Archives
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Warm Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season
December 23, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
December 23, 2014From Helios Education Foundation's Board and Staff we hope this holiday season is filled with excitement and inspiration.
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Educators Throughout Arizona Meet to Discuss College and Career Readiness of Arizona Students
December 17, 2014
Author: Rebecca Lindgren, Marketing Communications Director, Helios Education Foundation
December 17, 2014On December 9, more than 85 school district professionals from 14 Arizona school districts gathered together to discuss how to help their students on the path toward college and career readiness. … Read More
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Arizona Awarded Preschool Development Grant by the U.S. Department of Education
December 16, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
December 16, 2014Recently, the state of Arizona was awarded a Preschool Development Grant by the U.S. Department of Education to help enhance the infrastructure to provide high-quality preschool programs throughout … Read More
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Message from the President and CEO
December 11, 2014
Author: Paul J. Luna, President and CEO
December 11, 2014In October, Helios launched a year-long celebration marking the Foundation’s 10-year anniversary. Through a decade of strategic partnerships and investments in education, we are pleased to share that … Read More
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Postsecondary Challenges require a Community Solution
December 5, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
December 5, 2014Helios Education Foundation believes firmly in the transformational power of education. From an early literacy foundation established prior to kindergarten, to college and career readiness integrated … Read More
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First-Generation College Students Need Help to Dream Big
November 21, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
November 21, 2014The challenges of a postsecondary education can seem overwhelming to students who find themselves struggling financially. Add to financial hardship the pressure of curriculum and growing a … Read More
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November 7, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
November 7, 2014One third of all new college students begin their higher education journey at community colleges1 where open enrollments make access easier. But once enrolled, these students immediately encounter … Read More
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The Secret to College Access: It's About More Than Grades and Scores
November 7, 2014
November 7, 2014What does it take to get into college? Traditionally, the answer has been strong academics: good grades and test scores. The mantra was: If you make the grades, you can get into college. … Read More
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Opening Doors to College, and Success, for Underserved Students
November 6, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
November 6, 2014Twenty-one-year-old Morgan Larson is on track to graduate from the University of Arizona in spring 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting. That summer, she will … Read More
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October 29, 2014
October 29, 201415TH ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY
Orlando, FL-Thirty outstanding Hispanic students attending local universities will be honored and recognized at the Hispanic Heritage … Read More
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Celebrate the Past and Empower our Students for the Future During Hispanic Heritage Season
October 10, 2014
Author: Grace Maseda
October 10, 2014Hispanic Heritage season is celebrated annually September 15 – October 15. All across Arizona and Florida, communities come together to celebrate the diversity and richness that Hispanics, hailing … Read More
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Why College Matters for Arizona
October 7, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Rich Nickel, President and CEO of College Success Arizona
October 7, 2014This article was previously posted on Helios Education Foundation's blog.
Today, more than ever, the most powerful instrument of economic mobility for Arizonans, particularly low-income residents, … Read More
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Common Core State Standards: Focus on the Standards, Not the Terminology
October 6, 2014
Author: Stacy Carlson, Ph.D.
October 6, 2014Common Core State Standards, known in Arizona as Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards and in Florida as Florida Standards, propel students to reach higher, engage teachers to instruct with … Read More
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Advancing a College-Going Culture
October 2, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
October 2, 2014Like many students in the Tampa area, Jasmine grew up in a home where education wasn't a priority. Her parents had completed high school but had no formal postsecondary education. Jasmine's focus … Read More
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Instilling a Love of Literacy Through Dramatic Play
October 1, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
October 1, 2014Learning to read is one of the most important skills that every child needs to master in order to build a foundation for academic success. In fact, emergent literacy and language acquisition during … Read More
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Increasing Student Achievement
October 1, 2014
Author: Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, Hillsborough County Public Schools
October 1, 2014This article was previously posted on Helios Education Foundation's Blog.
This is a time of incredible educational change in the state of Florida, and amid all the “moving parts” and new … Read More
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Challenging, Supporting and Preparing Arizona Students
October 1, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
October 1, 2014Ruo Qiu is a 17-year-old Yuma, Arizona, high school senior who does not just dream of obtaining a college education, she is certain about it.
"University, of course," she says when asked about her … Read More
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Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez Transitions to New Role as Full-Time Consultant
September 29, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
September 29, 2014Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez, Helios Education Foundation’s Vice President of Educational Practices, will be leaving her full time role with Helios at the end of September to focus on full-time consulting and … Read More
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A Review of the Arizona and Florida 2014 Legislative Sessions
July 22, 2014
1 CommentAuthor: Charles Hokanson, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer
July 22, 2014The regular legislative sessions in both Arizona and Florida have come to a close. Here are some legislative highlights from both states:
STATE EDUCATION BUDGET
In both states, per-student funding … Read More
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July 1, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
July 1, 2014Read On Arizona Encourages all Arizonans to Read 20 minutes Per Day to Build Reading Skills and Prevent the “Summer Slide”
The school year has ended, and the long, hot Arizona summer is here. In … Read More
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Florida Expands Accessibility to Postsecondary Education
June 13, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
June 13, 2014Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed into law legislation that allows undocumented students to be eligible for in-state tuition rates at Florida’s postsecondary education institutions.
Up until … Read More
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Field Testing an Aligned Assessment
May 30, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
May 30, 2014Throughout the past couple of months, students in both Arizona and Florida have been participating in field tests associated with the new Common Core State Standards, called the Florida Standards and … Read More
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Communications and Awareness Around Higher Standards and Assessments
May 20, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
May 20, 2014As a Foundation focused on ensuring student success, Helios Education Foundation supports the implementation of higher, more rigorous standards and the adoption of aligned assessments to evaluate … Read More
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Turning Disconnected Youth into Opportunity Youth
May 19, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
May 19, 2014Research recently released from Measure of America indicates that Phoenix ranks fourth among major metropolitan areas in the number of disconnected youth. These are individuals, ages 16-24, who are … Read More
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Nation's Report Card: Students Aren't Ready for College and Career Success
May 12, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
May 12, 2014New scores from the Nation’s Report Card were recently released detailing the math and reading performance of high school seniors in 2013. According to the report, reading and math scores for 12th … Read More
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Starting the Early Childhood Assessment Conversation
May 12, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
May 12, 2014In laying the foundation for success in school and beyond, the ages between birth to eight are critical to a child’s healthy development. Ensuring young children have access to high-quality early … Read More
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Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez Recognized With the Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award
April 17, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
April 17, 2014Congratulations to Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez, Helios’ Vice President of Educational Practices on her recent recognition by the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA). She was awarded … Read More
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The Collaborative for Student Success: The Need is Great for Truth-Telling on Common Core
March 5, 2014
1 CommentAuthor: Stacy Carlson and Julie Mikuta
March 5, 2014This post first appeared in The Intersection, the Hunt Institute Blog.
Imagine a lifeguard course in which more than half of its graduates don’t know basic CPR. Or a pharmacology college in which … Read More
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State Board of Education Adopts New Florida Standards
February 25, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
February 25, 2014Recently, Florida’s State Board of Education unanimously voted to adopt new student performance standards, called the Florida Standards, in English/Language Arts and Mathematics. In addition, the … Read More
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February 24, 2014
Author: Paul J. Luna, President and CEO
February 24, 2014In Arizona, the legislative session is in full swing, and in Florida, it will begin soon. Undoubtedly, the debate about the implementation of the Florida Standards and Arizona’s College and Career … Read More
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Helios' President and CEO Discusses Arizona Student Success Funding
February 20, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
February 20, 2014Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation discusses Govenor Jan Brewer's proposed plan for school funding. The plan, called "Student Success Funding" relies on evaluating … Read More
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National Attention Focused on Importance of Early Education
February 20, 2014
Author: Karen Ortiz, Vice President and Program Director, Early Childhood Education Initiatives
February 20, 2014On Friday, January 17, President Obama signed into law a bipartisan spending bill for fiscal year 2014 with an almost $1.5 billion increase in early education. As a foundation focused on creating … Read More
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FAFSA February Helps Students Get Cash for College
February 19, 2014
No Comments February 19, 2014With the cost of college increasing, more and more students rely on financial aid to help pay for a college education. In 2010-2011, the total cost of attendance for in-state students living on … Read More
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February 6, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
February 6, 2014Too few Arizona students graduate from high school prepared for college, career and life. Did you know that just 7 out of 10 students graduate, and of those who do, more than half don’t qualify to … Read More
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The African American Achievement Gap: Policy Strategies and Solutions
January 28, 2014
Author: Dr. Bruce Jones, Professor of Education, University of South Florida
January 28, 2014In commemoration of the 1963 Civil Rights Movement March on Washington, D.C., the We CARE Campaign in partnership with the Urban League Consortium of Florida sponsored a series of town hall meetings … Read More
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Helping Parents Ensure Excellence and Opportunity for Their Children
January 27, 2014
Author: John Fisher, Executive Director, Stand for Children Arizona
January 27, 2014From my experience in the private sector, as an educator, and now in the non-profit sector, I have the privilege of seeing from a variety of perspectives how education impacts nearly every sector of … Read More
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New Video Highlights Goals and Benefits of Ready Now Yuma
January 21, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
January 21, 2014Helios Education Foundation and Yuma Union High School District are working to ensure every student in the district is prepared to succeed in college and career. The initiative is helping students … Read More
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Education Week Releases Annual Quality Counts Report
January 15, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
January 15, 2014According to the annual Quality Counts report recently released, Florida improved its national K-12 achievement ranking to 7th in the country while Arizona fell to 38th. The national report, … Read More
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January 3, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
January 3, 2014"Our hope is to help every child receive high quality early literacy education. We are working with parents, neighborhoods and early care providers to build the foundation for the future academic … Read More
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January 3, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
January 3, 2014"I aspire to contribute to the world through the worthwile pursuit of improving people's lives. I plan to go to medical school and pursue a graduate degree so I can work as a doctor and still … Read More
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January 3, 2014
No CommentsAuthor: Helios Education Foundation
January 3, 2014"My goal in life is to be happy. I have no idea where life will take me from this point, but I am determined to work hard, to get an education, to grow, and be happy. Whether I become a doctor, an … Read More
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January 3, 2014
Author: Helios Education Foundation
January 3, 2014"I would like to be in a profession where I can help someone. I think I would like to be an interpreter where I can become a bridge between two languages, possibly working in a court room. I want … Read More
