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.