Arizona Recognized for Early Childhood Education at
National Smart Start Conference
State Receives Most Promising State for Young Children Award
GREENSBORO (May 7, 2009)—The State of Arizona was awarded the Most Promising State for Young Children Award at the National Smart Start Conference on May 6. The award was accepted by Nadine Mathis Basha, chair of First Things First – Arizona’s Early Childhood Development and Health Board.
Arizona is the first recipient of the new award which was created to honor states that are making promising strides in the development of comprehensive systems for young children.
“Today, we honor a state that is a new model of what is possible when people come together at the state and grassroots level to make a difference for young children,” said Stephanie Fanjul, President of The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., in announcing the award winner. “They are rapidly on their way to becoming the state that we will all look to and that we will learn from in the future – the model for what is possible when a state fully commits to making a difference for young children.”
Just a few years ago, Arizona faced several significant challenges, including a lack of early childhood funding, poor quality child care, and children arriving at school with health and developmental problems. However, through Basha’s leadership, Proposition 203, a ballot initiative creating a funding source and system for early childhood education, was passed.
The Proposition created a new state level board known as the Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health Board. The Board subsequently adopted the name First Things First. The state Board and 31 Regional Partnership Councils work together to increase the quality of, and access to, the early childhood development and health system that ensures a child entering school comes healthy and ready to succeed.
Criteria for The Most Promising State Award include, overall accomplishments; political leadership and support; establishment of a state and local infrastructure to support early childhood system-building; level of collaboration across partner organizations; progress towards developing and institutionalizing standards, programs and an infrastructure in support of young children and their families; and level of impact to date on behalf of young children and their families.
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Smart Start is North Carolina’s early childhood leadership network dedicated to assuring that every child reaches his or her potential and is prepared for success in a global community.