2002-2003

• Articles of Incorporation filed; founding board established
• First executive director hired; strategic plan developed
• Office established in Motorola, a member company

2003-2004         

• Worked to improve follow up of Prop 301 by building consensus on legislation to establish a Performance Based Compensation (PBC) oversight committee
• Received $300,000 US Scholars grant from US Dept of Education
• Launched the Arizona Academic Scholars Initiative, a statewide effort to increase rigor in course taking and advocate increasing Arizona high school graduation requirements
• Hosted the first ABEC Legislative Reception

2004-2005

• Created ABEC Principles of Agreement, consensus in school finance, student achievement, accountability, and teacher quality
• Hosted first Crash Course in Flagstaff
• Convened public engagement forums on high school reform in 11 communities, statewide
• Launched websites azacademicscholars.org and testingaz.com
• Became state affiliate for Just for the Kids, a national website on school-based data
• Hosted Arizona Academic Scholars Day at the State Capitol for 150 high school seniors

2005-2006

• Accepted as state affiliate for National Alliance of State Science and Math Coalitions (NASSMC)
• Inaugural conference convened, “Igniting the Spark”
• Produced report “High School Reform: A Community Response”

2006-2007

• Partners with the Arizona State Board of Education  on statewide integration of Arizona Academic Scholars
• Received a $225,000 grant from the Arizona Board of Regents to continue and expand the Arizona Academic Scholars Initiative
• Presented the Arizona Academic Scholars Initiative at the national NASSMC conference
• Received a $35,000 grant from Arizona Community Foundation for a series of public forums on school finance
• Convened business/education meeting for US Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings

2007-2008

• Influenced the Arizona State Board of Education vote to raise graduation requirements
• Launched School Finance Reform initiative
• Received a $35,000 grant from the Kettering Foundation supporting the process of convening public forums
• Selected Leader of the Year in Public Policy for Education by Arizona Capitol Times
• Launched “Best Practices in Business-Education Partnerships with Partnership” Initiative and award program
• Moved offices to Sundt Construction facility , its present location
• Launched Shadow the Super program, pairing superintendents with legislators

2008-2009

• Convened nine public engagement forums on school finance, statewide
• Launched the first business-education symposium
• Hosted the first business-education golf event
• Received “Award of Excellence” from the Arizona School Public Relations Association

“ABEC understands that any effort to effectively improve Arizona’s education system will require a slow, but deliberate process combined with the diligence of educators and the business community. Through such efforts, Arizona will enhance its competitiveness economically with a highly skilled and knowledge-based community of residents who are able to seek and live their full potentials, thus improving the quality of life for all Arizonans.”
~ Gilbert Public Schools in its ASPRA nomination of ABEC


2009-2010

• Released the much-anticipated school finance recommendations aimed to improve Arizona’s public K-12 school funding system.
• Launched the Arizona Middle School Career Exploration Pilot Project with Phoenix Elementary School District and Lowell Elementary School.
• Successfully completed the Arizona Academic Scholars Initiative, encouraging the “average” student to take a more rigorous course load while in high school – a direct influence in the policy change to increase graduation requirements.
• Created ABEC Overview brochure, replacing the annual Year in Review.

2010-2011

• Prepared for launch of the AZ Higher Performing Schools Recognition project 
• Convened business  & education leaders for Jim Shelton, Assistant Secretary, US Department of Education; for breakfast with PEW Center on the States; for lunch on the lawn with 35 legislators
• Hosted the Annual conference, doubling attendance from the previous year
• Legislative Connection was the most successful ever, with over 150 business, education and our elected leaders in attendance

2011-2012

• Launch of the AZ Higher Performing Schools Recognition project
• Convened business & education leaders for lunch on the Capitol lawn with 53 legislators
• Convened business & education leaders for Tony Miller, Deputy Secretary, US Department of Education

2012-2013

• Launched the Business-Education Partnership Symposium

2013-2014

• Convened County Business Summits on Education across the state
• Hosted by-monthly ABEC Legislator Work Group lunches at the Capitol
• Middle School Career Exploration culminates with five Career Camps