Title
Contract with the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation for the ElevateEdAZ Education Workforce Development Program (Ordinance S-49007)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to contract with the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation to expand ElevateEdAZ, the Foundation's education workforce development program, in Phoenix public schools. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse funds related to this request. Funding for this program is available in the General Fund and will not exceed $750,000.
Report
Summary
In 2020, the Foundation embarked on a work-based learning initiative pilot program for secondary education. It convened business and education stakeholders to create a strategic plan and launched ElevateEdAZ in partnership with the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU). Over the 2021-2022 school year, ElevateEdAZ expanded to five schools across PXU, including Academies at South Mountain, Phoenix Coding Academy, Metro Tech, and Trevor Browne. The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, works with school partners to support students in completing industry-recognized credentials, attain early post-secondary credit, and participate in work-based learning experiences, such as internships and job shadowing.
ElevateEdAZ works closely with Career and Technical Education programs focused on preparing students for careers in high-wage occupations within high-demand industry sectors.
ElevateEdAZ's goals are to increase the number of students completing high-wage, high-demand career pathways; increase attainment of industry-recognized credentials and early post-secondary credit; provide more students with opportunities to apply academics through work-based learning experiences; and empower educators with industry knowledge to align classroom learning with workforce needs.
Contracting with this program would facilitate the Mayor and City Council’s priority of developing Phoenix's future workforce by: supporting aptitude and interest assessments to help students determine their career paths; developing an integrated study skills curriculum; fostering critical thinking skills; and establishing a culture for learning that communicates high expectations.
If approved, this funding will: expand ElevateEdAZ's staffing capacity to serve two additional schools in PXU, Alhambra and Betty Fairfax High Schools, as well as two schools in other districts that serve Phoenix students, specifically Paradise Valley High School and a high school located in the Deer Valley Unified School District; provide an aptitude and interest assessment for all participating students; fund career awareness events, and student and teacher incentive to accelerate outcomes. Deliverables for this funding include providing 4,000+ students with career exposure into high-wage, high-demand, high-skill occupations and 100+ educators with externships to engage in industry activities to learn how classroom content and learning are applied in the workplace.
Procurement Information
In compliance with Administrative Regulation 3.10, an exception to the procurement process was approved to select this vendor. A direct selection was made as the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation is the only organization in Arizona with a license to implement the national ElevateED program. Additionally, the Foundation's established relations with PXU will expedite a successful expansion of this program to additional schools in Phoenix.
Contract Term
If approved, the contract will begin as soon as possible with a one-year term.
Financial Impact
The aggregate amount of the ElevateEdAZ Program Expansion Project is $750,000. Funding is available in the Community and Economic Development Department’s budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Community and Economic Development Department.