Save Our Schools Arizona (c4)
2026 Programs
In 2026, SOSAZ is leading a first-in-the-nation citizen initiative with the Arizona Education Association to roll back Arizona’s expansive voucher program, mobilizing volunteers statewide to gather 256,000 signatures for the November ballot. We are partnering with ACLU of Arizona, Instituto, Aliento, Puente, and Borderlands Initiative to protect immigrant students and families through know-your-rights trainings and school leader engagement. We are also opposing federal K–12 cuts and attacks on LGBTQ+ students and public education, generating 12,000+ constituent contacts to Congress. Our strategy integrates earned media, digital growth, and coordinated engagement in key school board, legislative, and statewide races.
2025 Programs
In 2025, SOSAZ expanded voter registration and engagement across Arizona, focusing on young, first-time, and historically underrepresented voters. We hired four student organizers, ran campus outreach, staffed community events, and trained volunteers in phone banking, canvassing, and registration. Using targeted outreach lists, we registered 1,125 new voters, secured 599 Early Voting List signups, converted 1,119 inactive voters to active status, and converted 1,100 federal-only voters to full ballot access. In total, 3,943 progressive or left-leaning Arizonans gained the ability to vote or cast full ballots, strengthening turnout ahead of the 2026 midterms despite challenging voter purges and record complexities.
2024 Programs
Save Our Schools AZ engages voters in support of their local public schools. We target those most disadvantaged by cuts to state education funding, including low-income and underrepresented rural, Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities. Our 18,000+ statewide volunteer network employs phone/text banking, roadshows, community tabling, digital ads, and relational organizing.
Mission
We are a non-partisan, community-based organization fighting for strong public schools for a strong Arizona. We empower parents, teachers, and citizens to advocate for strong public schools in every community. We advocate for responsible education policy that keeps public dollars in public schools and ensures transparency and accountability of taxpayer funds. We collaborate with other education and community advocacy groups to achieve full funding for public schools.
Budget Size: Small: Previous year budget $20,000 - $1M
States Engaged: AZ
Geographic Density Focus: Rural / Suburban / Small city (<100k), Urban – Large city or suburb of large city (>100k)
Core Constituencies: Youth and Students (aged 17-35), Seniors (aged 65+), Adults (aged 35-65)
Leadership Diversity: Women-led
Staff and Volunteer Balance: Volunteer powered - >50% of the programmatic activities are executed by volunteers
Top Priority Issues: Civic engagement, Voter participation, Education
Lead Contact:
Beth Lewis, Executive Director, she/her, beth@sosarizona.org
Last Updated: March 1, 2026

