Title
Youth and Education Office Update - Citywide
Description
This report provides the Community Services and Education Subcommittee with an update on the Youth and Education Office outcomes and upcoming events.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Youth and Education Office is dedicated to shaping the future of Phoenix youth by managing programs and events that help students develop the personal, social, and academic skills needed for success in school, careers, and life. The office connects City services, community resources, and public schools to ensure students from Pre-K through 12th grade receive the support they need to thrive.
According to the 2024 Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA), only 30 percent of Phoenix third graders are reading at grade level, compared to the statewide average of 39 percent. Eleven of the 25 elementary school districts have fewer than 25 percent of students reading at grade level, leaving approximately 13,000 Phoenix third graders behind.
The Youth and Education Office staffs the Youth and Education Commission, a group of community leaders and youth who provide policy guidance, develop educational initiatives, and identify resources for students and families. The Commission’s education priorities include Kindergarten Readiness, Reading Proficiency by Third Grade, Family Engagement and Educator Appreciation.
Almost $1 million in grant funds from First Things First has been awarded to support early literacy and educational programs that advance these priorities. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25, over 6,000 free books were distributed, and more than 4,800 families participated in early literacy and educational programming.
Read On Phoenix
Read On Phoenix, a community impact model, focuses on communities most in need, based on AASA data, to reduce learning loss and accelerate progress in school readiness and K-3 literacy outcomes. The collective goal is to increase third-grade reading proficiency by 25 percent in targeted school districts by 2030. The initiative aligns with the priorities of the Youth and Education Commission and addresses issues such as chronic absenteeism.
Reading Proficiency by Third Grade
Experience Corps Tutoring supports third grade reading proficiency through structured, one-on-one tutoring with adult volunteers aged 50 and older. Its goal is to strengthen academic achievement through consistent, individualized support that builds skills and confidence. In FY 2024-25, the program operated in 11 school districts and 14 elementary schools, with 81 volunteers tutoring 326 students. This lead to an average literacy growth of 86 percent from the beginning to the end of the school year.
Phoenix Literacy Hubs were established in the Murphy and Cartwright School Districts to combat learning loss and enhance summer and out-of-school learning. Programs such as Experience Corps tutoring and Kindergarten Bootcamp were implemented at Peralta and Sullivan Elementary Schools, alongside partner programs from Southwest Human Development, Make Way for Books, and Stand for Children. In FY 2024-25, these hubs served 2,024 students and their families.
Kindergarten Readiness and Family Engagement
Phoenix Families First Resource Centers (FRCs) provide safe, supportive community hubs that promote early literacy and healthy development for pregnant mothers and families with children from birth to age five. The centers offer early childhood education programming and connect families to resources and services tailored to their needs. Core areas of engagement include school readiness, information and resources, community referrals, and parenting activities.
The four FRCs operate out of City facilities in the Library, Housing, and Parks departments. In FY 2024-25, the centers served 2,841 unduplicated families, implemented 2,319 unique program activities (including workshops, parent-child activities, support groups, and events), and provided 3,476 referrals to community resources.
The Phoenix Great Start Program provides free admission to educational and cultural institutions for children in Title I schools before they begin kindergarten. The program emphasizes strong family engagement to ensure children are prepared for kindergarten and reading at grade level by third grade. Recognizing that parents are a child’s first teacher, the program encourages active parental involvement to foster early literacy and strengthen community connections. In FY 2024-25, the program served 2,564 children and their families across eight organizations, including the Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Science Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Desert Botanical Gardens, Musical Instrument Museum, Japanese Friendship Garden, Phoenix Art Museum, and S’edav Va’aki Museum.
Additional Programs
Educator Appreciation Week in May celebrates and honors teachers and school staff with personalized tote bags filled with donated items from local businesses. Over 15,000 tote bags were distributed in FY 2024-25, including contributions from Bahama Bucks, Peter Piper Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Dutch Bros, First Watch, Someburros, Oregano’s, Fair Trade Coffee, Sky Zone, Natural Grocer, and Shake Shack.
In partnership with the Million Dollar Teacher Project, Phoenix Community Alliance, and First Things First, the Youth and Education Office hosted the Take an Early Childhood Educator to Lunch event at Memorial Hall in Steele Indian School Park. The luncheon celebrated 60 early educators from Downtown Phoenix with a catered meal from Pedal Haus Brewing and networking opportunities.
Phoenix History Month Art Contest in March celebrates the people, events, and stories that have shaped the City. The contest invites students in kindergarten through eighth grade to explore Phoenix’s past through creative designs such as movie posters, comic book covers, or newspaper front pages. In 2025, the contest received 154 submissions and recognized 40 students at an Art Exhibition at the Phoenix Public Library.
Upcoming Events
October 1, 2025: Corporate executives and community leaders will join principals from public, charter, and private schools for the annual Partner with a Principal program, building lasting partnerships to enhance education quality, workplace readiness, and leadership development. Seventy-two businesses have been paired with 72 Phoenix schools. The program will conclude with a celebration luncheon on November 14, 2025, hosted by Grand Canyon University.
October 31, 2025: Read on Phoenix will hold the 2025 Strengthening Early Literacy Efforts focusing on current literacy data, chronic absenteeism, and school readiness.
November 19, 2025: The annual Meet the Mighty Machines event at the Burton Barr Family Resource Center will allow young children to explore City department trucks, buses, fire and police vehicles, and other public and private vehicles. These hands-on experiences support school readiness, spark curiosity, and foster social-emotional growth.
January 5, 2026: The application process opens for the Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader Award, recognizing high school students across Phoenix. Each year, 16 students, one from each Council District, are honored alongside the teacher who most inspired them. Winners receive citywide recognition, participate in leadership opportunities, and help raise awareness of youth issues in the community.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager David Mathews and the Youth and Education Office.