Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) • Jan. 14
The Arizona class of 2012—today’s 8th graders—should be guaranteed free tuition to state colleges and universities if they maintain a B average, said Gov. Napolitano in her annual address to the legislature. That class, which she dubbed “Centennial Scholars,” would be graduating 100 years after Arizona became a state. Her proposal calls for a program that would be expanded to every subsequent graduating class, which she said would be a sign of the state’s commitment to education. She also repeated her earlier proposals that the attendance age be raised to 18 from 16, and she proposed examining Arizona’s statewide tests to make sure they are properly aligned with graduation standards.