Collaborative surpasses 2,000 stories in first year of statewide reporting

Over 2,000 education stories have been published across Arizona in the first year of the Arizona Local News Foundation's Education Solutions Collaborative, a milestone organizers say reflects growing demand for local reporting focused on both education challenges and the programs working to address them.

From classrooms to policy, these journalists are telling the stories shaping Arizona education.

Launched in 2025, the collaborative began with a single Education Solutions reporter funded by the Arizona Local News Foundation. Within months, it expanded into a statewide network of 15 journalists.

Today, the initiative includes 16 reporters serving communities throughout Arizona and continues to grow through a partnership with The Beam, housed within the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

A statewide team dedicated to solutions-focused reporting on Arizona schools.

The reporters cover education issues affecting students, teachers, families and schools while emphasizing solutions being implemented in classrooms and communities across the state. During its first year, the collaborative produced more than 2,000 stories and earned national recognition when Education Solutions reporter Sisko J. Stargazer received a first-place Public Media Journalists Association award for reporting in Yuma.

"This milestone demonstrates what is possible when philanthropy, journalism and community partners invest in local reporting," said Tregg White, president and CEO of the Arizona Local News Foundation said in a release. "More than 2,000 stories means thousands of opportunities for Arizonans to better understand the challenges facing education — and, just as importantly, the solutions being developed in communities across our state."

The collaborative serves communities including Casa Grande, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu City, Nogales, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson and Yuma. Many participating news organizations cover rural communities that historically have had limited access to dedicated education reporters.

One mission: stronger education journalism across Arizona.

The Burton Family Foundation, one of the initiative's supporters, said expanding education coverage in rural Arizona has been a key priority.

"The Burton Family Foundation is proud to support the Education Solutions Collaborative as it marks its first year of impact," said Glenn Wilke, president and CEO of The Burton Family Foundation in a release. "Through this partnership, we have directed our resources toward strengthening education coverage in rural communities, which have long faced a shortage of dedicated local reporting. Investing in solutions-oriented journalism in these areas equips communities with the information they need to address local challenges and build on what's working."

The collaborative has also expanded its partnerships with national journalism organizations. Six participating newsrooms receive support through Report for America, which helps place journalists in underserved communities.

"The Arizona Local News Foundation has been an ideal partner for Report for America as we work together to strengthen local journalism statewide," said Anh Gray, regional manager for Report for America in a release. "What makes this collaboration unique is that it allows us to embed and support reporters in communities across the state, focusing on solutions-focused education reporting that highlights how Arizona is addressing its education challenges."

Beyond publishing stories, the Arizona Local News Foundation has hosted Education Solutions Symposiums in Phoenix, Prescott and Tucson. The events bring together journalists, educators, policymakers and community members to discuss issues affecting Arizona schools and explore possible solutions.

Working with the Center for the Future of Arizona, each symposium has incorporated research and statewide data while examining topics such as rural education, workforce development and student outcomes.

"Education routinely ranks among the highest priorities of Arizonans who understand that a strong education system builds the foundation and opens opportunity for progress across so many of the other things that matter to the future of our state," said Dr. Sybil Francis, chair, president and CEO of the Center for the Future of Arizona in a release. "That is why we are proud to support the Education Solutions Collaborative and to bring the resources of CFA's Arizona Media Institute to our work alongside the Arizona Local News Foundation and dedicated journalists committed to informing and elevating the conversation around this critical issue."

As the collaborative enters its second year, Arizona Local News Foundation leaders say they plan to continue expanding statewide education coverage while strengthening local news organizations and increasing access to solutions-focused journalism.

The Education Solutions Collaborative is supported by Potoff Private Philanthropy, Grand Canyon University, The Burton Family Foundation, Report for America, the Center for the Future of Arizona, the Flinn Foundation and the Scripps Howard Fund.

Meet the reporters

From classrooms to policy, these journalists are telling the stories shaping Arizona education. A full list of reporters can be found in AZMedia's RSS feed, allowing the public to keep up with important education news. Every article is free to the public, a condition of the grant: 

• Stacy Mantle: Reports on curriculum, school funding, school choice, AI in education, and education policy for Independent Newsmedia.
• Jesselle Ortegon: Reports on rural education, K-12 schools, higher education, and student success in northern Arizona for Arizona Daily Sun.
• Shannon Conner: Reports on education access, early learning, and community issues for Arizona Luminaria.
• Maria Polletta: Reports on higher education, accountability, and investigative education issues for Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
• Erick Trevino: Reports on K-12 education, school policy, and education equity for The Arizona Republic.
• Sisko J. Stargazer: Reports on rural schools, K-12 education, education policy, and student achievement for Colorado River Public Media (KAWC).
• Roxanne De La Rosa: Reports on education access, policy, and community issues for Arizona PBS (KAET).
• Isabela Lisco: Reports on K-12 education and education solutions in Tucson and Southern Arizona for KOLD News 13.
• Shira Tanzer:  Reports on Arizona education policy, schools, and education initiatives for KTAR News.
• Graham Krewinghaus:  Reports on rural education, schools and community issues for Nogales International.
• Erica Little: Reports on K-12 schools, higher education, and education initiatives in Pinal county and surrounding areas for Pinal Central.
• Samantha Rea: Reports on education, school districts, and community education for the Queen Creek Tribune.
• Dylan Wickman:  Reports on schools and education in Lake Havasu City and rural northwest Arizona for Today's News-Herald.
• Vanessa Ruiz:  Reports on education access and issues affecting Arizona's Spanish-speaking communities for Univision Arizona.
• Alan Hunt: Reports on rural education and politics that impact the region in Prescott at the Daily Courier.