>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PLANS A DAY OF CELEBRATION TO HONOR JUNETEENTH.

A SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PURSUING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DEGREES.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON I'M TED SIMONS.

THE MAYORS OF SIX MARICOPA COUNTY CITIES ISSUED A LETTER PLEDGING TO GET THE TRANSPORTATION TAX IN FRONT OF VOTERS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOES OR DOESN'T DO.

THIS FOLLOWING REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS PASSING A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE VOTE BUT ONLY IF TAX REVENUE DOESN'T GO TO EXPANDING LIGHT RAIL.

THE GOVERNOR PLEDGED THE VETO OF, QUOTE, HOLDING THE STATE HOSTAGE.

THEY WROTE IN THE LETTER THAT THE BILL, QUOTE, SEEKS TO DERAIL OUR BOOMING ECONOMY TO FIND ANOTHER WAY GET THE TAX EXTENSION ON THE BALLOT DESPITE THEM NEEDING APPROVAL TO PUT THE TAX IN FRONT OF VOTERS.

>>> NATIONAL HEADLINES, ATTORNEY GENERAL GENERAL DEFENDING SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH'S DONALD TRUMP'S MISHANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.

>> Mr. SMITH IS A VETERAN PROSECUTOR AND ASSEMBLED A GROUP OF EXPERIENCED AND TALENTED PROSECUTORS AND AGENTS WHO SHARE HIS COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

>> Ted: TRUMP PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL 37 COUNTS AND HAS DENIED ANY WRONG-DOING.

HOURS AFTER YESTERDAY'S ARRAIGNMENT, TRUMP HELD A CAMPAIGN EVENT IF NEW JERSEY AND THE EVENT REPORTEDLY RAISED MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS AND AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TRUMP PLANS TO DEAL WITH LEGAL PROBLEMS BY APPEALING TO THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.

INDEED, TRUMP FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES IN NEW YORK AND UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN GEORGIA OF TRYING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

>>> THE FED TODAY DID NOT RAISE INTEREST RATES.

THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR IT'S UNCHANGED AND JEROME PAUL POWELL SUGGESTING THIS IS ONLY A PAUSE IN RATE HIKES.

>> WE DECIDED TO LEAVE OUR INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED AND TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE OUR SECURITY'S HOLDINGS.

LOOKING AHEAD, NEARLY ALL COMMITTEE PARTICIPANTS TO BRING INFLATION DOWN TO 2% OVER TIME.

>> Ted: AS SUCH, IT'S LIKELY THAT RATE HIKES COULD RESUME AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH.

>>> NEW CDC DATA SHOWS DRUG DEBTS ARE RECORD LEVELS AND ONLY LESS THAN THE PANDEMIC WITH 110,000 OVERDOSE FATALITIES IN THE U.S. LAST YEAR.

SYMPATHETIC OPIOIDS INCLUDING FENTANYL INCLUDING METH OR COCAINE.

>>> THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT HAS A NEW GENERAL MANAGER, OVER THE ALLOTMENT OVER THE ARIZONA WATER.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR, WE TALK ABOUT THE CAP AND WHAT IS THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT?

>> SO CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT WAS FORMED IN ORDER TO BRING COLORADO WATER INTO THE MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS.

SO FROM THE COLORADO RIVER, 336 MILES TO SOUTH OF TUCSON, SO THAT INCLUDES PHOENIX AND THE VALLEY AND PINAL COUNTY AND AGRICULTURE AND TOWNS AND ALL OF TUCSON.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE CAP?

>> WE'RE STRONG AND BY WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT OUR WATER IS THE COLORADO RIVER AND THAT'S WHAT WE BRING TO THE SIX MILLION CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDING 11 TRIBES.

AND THE COLORADO RIVER HAS BEEN IN A 23-YEAR DROUGHT EXACERBATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT'S DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE INTRA-STRUCTURE.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT LAKE MEADS AND POWELL?

>> SO LAKE POWELL HAS BEEN GOING UP BY A FOOT OR MORE A DAY AND LAKE MEAD UP TEN FEET SO THIS IS A GOOD YEAR.

ONE GOOD YEAR DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE OUT OF TROUBLE, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE A GOOD YEAR.

>> Ted: AND NICE TO TALK ABOUT, TOO, BECAUSE SO MANY STORIES ABOUT HOW THINGS FROM BAD TO WORSE.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WE HAVE AN ENCOURAGING AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA, TOO CONSERVATIVED.

THIS IS ALL VOLUNTARY AND YOU TELL ME, IS THIS A POSITIVE SIGN, THIS AGREEMENT?

>> A VERY POSITIVE SIGN.

WE HAVE A GREAT HISTORY ON THE COLORADO RIVER OF COMING TOGETHER BOTH INSIDE OF ARIZONA AND FELLOW STATES.

WHEN WE SEE RISK AND SEE UNCERTAINTY AND SEE TROUBLE AND THIS HAS BEEN NO EXCEPTION AND DIFFICULT TO GET THERE, BUT ARIZONA, NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA HAVE PUT FORWARD A LOWER BASIN PROPOSAL.

WHAT THAT DOES IS IT SAYS IN THE SHORT-TERM, BECAUSE THE RULES WE OPERATE UNDER ON THE COLORADO RIVER, MOST OF THEM END AT THE END OF 2026.

SO WE KNOW WE HAVE A FEW YEARS TO NEGOTIATE ALL OF THE BIG RULES ON THE RIVER.

BUT TO DO THAT, WE NEED STABILITY NOW.

AND SO WE CAME TOGETHER TO COME TOGETHER WITH A SHORT-TERM DEAL.

THE SHORT-TERM DEAL WORKING WITH THE UNITED STATES, THE INCREDIBLE FUNDING THAT SENATOR SINEMA AND KELLY BROUGHT US INTO THE STATE IS ALLOWING US TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT THAT FUNDING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE CUTS AS FAR AS THE PLAN IS CONCERNED, THEY'RE VOLUNTARY AND MOST, IF NOT ALL, ARE COMPENSATED WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.

>> MUCH OF IT IS AND DIFFERENT PARTIES COME UP WITH UNCOMPENSATED WATER, AS WELL AND THREE FOURTHS IS LIKELY TO BE COMPENSATED AND WE'VE SEEN AGREEMENTS IN ARIZONA.

THE CITIES HAVE PUT UP WATER AND TRIBES HAVE PUT UP WATER.

RIVER COMMUNITIES PUTTING WATER FORWARD AND IN CALIFORNIA, THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT, AS WELL.

>> Ted: TANGIBLE RESULTS, WILL THEY BE SEEN OR KEEPING IT FROM GOING ANY LOWER?

>> SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AN AGREEMENT TO BUILD STORAGE IN LAKE MEAD AND LAKE POWELL, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE AND SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO FOR STABILITY AND SOMETHING TO DO IN ORDER TO GIVES US THE SPACE, TO TURN AND PIVOT AND START TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS POST 2026.

>> Ted: THIS IS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE, AS YOU SAID, A STOP GAP, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM UNTIL THREE YEARS.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW BIG OF A DEAL -- DISCUSSIONS HAVE TO BE GOING ON REGARDING THE END OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT AND START OF 2026.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS, DOES THIS HELP THAT PROCESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEEDED BREATHING ROOM AND SO WHAT WE FACED LAST TWO YEARS, IT'S BEEN SO DRY.

EVEN WHEN WE'VE HAD AVERAGE RAIN ON THE SYSTEM, WE'VE HAD VERY POOR RUNOFF AND THAT'S CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO REACT AMONG AFTERMONTHAFTER MONTH IN THE RAIN AND THE SNOW.

WHAT THIS DOES IS SAYS LET'S PUT IT ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW AND LET'S KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND PIVOT AND THEN WE CAN START WITH THE REAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OUR LONG TERM FUTURE.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH DID THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT PLAY IN FIGURING SOMETHING OUT OR WE'LL DO IT FOR YOU?

>> THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT WAS A PARTNER WITH US IN WORKING THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL.

WE WOULD BRING IT TO THEM AND PUT IN A LOT OF EFFORT TO WORK WITH US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DRAFT GETTING OUT ON THE TREATSTREET.

THEY ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.

SO WE EXPECT THE NEXT STEP PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT AS FAR AS THE NEW CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2026 STARTING 2027?

IS IT LET'S JUST CONCENTRATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

>> SO WE ARE ALL WORKING INTERNALLY IN ARIZONA AT WHAT TO PICTURE IN OUR FUTURE.

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW, THERE'S A SMALLER RIVER AND LESS WATER FLOWING DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER THAN 25 YEARS AGO AND CERTAINLY 100 YEARS AGO AND WE ALL NEED TO USE LESS WATER.

>> Ted: I'VE HEARD THAT COAT, LEARNQUOTE,LEARNING TO LIVE WITH A SMALLER RIVER AND HOW IS THAT MESSAGE BEING RECEIVED?

>> I THINK ARIZONANS HAVE EDUCATED THEMSELVES ON WATER.

WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE STREET OR TALK TO SOMEONE WHEN YOU'RE MEETING THEM, I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WATER THAN THEY USED TO AND WE LIVE IN A DESERT.

WE HAVE A DESERT ETHIC.

WE ALL KNOW THAT IN THE DESERT, WATER IS VALUABLE AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH IT.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE DOING AND WE WILL BE, BUT I THINK ARIZONANS HAVE RESPONDED AND SMART ABOUT THEIR WATER USE.

>> Ted: WHY DID YOU EXCEPT THIS JOB AND POSITION AND TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN WATER FOR 25 YEARS AND THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY BEEN CENTERED ON ARIZONA.

I MOVED HERE BACK IN 1992 TO BE A PARK RANGER AND FELL IN LOVE WITH ARIZONA AND STAYED.

I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL HERE AND KNOWING I WANTED TO WORK ON WATER.

AND SO, I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO WORK IN THE RIVER SYSTEMS AND ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, A LOT OF WORK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE A LOT OF OUR POLICY GETS DONE.

BUT THE WHOLE IDEA HAS BEEN HOW DO WE FIND CERTAINTY FOR ARIZONA WATER SUPPLIES.

WE NEED TO KNOW THE INVESTMENTS WEEWE'RE MAKING TO KNOW FOR THE FUTURE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DEDICATED TO.

>> Ted: GENERAL MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, A LOOK AT AN UPCOMING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HOSTED BY THE ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

>> Ted: THE ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HOST THEIR ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL AT THE BLACK COLLECTION'S AR ARCHIVES AND FOR MORE, WE WELCOME JESSICA WITH BLACK COLLECTIONS AND TODD.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

JESSICA, WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

>> WELL, THAT'S QUITE A QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY, AND JUNETEENTH, AT IS THE ROAD TO FREEDOM AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT JUNETEENTH WAS A PART OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHERE IN TEXAS, THEY WERE THE LAST ONES TO, UNFORTUNATELY, BE TOLD THAT THEY WERE EMANCIPATED AND THEY DID A LOT OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE DOING CELEBRATIONS, GETTING PEOPLE INTO PLACES AND SO, PEOPLE KIND OF MOVED.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GO ABOUT IN A AND A LOT CAME WEST.

HERE WE ARE IN ARIZONA AND A LOT OF FOLKS DID COME TO ARIZONA.

SO WE'RE CELEBRATING THE ROADS TO FREEDOM WHERE JUNETEENTH IS CONCERNED.

>> Ted: PEOPLE RECOGNIZE IT AND KNOW IT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GAINING AN IMPORTANCE AS YEARS GO BY.

>> WE'RE DISCUSSING WHAT I CONSIDER THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM, THE MOMENT OF FREEDOM AND WE ALL CAN RELATE TO THAT, THE FREEDOM TO MOVE ACROSS AMERICA, TO GO WHEREVER YOU LIKE TO GO.

AND BE WHO YOU LIKE TO BE.

>> Ted: THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND BLACK COLLECTIONS AND WE'VE HAD THE BLACK GENEALOGY GROUP IN TUCSON AND HOW DID YOU ALL GET TOGETHER ON THIS?

JESSICA?

>> WOW, IT WAS KISMET HONESTLY.

WE WERE WORKING TOGETHER AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO COLLECTIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO DOCUMENT BLACK HISTORY HERE IN ARIZONA AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE FOR THESE INSTITUTIONS TO HELP IN UNDERSTANDING HOW BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE ONLY LIVE IN ARIZONA BUT THRIVE, DO A LOT OF THINGS AND SO THAT'S HOW WE CAME TOGETHER.

WE WERE ALREADY IN CONTACT AND FELT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN AWESOME EVENT.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

PUT >> I DID WORK ON A COMMUNITY IN SOUTH PHOENIX.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND WERE ZONED OVER IN THE THE '60s.

THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL, ENTITLING DESTITUTE COMMUNITY AND FELT LIKE THEY WERE RICH WHEN YOU TALKED TO THEM.

AND THE FAMILIES WERE INTACT AND TOGETHER AND THE SECOND GENERATION, IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING GRADUATED FROM ASU AND THE FIRST GENERATION CAME HERE TO PICK COTTON.

>> Ted: THAT'S FANTASTIC.

WE'LL GET TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ARCHIVISTS AND HOW DIFFICULT AND A CHALLENGE?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY IN ARIZONA.

WHILE I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THEIR DO IS ABOUT CONNECTING, THOSE CONNECTIONS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES AND SO, IT REALLY IS ABOUT PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE, TALKING TO FOLKS, GETTING THEM TO TRUST YOU AND ON TOP OF THAT, TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THEIR HISTORY.

HONESTLY, IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY FULFILLING AND HARD IN ORDER FOR ME TO DO THIS WORK AND I'M DEDICATING TO DOING THAT.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE TO GET IT DONE BECAUSE SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING UP THERE.

>> YOU HAVE TO GET IT AND A LOT OF YOUR HISTORY WILL END UP IN A LANDFILL IF YOU'RE TRYING TO HOLD ONTO IT, IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT RECORDED.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS JUNETEENTH, SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A GOOD CHANCE TO CONNECT AND NETWORK AND DO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AS WELL, HUH?

>> WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS PARTICIPATING AND PARTNERS AND THE OKIMA COMMUNITY, BLACK FIREMEN AND WE'VE GOT ENTERTAINMENT AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

>> Ted: THE IDEA OF COLLABORATION AND NETWORKING, THAT'S A BIG DEAL, BIG DEAL, AS WELL.

>> SOMETIMES YOU CAN RUN ACROSS COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T KNOW OF OTHER BLACK COMMUNITIES HERE IN ARIZONA AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONNECT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND CAN TALK AND DO THINGS IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THEIR OWN MEMORY AND HISTORY.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT TO GET A SHOT.

WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> JUNETEENTH, ROAD TO FREEDOM, 1300 NORTH COLLEGE AVENUE IN TEMPE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE -- YOU WANT TO BE THERE BY NOON TO GET A SEAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF RSVP GOING ON AND THERE'S A PERFORMANCE PART FROM 1:00 TO 3:00.

>> Ted: NORTH OF COLLEGE AND -- >> COLLEGE AND CURRY.

>> Ted: I WAS CLOSE.

AND AGAIN, ENTERTAINMENT, INFORMATION BOOTHS, EXHIBITS, THESE KINDS OF THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> EXHIBITS AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND IN GENERAL, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO NOT ONLY SEE THE EXHIBITS, BUT A GATE EXHIBIT CALLED HALLELUIAH HATS THAT BRUCE NELSON PUT ON THAT CELEBRATES THE MATRIARCHS AND THAT IS A GREAT EXHIBIT GOING ON THERE.

JUST IN GENERAL, TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, TALKING ABOUT CONNECTION, HOW TO ARCHIVE YOUR MATERIAL.

IN GENERAL, WE'LL BRING THE GAMUT AND THE WE'LL BE THERE UNTIL 5:00 P.M. >> Ted: THE DATE AGAIN?

>> JUNE 18th, FATHER'S DAY.

>> Ted: ALL IN CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH AND FASCINATING TO WATCH THIS EVENT GROW.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Ted: ARIZONA'S EARLY CHILDHOOD AGENCY IS EXPANDING ITS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ASSOCIATE AND BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME THE SENIOR DIRECTOR AT FIRST THINGS FIRST.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: DEFINING THINGS, WHAT'S FIRST THINGS FIRST?

>> A STATE AGENCY BORN OUT OF A APPROVED INITIATIVE IN ARIZONA SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO SUPPORT EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES FOR CHILDREN BIRTHED THROUGH AGE FIVE.

>> Ted: FIRST THINGS FIRST.

>> YES.

>> Ted: THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EXISTS AND WILL EXPAND BIG TIME AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> CORRECT.

WE'VE HAD A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW AND THROUGH THE PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS THAT HAVE COME TO ARIZONA THROUGH OR SPECIFICALLY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, WE ARE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR BACHELOR'S PROGRAM STATE WIDE.

WE'VE BEEN OFFERING THIS IN A FEW REGIONS ALLOWING US TO EXPAND IT AND ANYONE IN THE STATE WORKING AT AN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FACILITY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

>> Ted: ARE THERE REQUIREMENTS OR IS IT BASICALLY, LIKE YOU SAID, ANYONE IN THE FIELD, GO FOR IT?

>> YES.

ANYONE WORKING AT A REGULATED CHILDCARE FACILITY, A SCHOOL DISTRICT PROGRAM AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN A CHILDCARE FACILITY, YOU CAN ACCESS THE SCHOLARSHIP.

>> Ted: AND IT'S OPEN TO ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN ARIZONA?

>> YES.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND COLLEGE CAN CHOOSE A COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOICE AND THAT THEY WOULD GO TO A PROGRAM.

WE ARE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE PRACTITIONERS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> Ted: TALKING SCHOLARSHIP, TALKING SCHOLARSHIP WITH A CAPITAL "S"?

>> YES, CORRECT, SO A STUDENT WOULD APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AND WE WOULD PAY FOR ALL OF THEIR TUITION FOR THEIR COURSES AND ANY COLLEGE AND COURSE FEES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ATTEND THAT COURSE AND WE WOULD PAY FOR THEIR BOOKS AND THEN, ONCE THEY ACHIEVE A MILESTONE, WE HAVE SPECIFIC MILESTONE STEPS, WE HAVE A BONUS FOR THEM TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS WORK AND BECOMING A DEGREED EDUCATOR IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE A CASH BONUS IF THE DEGREE IS COMPLETED ON TIME.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH CASH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> FOR A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, UP TO $2,000 FOR FINISHING YOUR BACHELOR'S PROGRAM.

WE ALSO HAVE AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE THAT ARE NOT FUNDED THROUGH THIS SPECIFIC FUNDING STREAM AND ARE AVAILABLE AND THOSE ARE THE SAME WAY.

YOU CAN GO TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR YOUR ASSOCIATE DEGREE AND GET A BONUS UPON COMPLETION.

>> Ted: HOW LONG WILL THIS PROCESS TAKE?

IS IT A YEAR-LONG PROCESS?

>> SO THE CURRENT FUNDING WE HAVE IS THROUGH JUNE 30th OF 2024.

THE FUNDING COMES THROUGH THE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS THAT ARIZONA HAS RECEIVED AND THOSE FUNDS ARE TIME LIMITED.

>> Ted: PANDEMICPANDEMIC FUNDS?

>> THEY ARE.

>> Ted: HOW DID THAT RETAIN CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS?

>> IT DECIMATED THE WORKFORCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.

AND IT IS CURRENTLY STILL IMPACTING OUR WORKFORCE.

ABOUT 90% OF THE CHILDCARES ARE STRUGGLING AND 50% CAN'T FIND PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

>> Ted: CAN'T FIND PEOPLE AND CAN'T FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE AND HOW IMPORTANT IS TRAINING.

YOU CAN'T MAKE A MISTAKE AND THESE ARE LITTLE PEOPLE BECOMING BIG PEOPLE AND TRAINING HAS TO BE IMPORTANT.

>> SO WE KNOW THAT 90% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS BETWEEN BIRTH AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE PROVIDE THAT'S ARE CARING AND EDUCATING FOR CHILDREN WHO KNOW HOW TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND BE RESPONSIVE IN ENVIRONMENTS AND WHO ARE SKILLED TO BE ABLE TO SET UP AN ENVIRONMENT, PUT TOGETHER A CURRICULUM AND TEACH AND CARE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.

SO THE BACHELOR'S DEGREES, WE THINK, WILL HELP THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW ENTERING BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF POSITIONS OPEN AND NEW PEOPLE ENTERING THE PROFESSION.

WE ARE HOPING THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN ACCESS COLLEGE WILL HELP THEM BE A SKILLED AND QUALITY TEACHERS.

>> Ted: IS THERE A WAY TO FOCUS ON UNDERSERVED PARTS THE STATE?

>> FIRST THINGS FIRST, WE WORK WITH ARIZONA PBS THAT ARE ADMINISTERING THESE SCHOLARSHIPS AND SO, THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF OUTREACH COORDINATORS THAT ARE STATIONED IN SPECIFIC PARTS OF OUR STATE THAT CAN GET THE WORD OUT, PARTICULARLY TO THOSE UNDERSERVED AREAS OR IN NEED.

>> Ted: ODDLY ENOUGH, I WAS GOING TO MENTION ARIZONA PBS AND THE ASSOCIATION THEREIN.

ASSOCIATION WORKING WITH PEOPLE LIKE ARIZONA PBS AND OTHER GROUPS, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> IT IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNISED CREDENTIAL THAT PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

WE ALSO, THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC FUNDING, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THAT, AS WELL.

SO THAT IS ABOUT AN EIGHT-MONTH PROGRAM THAT A PRACTITIONER CAN GO THROUGH TO GET SOME SPECIFIC SKILLS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, IN WORKING WITH FAMILIES, IN SETTING UP ENVIRONMENTS, SO THAT THEY CAN THEN HAVE THAT FOUNDATION TO THEN MOVE TO AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM, IT'S ONLINE AND AT THE PROCESS OR THE PROGRESS OF THE STUDENT THEMSELVES AND WE ARE SUPPORTING THE STUDENT WITH ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT THEY WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN IT.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.