Education and community leaders gathered Tuesday at Arizona Western College to discuss how more of the state’s residents can work toward earning a college degree. A group called Achieve60AZ led the discussion.
Achieve60AZ is a partnership among more than 70 organizations throughout Arizona whose goal is that 60 percent of adults in the state will have earned a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. According to Achieve60AZ, about 45 percent of Arizonans currently have a college degree or higher.
It will take a community effort to get students thinking about college from an early age, education leaders said Tuesday at the release of a State of Attainment Report.
“Yuma’s got this amazing opportunity with such a high graduation rate from high school to really capitalize on ensuring that every resident has that pathway and sees the success metric of a postsecondary (degree) attainment goal,” said Rachel Yanof, executive director for Achieve60AZ.
Among those in attendance Tuesday were Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls and AWC President Daniel Corr, as well as representatives from community non-profit agencies including Campesinos Sin Fronteras and the Regional Center for Border Health.
