• Who We Are

  • The Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC) was founded in 2002 after voters passed Proposition 301, a ballot initiative which delegated more money into the classrooms of public K-12 education.  Many of those same business and education leaders, who came together to support Proposition 301, founded ABEC.

    Founding organizations of ABEC included:  Intel Corporation, Motorola, Cox Communications, the Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), Mesa Public Schools, among others.

    Today, supporters of ABEC are a statewide representation of school districts, higher education institutions, business and education associations, small and large corporations, philanthropic and community organizations, state government agencies, as well as individual community leaders.

  • What We Do

    ABEC is the only 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, statewide membership organization that unites business and education leaders in an effort to advance education in Arizona.  Focusing on public K-12 education – with linkages to pre-kindergarten, higher education and the workplace – ABEC works to:

    • Educate others and promote the direct correlations between the future of Arizona’s economy and the success of the K-12 system;
    • Create respect, understanding and trust between the business and education communities on issues affecting K-12 education;
    • Advocate for sound public policy that is consistent with ABEC’s mission, principles and objectives; and,
    • Provide a unified voice for a better education and continuous growth of student and school achievement in Arizona.