Sparking student curiosity starts with inspiring the educators who guide them. At the 2026 Microspark Summit, Arizona educators were able to explore emerging technologies, connect with industry professionals and experience hands-on learning designed to help them bring microelectronics, engineering and advanced manufacturing to life in their classrooms. Held Sept. 24–25, 2026, the second annual statewide Microspark Summit was hosted by ASU Preparatory Academy in partnership with Access ASU, with funding support from the ASU Southwest Advanced Prototyping (SWAP) Hub and the SEMI Foundation. The Arizona Science Center provided the setting for the second day’s workshops through its Educate to Innovate conference. More than 100 participants attended the first day. Based on participant-reported reach across more than 20 districts, the learning and resources shared at the summit have the potential to reach more than 58,000 students.

Originally published on Arizona State University. University also garners No. 1 spot in U.S. for supply chain management, plus 24 more top-20 rankings among public institutions

This is the biggest year of growth in ASU Prep's history. A new campus opened in downtown Phoenix. A new elementary school launched in the West Valley. And two new partner schools, one in Massachusetts and one in California, are bringing the ASU Prep model to students who never had access before. Over the past several years, Amy McGrath, Managing Director of ASU Prep & ASU Vice President of Educational Outreach, has collaborated with educators and innovators on a shared vision for K–12 education reinvention. From a best-selling economist to the founder of Khan Academy, these leaders are determined to build new schools and new ways for students to learn.