity of quality education for at-risk students.

11: Key competencies, or soft skills, include critical thinking, teamwork, work ethic, and communication.

12: The Fair Wages & Healthy Families Act, formerly ballot initiative Proposition 206, was passed in 2016 and requires a yearly raise in the minimum wage and paid sick-time minimum requirements, based on increases in the cost of living.

13: Common-sense regulation is risk-based, less prescriptive, and responsive to business realities.

Education (P-20) & Workforce

Education (P-20) & Workforce

Developing our workforce

Developing our workforce

Developing our workforce

Guiding principle

Guilding principle

Four key issues

Four key issues

#1: Ensure equal, equitable, and accessible education¹

#1: Ensure equal, equitable, and accessible education¹

#2: Preserve the ability for businesses to manage their workplace and workforce without undue government overreach

#2: Preserve the ability for businesses to manage their workplace and workforce without undue government overreach

#3: Maintain Arizona’s status as a “right-to-work” and “employment- at-will” state

#3: Maintain Arizona’s status as a “right-to-work” and “employment- at-will” state

#4: Support legislation and programs that seek to make the education-to-workforce pathway easier, such as apprenticeships, internships and upskilling and retraining programs

#4: Support legislation and programs that seek to make the education-to-workforce pathway easier, such as apprenticeships, internships and upskilling and retraining programs

#1: Ensure equal, equitable, and accessible education¹

#1: Ensure equal, equitable, and accessible education¹

#2: Preserve the ability for businesses to manage their workplace and workforce without undue government overreach

#2: Preserve the ability for businesses to manage their workplace and workforce without undue government overreach

#3: Maintain Arizona’s status as a “right-to-work” and “employment- at-will” state

#3: Maintain Arizona’s status as a “right-to-work” and “employment- at-will” state

#4: Support legislation and programs that seek to make the education-to-workforce pathway easier, such as apprenticeships, internships and upskilling and retraining programs

#4: Support legislation and programs that seek to make the education-to-workforce pathway easier, such as apprenticeships, internships and upskilling and retraining programs

The Chandler Chamber supports

How we stand

How we stand

How we stand

Contact our Public Policy Team

Contact our Public Policy Team