New school year, new Ask Benji Design! We decided to give Benji, the artificial intelligence-powered Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) chatbot, a refresh. 

Benji will still function the same, providing support to Arizona students, parents and educators by responding to their questions about the FAFSA and applying for financial aid for college.


In Education Forward Arizona's first year, AzCAN offered its more than 950 members benefits like professional development opportunities, discounted rates for student data from the National Student Clearinghouse, a statewide directory and more.

There were also more than 30,000 students served through the Ask Benji, College Knowing & Going and AdviseAZ programs.
 
You can check out more first-year highlights and look ahead to what's next in the First Anniversary blog!
Our CAP trainings help college access professionals develop an understanding of their role in developing a college-going mission for all students, particularly students in poverty or facing other barriers in postsecondary planning. The schedule for the 2022-23 courses is now available.

Open courses:
Sept. 16 - Oct. 24
This course focuses on the role of the school counselors and college access advisers in ensuring that all students have the necessary information and support needed to pursue education beyond high school.
Sept. 30 - Nov. 7
This course is designed to increase counselors' understanding of current and future workforce trends, as well as the general specific skills workers will need for job success.
By: Bill DeBaun, National College Attainment Network
As the school doors open this month, we should be ready to meet and prepare our students for pursuing college and career pathways.

August is a time for rest and relaxation, but also readiness. In that spirit, NCAN is sharing four questions that district and school leaders and staff, school counselors, and anyone else in students’ orbit should ponder and prepare for as the 2022-23 academic year starts and some key resources for helping to answer that question.
NCAN recently announced the selection of a cohort of 15 College and Career Readiness Fellows, including Karina Guevara, who is a counselor at one of our College Knowing & Going high schools.

Congratulations Karina on this amazing opportunity!

The NCAN conference is an opportunity to learn from peers and experts. Attendees will have over 80 sessions to choose from, presented by a range of professionals from around the country committed to increasing postsecondary completion for students of color, students aspiring to break poverty cycles and who are first in their families to pursue a postsecondary pathway.
The conference will take place Sept. 12-14 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Join us as we bring together individuals across the state to celebrate collaboration and innovation in education, from early learning through postsecondary attainment.

An InspirED Evening is presented by Education Forward Arizona, a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for and act on education improvements that advance the quality of life for all Arizonans.

If you want to be part of making significant changes that benefit all Arizona students, then Education Forward Arizona is the place to do it. A career here is one that gives back every day. It’s a place where you can watch your passion for education and Arizona’s future grow and make a real impact for all students.

EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA
Our mission is to advocate for and act on education improvements that advance the quality of life for all Arizonans.