PHOENIX (Sept. 5, 2023)—Valley of the Sun United Way, one of Arizona’s largest nonprofits working to improve health, housing and homelessness, education and workforce development, has been awarded a $475,000 grant that will be distributed over the next three years from the Helios Education Foundation. The grant is being used to develop a plan and strategy to address chronic absenteeism in Maricopa County at a time when about a third of K-12 students in Arizona are considered chronically absent, which is when students miss 10 percent or more of the school year.

In partnership with Read On Arizona, Valley of the Sun United Way will use the funding to assist schools and districts that have completed e-learning modules by providing coaching and mentorship programs for teachers, as well as school and district administrators. This includes evaluating individual student attendance rates of K-12 schools in Maricopa County to determine the schools in need of the most resources.

“Supporting families to ensure their children are able to attend class and actively engage in learning is fundamental to their future success in life,” said Carla Vargas Jasa, president and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. “We know we can have a positive impact by reducing chronic absenteeism in Maricopa County and this funding will provide the resources needed to help children succeed in school.”

In addition, Valley of the Sun United Way is cultivating a peer-learning network and community task force that focuses on ensuring absenteeism rates decline two percentage points each year. The goal of the network and task force is to bring together community leaders, educators, students and families to address the growing problem and need for resolution.

“Our mission is to ensure all students are prepared for success,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation. “When students are absent from the classroom they are at higher risk of educational delays and more likely to drop out of school.”

In Arizona, chronic absenteeism increased from 14 percent in 2018-2019 to 34 percent in 2021-2022, according to data from the Arizona Department of Education. This increase places Arizona in the Top 10 states from across the nation with the highest levels of chronic absenteeism.

For more information about Valley of the Sun United Way, visit www.vsuw.org.

About Valley of the Sun United Way

Valley of the Sun United Way envisions a community where every child, family and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live, and has every opportunity to succeed in school, in life and in work. As we work with our community, corporate and nonprofit partners to implement our five-year plan for Mighty Change by 2026, Valley of the Sun United Way will put all of its efforts toward reaching Bold Goals for Maricopa County in health, housing and homelessness, education and workforce development. Join us at www.vsuw.org.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation exists to support postsecondary attainment for Latino students, African American students, and students from low-income backgrounds in Arizona and Florida. Driven by our fundamental beliefs of community, equity, investment, and partnership, Helios has invested about $330 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving third-grade reading, college-going and postsecondary attainment in the two states we serve since 2006.

Valley of the Sun United Way media contact: Ryan Narramore, 602-499-8894, rnarramore@vsuw.org