Horne announces creation of public-private Arizona Education Economic Commission

For immediate release: October 12, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne announces creation of public-private Arizona Education Economic Commission

Group will address workforce development in critical areas including chip manufacturing, health care, law enforcement, many others

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has joined forces with the private sector and representatives from the governments of Switzerland, Taiwan, and the Navajo Nation to create the Arizona Education Economic Commission, a collaboration between education and industry to encourage the development of workforce and economic opportunities for Arizona’s students.

Developed by the Arizona Department of Education, the Commission is a public-private partnership led by the private sector and includes representation from multiple disciplines including computer and related technologies as typified by the TSMC facility under construction in north Phoenix, manufacturing, health care, law enforcement and fire sciences, mining, aerospace, and other private sector entities central to Arizona’s economy.

The core mission of the Commission is to address the shortage of skilled workers in strategic industries and to give students and adults a pathway to valuable careers. Ensuring students have the academic skills needed to perform in the economy is top priority of Superintendent Horne.

Horne stated, “My obsession is to make sure that Arizona’s public school students are academically prepared to succeed in our economy, and the Arizona Education Economic Commission is critical to achieving that goal. It is especially important that as students begin to develop their career aspirations that the education system encourages and nurtures those goals. The advantages for students are tremendous. For example, the starting salary for a high school graduate working at the TSMC operation after an apprenticeship will be $ 70,000.”

He added, “The private sector desperately needs more skilled workers across all industries and creating this Commission with its goal of producing skilled graduates, creating jobs and driving economic growth is essential to meet those needs.”

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Director General Amino C.Y. Chi said, “I extend my deep gratitude to esteemed Arizona State Government and your Commission for cherishing our partnership and friendship. We believe this Commission will bring a lot of benefits to your esteemed state whether in industry or education system and Taiwan Government and my office, the Education Division, will put efforts as much as possible to cooperate with your esteemed state government.”

He added, “As a Founding member for the Arizona Education Economic Commission, you may be aware that Taiwan is very well known for its innovation, technology and vocational education, thus I am confident that our two sides can launch many possibilities to mutually benefit each other in the near future.”

The Honorable Jacques Pitteloud - Swiss Ambassador to the United States said, “Dear friends in Arizona, what a great initiative to create the Arizona Education Economic Commission. Switzerland is honored to serve as a Founding Member to this worthy and ambitious Commission. An exemplary model in Arizona and hopefully an inspiration to many other U.S. states to prepare tomorrows workforce and ensure economic growth with vision. I congratulate you on the creation of the Arizona Education Economic Commission.”

The AEEC will build scalable work-based learning and apprenticeship frameworks that will build on the natural relationship between Career and Technical Education and the private sector. It will utilize a results-based process guided by proven global best practices and driven by an international team of educational leaders and key industry executives. Initiatives from this Commission will help create and keep jobs in both metro regions and greater Arizona.

For more information: azed.gov

# # #