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Metropolitan Education Commission Goals
Metropolitan Education Commission Goals and  Accomplishments
The Metropolitan Education Commission (MEC), composed of 34 members, facilitates partnerships and collaborations among education, business, service and government agencies to promote education and to advocate on issues affecting education in Pima County, and to Empower and Advocate for K-12 Students, Teachers, and Families.
 
Youth Advisory Council/Tucson Teen Congress: (YAC/TTC); 477 youth involved in leadership activities 
Teen Town Hall: Annual event where over 2,000 youth have voiced their opinions on issues to community leaders 
School Infrastructure Committee: agreements between school districts and municipalities to assure proper infrastructure around school sites
Summer Leadership Conference: Annual teen training on current issues such as welfare reform, economic development in which over 700 youth have participated 
Conferences and Workshops: Celebrating Opportunities for Multicultural Students Conference, The $$$$ Stops Here Educational Finance Forum; Do We Still Need Public Schools Forum; Tucson Resiliency Initiative Conference 
Best Practices for the Best Start: (1991-1994) initiative to provide young children (0-6) a good start in school
 
To Recognize and Promote Individuals and Groups Supporting Education
Crystal Apple Awards: 102 community leaders and organizations honored for contributions to education
Outstanding Teen Citizen Awards: In collaboration with Tucson Parks & Recreation and Pima Community College ten teens are selected annually
BEST Breakfasts and MEC Monthly Meetings: Provide a forum for education programs and initiatives
MEC Collaborations: Annually averages 27 community partnerships which in 2010 include:
    • Transition Fair
    • Pima County Youth Council to Workforce Investment Board
    • LULAC Youth Leadership Conference
    • Pima County Business & Education Roundtable
    • AEA/TEA/MEC Legislative Reception
    • Sunnyside School District Digital Advantage
    • United Way Youth Development Coalition
    • Pima Santa Cruz Tech Prep Consortium
    • Pima Connects
    • U.S. 2010 Census
Promotion of High School Graduation and High Academic Standards
Goal One: Graduate!/Meta Numero Uno: Graduar!
Initiative to raise Pima County’s high school graduation rates and academic standards. 
Academy Without Walls: (AWW) Links academic preparation with high tech job training. To date the following have participated
    • 403 students from 12 high schools
    • the Pascua Yaqui Reservation
    • 22 teachers
    • 8 businesses
      • Microsoft
      • Keane, Inc.
      • Wells Fargo
      • US  West
      • AOL
      • Hughes
      • Intuit
      • Convergys
      • and Pima Community College
Career Fair: In conjunction with annual LULAC Youth Leadership Conference has reached over 62,000 students 
The Key to Employment for the 21st Century Workshop: Parents, students, educators attend this annual event which is supported by high tech businesses, Pima Santa Cruz Tech Prep Consortium, community economic development organizations and Pima County’s school  districts, which has reached over 6,000 students
Regional College Access Center (RCAC): Facilitates access to success in college and provides support through RCAC website www.metedu.org/rcac and on-site counseling.