Arizona governor sets education goals for 2026 

By Stacy Mantle
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Gov. Katie Hobbs framed education not only as a social priority during her State of the State address on Jan. 12 but as a cornerstone of Arizona’s economic future.

“Let’s show parents, the business community and the nation that Arizona is serious about building the world-class public education system we need for the future, through every stage of education,” Hobbs said.

Her remarks positioned education policy alongside workforce development, housing affordability and infrastructure as interconnected pillars of long-term growth.

Renewing Prop 123 and stabilizing school funding

A central pillar of Hobbs’ education agenda is the renewal of Proposition 123, a voter-approved measure that directs state land trust funds to public schools.

“It is time to renew Prop. 123 and stop the teacher exodus … to stop underfunding schools and letting them crumble… and to give our students the tools they need to thrive,” Hobbs said.

She urged lawmakers to approach the renewal process with bipartisan cooperation, warning against politicizing negotiations.

“The original ballot measure was successfully passed because it enjoyed the support of teachers, parents, business leaders and Republican and Democratic elected officials,” she said. “Let’s recapture that spirit.”

ESA oversight and accountability

Hobbs also drew a sharp distinction between traditional public school funding and Arizona’s ESA program, arguing the expansion of vouchers has outpaced oversight.

“While other government entitlements have strict requirements and oversight, the ESA program continues to operate unchecked, squandering taxpayer dollars with no accountability,” she said.

She pointed to reports of questionable purchases as evidence of systemic weaknesses in monitoring.

“It seems like every day, we learn about new shopping sprees happening at the expense of taxpayers,” Hobbs said.

While reaffirming support for the program’s original intent — serving students with disabilities and military families — she called for reforms to address “waste, fraud and abuse.”

Those backers of the ESA expansion contend parents want that choice and were determined to hold the line on any changes.

”Arizona parents have made it clear they believe in being able to choose the best education for their children, whether districts, charters or Empowerment Scholarship Accounts," said Tom Horne, the state's superintendent of public instruction, in a release. "By their loud display today, Democrats proved they want to take that power away from mothers and fathers who know their children’s needs best and return education to a government monopoly that parents do not want.”

Workforce pathways and postsecondary alignment

Beyond K–12 policy, Hobbs highlighted workforce development as a key education priority for 2026, linking schools, community colleges and universities to Arizona’s evolving economy.

“We are connecting thousands of Arizonans to apprenticeships and family-sustaining jobs,” she said, adding that the state is also “supporting our state universities and community colleges as they educate and train our workforce.”

Her administration’s broader economic strategy — attracting technology firms, manufacturing investments, and multinational companies — relies on aligning education systems with emerging labor demands.

Infrastructure, rural access and educational equity

Hobbs also tied education outcomes to infrastructure and rural development, arguing that access to schools and digital connectivity remains uneven across Arizona.

“We are investing in rural infrastructure like bridges and affordable, high-speed internet across all communities,” she said.

The emphasis reflects growing concern among policymakers that geographic inequities in infrastructure translate directly into educational disparities.

Affordability pressures and their impact on students

Hobbs’ education agenda is embedded in a wider affordability narrative, with rising housing, utility and child care costs affecting students and families.

“Affordability isn’t a joke or some hoax. It’s a real and consequential challenge that families across Arizona must grapple with every day,” she said.

Education policy, she argued, must be designed with economic realities in mind, particularly for working-class families.

A 2026 policy test for lawmakers

Taken together, Hobbs’ proposals set the stage for a legislative session that could reshape Arizona’s education landscape — particularly debates over school funding, voucher oversight and workforce preparation.

Her message to lawmakers was direct: meaningful progress in education will require bipartisan cooperation and a renewed commitment to public schools.

“If this Legislature truly wants to create opportunity for Arizona families, then it’s time to support public education and bring accountability to the ESA entitlement program,” Hobbs said.

As negotiations over Proposition 123, ESA oversight and education funding unfold in 2026, Arizona’s ability to balance school choice, public investment and workforce demands may determine whether the state can deliver on what Hobbs describes as the “Arizona Promise.”

Reactions were mixed

“It is disappointing that Governor Hobbs devoted only three minutes to education and failed to offer any solutions to the challenges facing Arizona’s classrooms, which is especially concerning as Arizona continues to rank near the bottom nationally in academics,” said Superintendent Boggs. “Education deserves leadership, not political spin.”

“The Governor’s State of the State address reflects several priorities that align with the values and concerns of Arizona voters, particularly the role of education and workforce training in expanding opportunity,” Education Forward Arizona said in a statement. “However, we hope to see more action on the priorities voters identified as core education issues.”

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.