Chapter 0259 - 502R - S Ver of HB2823

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-203, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-203. Powers and duties

A. The state board of education shall:

1. Exercise general supervision over and regulate the conduct of the public school system and adopt any rules and policies it deems necessary to accomplish this purpose.

2. Keep a record of its proceedings.

3. Make rules for its own government.

4. Determine the policy and work undertaken by it.

5. Appoint its employees, on the recommendation of the superintendent of public instruction.

6. Prescribe the duties of its employees if not prescribed by statute.

7. Delegate to the superintendent of public instruction the execution of board policies and rules.

8. Recommend to the legislature changes or additions to the statutes pertaining to schools.

9. Prepare, publish and distribute reports concerning the educational welfare of this state.

10. Prepare a budget for expenditures necessary for proper maintenance of the board and accomplishment of its purposes and present the budget to the legislature.

11. Aid in the enforcement of laws relating to schools.

12. Prescribe a minimum course of study in the common schools, minimum competency requirements for the promotion of pupils from the third grade and minimum course of study and competency requirements for the promotion of pupils from the eighth grade. The state board of education shall prepare a fiscal impact statement of any proposed changes to the minimum course of study or competency requirements and, on completion, shall send a copy to the director of the joint legislative budget committee and the executive director of the school facilities board. The state board of education shall not adopt any changes in the minimum course of study or competency requirements in effect on July 1, 1998 that will have a fiscal impact on school capital costs.

13. Prescribe minimum course of study and competency requirements for the graduation of pupils from high school. The state board of education shall prepare a fiscal impact statement of any proposed changes to the minimum course of study or competency requirements and, on completion, shall send a copy to the director of the joint legislative budget committee and the executive director of the school facilities board. The state board of education shall not adopt any changes in the minimum course of study or competency requirements in effect on July 1, 1998 that will have a fiscal impact on school capital costs.

14. Supervise and control the certification of persons engaged in instructional work directly as any classroom, laboratory or other teacher or indirectly as a supervisory teacher, speech therapist, principal or superintendent in a school district, including school district preschool programs, or any other educational institution below the community college, college or university level, and prescribe rules for certification, including rules for certification of teachers who have teaching experience and who are trained in other states, which that are not unnecessarily restrictive and are substantially similar to the rules prescribed for the certification of teachers trained in this state. The rules shall:

(a) Allow a variety of alternative teacher and administrator preparation programs, with variations in program sequence and design, to apply for program approval. The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to this subdivision designed to allow for a variety of formats and shall not require a prescribed answer or design from the program provider in order to obtain approval from the state board. The state board shall evaluate each program provider based on the program's ability to prepare teachers and administrators and to recruit teachers and administrators with a variety of experiences and talents. The state board shall permit universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, community colleges in this state, private postsecondary institutions licensed by this state, school districts, charter schools and professional organizations to apply for program approval and shall create application procedures and certification criteria that are less restrictive than those for traditional preparation programs. Alternative preparation program graduates shall:

(i) Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary education institution.

(ii) Demonstrate professional knowledge and subject knowledge proficiency pursuant to section 15‑533.

(iii) Obtain a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to section 15-534.

(iv) Complete training in structured English immersion as prescribed by the state board.

(v) Complete training in research based systematic phonics instruction as prescribed in subdivision (b) of this paragraph.

(vi) Demonstrate the required proficiency in the constitutions of the United States and Arizona as prescribed in section 15‑532.

(b) Require applicants for all certificates for common school instruction to complete a minimum of forty‑five classroom hours or three college level credit hours, or the equivalent, of training in research based systematic phonics instruction from a public or private provider.

(c) Not require a teacher to obtain a master's degree or to take any additional graduate courses as a condition of certification or recertification.

(d) Allow a general equivalency diploma to be substituted for a high school diploma in the certification of emergency substitute teachers.

(e) Allow but shall not require the superintendent of a school district to obtain certification from the state board of education.

15. Adopt a list of approved tests for determining special education assistance to gifted pupils as defined in and as provided in chapter 7, article 4.1 of this title. The adopted tests shall provide separate scores for quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and nonverbal reasoning and shall be capable of providing reliable and valid scores at the highest ranges of the score distribution.

16. Adopt rules governing the methods for the administration of all proficiency examinations.

17. Adopt proficiency examinations for its use. The state board of education shall determine the passing score for the proficiency examination.

18. Include within its budget the cost of contracting for the purchase, distribution and scoring of the examinations as provided in paragraphs 16 and 17 of this subsection.

19. Supervise and control the qualifications of professional nonteaching school personnel and prescribe standards relating to qualifications. The standards shall not require the business manager of a school district to obtain certification from the state board of education.

20. Impose such disciplinary action, including the issuance of a letter of censure, suspension, suspension with conditions or revocation of a certificate, upon a finding of immoral or unprofessional conduct.

21. Establish an assessment, data gathering and reporting system for pupil performance as prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.

22. Adopt a rule to promote braille literacy pursuant to section 15‑214.

23. Adopt rules prescribing procedures for the investigation by the department of education of every written complaint alleging that a certificated person has engaged in immoral conduct.

24. For purposes of federal law, serve as the state board for vocational and technological education and meet at least four times each year solely to execute the powers and duties of the state board for vocational and technological education.

25. Develop and maintain a handbook for use in the schools of this state that provides guidance for the teaching of moral, civic and ethical education. The handbook shall promote existing curriculum frameworks and shall encourage school districts to recognize moral, civic and ethical values within instructional and programmatic educational development programs for the general purpose of instilling character and ethical principles in pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve.

26. Require pupils to recite the following passage from the declaration of independence for pupils in grades four through six at the commencement of the first class of the day in the schools, except that a pupil shall not be required to participate if the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian objects:

We hold these truths to be self‑evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . .

27. Adopt rules that provide for teacher certification reciprocity. The rules shall provide for a one year reciprocal teaching certificate with minimum requirements, including valid teacher certification from a state with substantially similar criminal history or teacher fingerprinting requirements and proof of the submission of an application for a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article 3.1. For teachers who provide Arizona online instruction pursuant to section 15‑808, the rules shall allow automatic certification reciprocity with other states that have similar programs.

28. Adopt rules that provide for the presentation of an honorary high school diploma to a person who has never obtained a high school diploma and who meets both of the following requirements:

(a) Currently resides in this state.

(b) Provides documented evidence from the Arizona department of veterans' services that the person enlisted in the armed forces of the United States and served in World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict or the Vietnam conflict.

29. Cooperate with the Arizona‑Mexico commission in the governor's office and with researchers at universities in this state to collect data and conduct projects in the United States and Mexico on issues that are within the scope of the duties of the department of education and that relate to quality of life, trade and economic development in this state in a manner that will help the Arizona‑Mexico commission to assess and enhance the economic competitiveness of this state and of the Arizona‑Mexico region.

30. Adopt rules to define and provide guidance to schools as to the activities that would constitute immoral or unprofessional conduct of certificated persons.

31. Adopt guidelines to encourage pupils in grades nine, ten, eleven and twelve to volunteer for twenty hours of community service before graduation from high school. A school district that complies with the guidelines adopted pursuant to this paragraph is not liable for damages resulting from a pupil's participation in community service unless the school district is found to have demonstrated wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of the pupil and other participants in community service. For the purposes of this paragraph, "community service" may include service learning. The guidelines shall include the following:

(a) A list of the general categories in which community service may be performed.

(b) A description of the methods by which community service will be monitored.

(d) Orientation and notification procedures of community service opportunities for pupils entering grade nine, including the development of a notification form. The notification form shall be signed by the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian, except that a pupil shall not be required to participate in community service if the parent or guardian notifies the principal of the pupil's school in writing that the parent or guardian does not wish the pupil to participate in community service.

(e) Procedures for a pupil in grade nine to prepare a written proposal that outlines the type of community service that the pupil would like to perform and the goals that the pupil hopes to achieve as a result of community service. The pupil's written proposal shall be reviewed by a faculty advisor, a guidance counselor or any other school employee who is designated as the community service program coordinator for that school. The pupil may alter the written proposal at any time before performing community service.

(f) Procedures for a faculty advisor, a guidance counselor or any other school employee who is designated as the community service program coordinator to evaluate and certify the completion of community service performed by pupils.

32. To facilitate the transfer of military personnel and their dependents to and from the public schools of this state, pursue, in cooperation with the Arizona board of regents, reciprocity agreements with other states concerning the transfer credits for military personnel and their dependents. A reciprocity agreement entered into pursuant to this paragraph shall:

(a) Address procedures for each of the following:

(i) The transfer of student records.

(ii) Awarding credit for completed course work.

(iii) Permitting a student to satisfy the graduation requirements prescribed in section 15‑701.01 through the successful performance on comparable exit-level assessment instruments administered in another state.

(b) Include appropriate criteria developed by the state board of education and the Arizona board of regents.

33. Adopt guidelines that school district governing boards shall use in identifying pupils who are eligible for gifted programs and in providing gifted education programs and services. The state board of education shall adopt any other guidelines and rules that it deems necessary in order to carry out the purposes of chapter 7, article 4.1 of this title.

34. For each of the alternative textbook formats of human-voiced audio, large-print and braille, designate alternative media producers to adapt existing standard print textbooks or to provide specialized textbooks, or both, for pupils with disabilities in this state. Each alternative media producer shall be capable of producing alternative textbooks in all relevant subjects in at least one of the alternative textbook formats. The board shall post the designated list of alternative media producers on its website.

35. Adopt a list of approved professional development training providers for use by school districts as provided in section 15-107, subsection J. The professional development training providers shall meet the training curriculum requirements determined by the state board of education in at least the areas of school finance, governance, employment, staffing, inventory and human resources, internal controls and procurement.

36. Adopt rules to prohibit a person who violates the notification requirements prescribed in section 15-183, subsection C, paragraph 8 or section 15‑550, subsection C from certification pursuant to this title until the person is no longer charged or is acquitted of any offenses listed in section 41‑1758.03, subsection B. The board shall also adopt rules to prohibit a person who violates the notification requirements, certification surrender requirements or fingerprint clearance card surrender requirements prescribed in section 15-183, subsection C, paragraph 9 or section 15‑550, subsection D from certification pursuant to this title for at least ten years after the date of the violation.

37. Adopt rules for the alternative certification of teachers of nontraditional foreign languages that allow for the passing of a nationally accredited test to substitute for the education coursework required for certification.

38. On or before December 15, 2011, Adopt and maintain a model framework for a teacher and principal evaluation instrument that includes quantitative data on student academic progress that accounts for between thirty‑three per cent and fifty per cent of the evaluation outcomes. and on or before December 1, 2012, the framework shall include four performance classifications, designated as HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, EFFECTIVE, DEVELOPING AND INEFFECTIVE, and guidelines for school districts and charter schools to use in their evaluation instruments. The state board of education shall adopt best practices for professional development and evaluator training. The state board of education may periodically make adjustments to align the model framework for teacher and principal evaluations with assessment or data changes at the state level. School districts and charter schools shall use an instrument that meets the data requirements established by the state board of education to annually evaluate individual teachers and principals beginning in school year 2012‑2013. By school year 2013‑2014, school districts and charter schools shall Adopt definitions for the performance classifications adopted by the state board of education in a public meeting and apply the performance classifications to their evaluation instruments IN A MANNER DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER PERFORMANCE. for charter holders, the principal evaluation instrument applies to each charter school's instructional leader whose primary responsibility is to oversee the academic performance of the charter school. this paragraph does not apply to an officer, director, member or partner of the charter holder. The school district governing board shall discuss at a public meeting at least annually its aggregate performance classifications of principals and teachers.

B. The state board of education may:

1. Contract.

2. Sue and be sued.

3. Distribute and score the tests prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.

4. Provide for an advisory committee to conduct hearings and screenings to determine whether grounds exist to impose disciplinary action against a certificated person, whether grounds exist to reinstate a revoked or surrendered certificate and whether grounds exist to approve or deny an initial application for certification or a request for renewal of a certificate. The board may delegate its responsibility to conduct hearings and screenings to its advisory committee. Hearings shall be conducted pursuant to title 41, chapter 6, article 6.

5. Proceed with the disposal of any complaint requesting disciplinary action or with any disciplinary action against a person holding a certificate as prescribed in subsection A, paragraph 14 of this section after the suspension or expiration of the certificate or surrender of the certificate by the holder.

6. Assess costs and reasonable attorney fees against a person who files a frivolous complaint or who files a complaint in bad faith. Costs assessed pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the expenses incurred by the state board in the investigation of the complaint. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 15-341, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-341. General powers and duties; immunity; delegation

A. The governing board shall:

1. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the governance of the schools, not inconsistent with law or rules prescribed by the state board of education.

2. Exclude from schools all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character.

3. Manage and control the school property within its district.

4. Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the use of the schools.

5. Prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils as provided in sections 15‑701 and 15‑701.01.

6. Furnish, repair and insure, at full insurable value, the school property of the district.

7. Construct school buildings on approval by a vote of the district electors.

8. Make in the name of the district conveyances of property belonging to the district and sold by the board.

9. Purchase school sites when authorized by a vote of the district at an election conducted as nearly as practicable in the same manner as the election provided in section 15‑481 and held on a date prescribed in section 15‑491, subsection E, but such authorization shall not necessarily specify the site to be purchased and such authorization shall not be necessary to exchange unimproved property as provided in section 15‑342, paragraph 23.

10. Construct, improve and furnish buildings used for school purposes when such buildings or premises are leased from the national park service.

11. Purchase school sites or construct, improve and furnish school buildings from the proceeds of the sale of school property only on approval by a vote of the district electors.

12. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.

13. Discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school.

14. Except as provided in section 15‑1224, deposit all monies received by the district as gifts, grants and devises with the county treasurer who shall credit the deposits as designated in the uniform system of financial records. If not inconsistent with the terms of the gifts, grants and devises given, any balance remaining after expenditures for the intended purpose of the monies have been made shall be used for reduction of school district taxes for the budget year, except that in the case of accommodation schools the county treasurer shall carry the balance forward for use by the county school superintendent for accommodation schools for the budget year.

15. Provide that, if a parent or legal guardian chooses not to accept a decision of the teacher as provided in section 15‑521, paragraph 2 3, the parent or legal guardian may request in writing that the governing board review the teacher's decision. Nothing in This paragraph shall not be construed to release school districts from any liability relating to a child's promotion or retention.

16. Provide for adequate supervision over pupils in instructional and noninstructional activities by certificated or noncertificated personnel.

17. Use school monies received from the state and county school apportionment exclusively for payment of salaries of teachers and other employees and contingent expenses of the district.

18. Make an annual report to the county school superintendent on or before October 1 in the manner and form and on the blanks prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction or county school superintendent. The board shall also make reports directly to the county school superintendent or the superintendent of public instruction whenever required.

19. Deposit all monies received by school districts other than student activities monies or monies from auxiliary operations as provided in sections 15‑1125 and 15‑1126 with the county treasurer to the credit of the school district except as provided in paragraph 20 of this subsection and sections 15‑1223 and 15‑1224, and the board shall expend the monies as provided by law for other school funds.

20. Establish bank accounts in which the board during a month may deposit miscellaneous monies received directly by the district. The board shall remit monies deposited in the bank accounts at least monthly to the county treasurer for deposit as provided in paragraph 19 of this subsection and in accordance with the uniform system of financial records.

21. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against a teacher who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board but that is not cause for dismissal of the teacher or for revocation of the certificate of the teacher. Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days. Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action. The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters.

22. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against an administrator who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board regarding duties of administrators but that is not cause for dismissal of the administrator or for revocation of the certificate of the administrator. Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days. Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action. The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters. For violations that are cause for dismissal, the provisions of notice, hearing and appeal in chapter 5, article 3 of this title shall apply. The filing of a timely request for a hearing suspends the imposition of a suspension without pay or a dismissal pending completion of the hearing.

23. Notwithstanding sections 13‑3108 and 13‑3120, prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that prohibit a person from carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds unless the person is a peace officer or has obtained specific authorization from the school administrator.

24. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures relating to the health and safety of all pupils participating in district sponsored practice sessions or games or other interscholastic athletic activities, including:

(a) The provision of water.

(b) Guidelines, information and forms, developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities, to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of concussions and head injuries and the risks of continued participation in athletic activity after a concussion. The policies and procedures shall require that, before a pupil participates in an athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent must sign an information form at least once each school year that states that the parent is aware of the nature and risk of concussion. The policies and procedures shall require that a pupil who is suspected of sustaining a concussion in a practice session, game or other interscholastic athletic activity be immediately removed from the athletic activity. A coach from the pupil's team or an official or a licensed health care provider may remove a pupil from play. A team parent may also remove his or her the parent's own child from play. A pupil may return to play on the same day if a health care provider rules out a suspected concussion at the time the pupil is removed from play. On a subsequent day, the pupil may return to play if the pupil has been evaluated by and received written clearance to resume participation in athletic activity from a health care provider who has been trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries. A health care provider who is a volunteer and who provides clearance to participate in athletic activity on the day of the suspected injury or on a subsequent day is immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A school district, school district employee, team coach, official, or team volunteer or a parent or guardian of a team member is not subject to civil liability for any act, omission or policy undertaken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this subdivision or for a decision made or an action taken by a health care provider. A group or organization that uses property or facilities owned or operated by a school district for athletic activities shall comply with the requirements of this subdivision. A school district and its employees and volunteers are not subject to civil liability for any other person or organization's failure or alleged failure to comply with the requirements of this subdivision. This subdivision does not apply to teams that are based in another state and that participate in an athletic activity in this state. For the purposes of this subdivision, athletic activity does not include dance, rhythmic gymnastics, competitions or exhibitions of academic skills or knowledge or other similar forms of physical noncontact activities, civic activities or academic activities, whether engaged in for the purposes of competition or recreation. For the purposes of this subdivision, "a health care provider" means a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17, an athletic trainer who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 41, a nurse practitioner who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15, and a physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 25.

25. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures regarding the smoking of tobacco within school buildings. The policies and procedures shall be adopted in consultation with school district personnel and members of the community and shall state whether smoking is prohibited in school buildings. If smoking in school buildings is not prohibited, the policies and procedures shall clearly state the conditions and circumstances under which smoking is permitted, those areas in a school building that may be designated as smoking areas and those areas in a school building that may not be designated as smoking areas.

26. Establish an assessment, data gathering and reporting system as prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.

27. Provide special education programs and related services pursuant to section 15‑764, subsection A to all children with disabilities as defined in section 15‑761.

28. Administer competency tests prescribed by the state board of education for the graduation of pupils from high school.

29. Ensure that insurance coverage is secured for all construction projects for purposes of general liability, property damage and workers' compensation and secure performance and payment bonds for all construction projects.

30. Keep on file the resumes of all current and former employees who provide instruction to pupils at a school. Resumes shall include an individual's educational and teaching background and experience in a particular academic content subject area. A school district shall inform parents and guardians of the availability of the resume information and shall make the resume information available for inspection on request of parents and guardians of pupils enrolled at a school. Nothing in This paragraph shall not be construed to require any school to release personally identifiable information in relation to any teacher or employee, including the teacher's or employee's address, salary, social security number or telephone number.

31. Report to local law enforcement agencies any suspected crime against a person or property that is a serious offense as defined in section 13-706 or that involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or serious physical injury and any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to employees, students or anyone on the property of the school. This paragraph does not limit or preclude the reporting by a school district or an employee of a school district of suspected crimes other than those required to be reported by this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "dangerous instrument", "deadly weapon" and "serious physical injury" have the same meanings prescribed in section 13‑105.

32. In conjunction with local law enforcement agencies and local medical facilities, develop an emergency response plan for each school in the school district in accordance with minimum standards developed jointly by the department of education and the division of emergency management within the department of emergency and military affairs.

33. Provide written notice to the parents or guardians of all students affected in the school district at least ten days prior to a public meeting to discuss closing a school within the school district. The notice shall include the reasons for the proposed closure and the time and place of the meeting. The governing board shall fix a time for a public meeting on the proposed closure no less than ten days before voting in a public meeting to close the school. The school district governing board shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting. At the time and place designated in the notice, the school district governing board shall hear reasons for or against closing the school. The school district governing board is exempt from this paragraph if it is determined by the governing board that the school shall be closed because it poses a danger to the health or safety of the pupils or employees of the school. A governing board may consult with the school facilities board for technical assistance and for information on the impact of closing a school. The information provided from the school facilities board shall not require the governing board to take or not take any action.

34. Incorporate instruction on Native American history into appropriate existing curricula.

35. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures allowing pupils who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis by a health care provider licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 14, 17 or 25 or by a registered nurse practitioner licensed and certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 to carry and self-administer emergency medications, including auto‑injectable epinephrine, while at school and at school sponsored activities. The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the medication device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to the possession and self‑administration of the medication. The policies shall require a pupil who uses auto-injectable epinephrine while at school and at school sponsored activities to notify the nurse or the designated school staff person of the use of the medication as soon as practicable. A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph, except in cases of wanton or wilful neglect.

36. Allow the possession and self-administration of prescription medication for breathing disorders in handheld inhaler devices by pupils who have been prescribed that medication by a health care professional licensed pursuant to title 32. The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the handheld inhaler device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration shall be sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to the possession and self‑administration of the medication. A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on a good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph.

37. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school sponsored events and activities and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists that include the following components:

(a) A procedure for pupils, parents and school district employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The school shall make available written forms designed to provide a full and detailed description of the incident and any other relevant information about the incident.

(b) A requirement that school district employees report in writing suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official and a description of appropriate disciplinary procedures for employees who fail to report suspected incidents that are known to the employee.

(c) A requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, school officials provide all pupils with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to a pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.

(d) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials provide a pupil who is an alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil.

(e) A formal process for the documentation of reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. School districts shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this paragraph for at least six years. The school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that the reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.

(f) A formal process for the investigation by the appropriate school officials of suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying the alleged victim on completion and disposition of the investigation.

(g) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted or been found to have committed incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(h) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting false reports of incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(i) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically harmed as the result of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.

(j) Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

38. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures regarding changing or adopting attendance boundaries that include the following components:

(a) A procedure for holding public meetings to discuss attendance boundary changes or adoptions that allows public comments.

(b) A procedure to notify the parents or guardians of the students affected.

(d) A process for placing public meeting notices and proposed maps on the school district's website for public review, if the school district maintains a website.

(e) A formal process for presenting the attendance boundaries of the affected area in public meetings that allows public comments.

(f) A formal process for notifying the residents and parents or guardians of the affected area as to the decision of the governing board on the school district's website, if the school district maintains a website.

(g) A formal process for updating attendance boundaries on the school district's website within ninety days of an adopted boundary change. The school district shall send a direct link to the school district's attendance boundaries website to the department of real estate.

(h) If the land that a school was built on was donated within the past five years, a formal process to notify the entity that donated the land affected by the decision of the governing board.

39. If the state board of education determines that the school district has committed an overexpenditure as defined in section 15-107, provide a copy of the fiscal management report submitted pursuant to section 15-107, subsection H on its website and make copies available to the public on request. The school district shall comply with a request within five business days after receipt.

40. Ensure that the contract for the superintendent is structured in a manner in which up to twenty per cent of the total annual salary included for the superintendent in the contract is classified as performance pay. Nothing in This paragraph shall not be construed to require school districts to increase total compensation for superintendents. Unless the school district governing board votes to implement an alternative procedure at a public meeting called for this purpose, the performance pay portion of the superintendent's total annual compensation shall be determined as follows:

(a) Twenty‑five per cent of the performance pay shall be determined based on the percentage of academic gain determined by the department of education of pupils who are enrolled in the school district compared to the academic gain achieved by the highest ranking of the fifty largest school districts in this state. For the purposes of this subdivision, the department of education shall determine academic gain by the academic growth achieved by each pupil who has been enrolled at the same school in a school district for at least five consecutive months measured against that pupil's academic results in the 2008‑2009 school year. For the purposes of this subdivision, of the fifty largest school districts in this state, the school district with pupils who demonstrate the highest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008‑2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 100 and the school district with pupils who demonstrate the lowest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008‑2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 0.

(b) Twenty‑five per cent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of parents of pupils who are enrolled at the school district who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of parental satisfaction with the school district. The parental satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey. The parental satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each parent who participates in the survey. The letter grade scale used on the parental satisfaction survey shall direct parents to assign one of the following letter grades:

(i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.

(ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.

(iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.

(iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.

(v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.

(c) Twenty‑five per cent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of teachers who are employed at the school district and who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of teacher satisfaction with the school. The teacher satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey. The teacher satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each teacher who participates in the survey. The letter grade scale used on the teacher satisfaction survey shall direct teachers to assign one of the following letter grades:

(i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.

(ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.

(iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.

(iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.

(v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.

(d) Twenty‑five per cent of the performance pay shall be determined by other criteria selected by the governing board.

41. Maintain and store permanent public records of the school district as required by law. Notwithstanding section 39‑101, the standards adopted by the Arizona state library, archives and public records for the maintenance and storage of school district public records shall allow school districts to elect to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph by maintaining and storing these records either on paper or in an electronic format, or a combination of a paper and electronic format.

42. Adopt in a public meeting and implement by school year 2013-2014 policies for principal evaluations. Before THE ADOPTION OF PRINCIPAL EVALUATION POLICIES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD SHALL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED POLICIES. The policies shall describe:

(a) The principal evaluation instrument, including the four performance classifications adopted by the governing board pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38.

(b) Alignment of professional development opportunities to the principal evaluations.

(c) Incentives for principals in one of the two highest performance classifications pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38, which may include:

(i) Multiyear contracts pursuant to section 15-503.

(ii) Incentives to work at schools that are assigned a letter grade of D or F pursuant to section 15-241.

(d) Transfer and contract processes for principals designated in the lowest performance classification pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38.

B. Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of this section, the county school superintendent may construct, improve and furnish school buildings or purchase or sell school sites in the conduct of an accommodation school.

C. If any school district acquires real or personal property, whether by purchase, exchange, condemnation, gift or otherwise, the governing board shall pay to the county treasurer any taxes on the property that were unpaid as of the date of acquisition, including penalties and interest. The lien for unpaid delinquent taxes, penalties and interest on property acquired by a school district:

1. Is not abated, extinguished, discharged or merged in the title to the property.

2. Is enforceable in the same manner as other delinquent tax liens.

D. The governing board may not locate a school on property that is less than one‑fourth mile from agricultural land regulated pursuant to section 3‑365, except that the owner of the agricultural land may agree to comply with the buffer zone requirements of section 3‑365. If the owner agrees in writing to comply with the buffer zone requirements and records the agreement in the office of the county recorder as a restrictive covenant running with the title to the land, the school district may locate a school within the affected buffer zone. The agreement may include any stipulations regarding the school, including conditions for future expansion of the school and changes in the operational status of the school that will result in a breach of the agreement.

E. A school district, its governing board members, its school council members and its employees are immune from civil liability for the consequences of adoption and implementation of policies and procedures pursuant to subsection A of this section and section 15‑342. This waiver does not apply if the school district, its governing board members, its school council members or its employees are guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

F. A governing board may delegate in writing to a superintendent, principal or head teacher the authority to prescribe procedures that are consistent with the governing board's policies.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a school district governing board shall not take any action that would result in a reduction of pupil square footage unless the governing board notifies the school facilities board established by section 15‑2001 of the proposed action and receives written approval from the school facilities board to take the action. A reduction includes an increase in administrative space that results in a reduction of pupil square footage or sale of school sites or buildings, or both. A reduction includes a reconfiguration of grades that results in a reduction of pupil square footage of any grade level. This subsection does not apply to temporary reconfiguration of grades to accommodate new school construction if the temporary reconfiguration does not exceed one year. The sale of equipment that results in a reduction that falls below the equipment requirements prescribed in section 15‑2011, subsection B is subject to commensurate withholding of school district capital outlay revenue limit monies pursuant to the direction of the school facilities board. Except as provided in section 15‑342, paragraph 10, proceeds from the sale of school sites, buildings or other equipment shall be deposited in the school plant fund as provided in section 15‑1102.

H. Subsections C through G of this section apply to a county board of supervisors and a county school superintendent when operating and administering an accommodation school. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 15-503, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-503. Superintendents, principals, head teachers and school psychologists; term of employment; evaluation; contract delivery; nonretention notice

A. The governing board may:

1. Employ a superintendent or principal, or both. If the governing board employs a superintendent, the governing board shall determine the qualifications for the superintendent by action taken at a public meeting. The governing board shall require a superintendent to have a valid fingerprint clearance card that is issued pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article 3.1.

2. Appoint a head teacher.

3. Jointly with another governing board employ a superintendent or a principal, or both. If the governing board jointly employs a superintendent, the governing boards shall jointly determine the qualifications for the superintendent by action taken at a public meeting. The governing boards shall require a superintendent to have a valid fingerprint clearance card that is issued pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article 3.1.

B. The term of employment of superintendents or principals may be for any period not exceeding three years, except that if the superintendent's or principal's contract with the school district is for multiple years pursuant to this subsection the school district shall not offer to extend or renegotiate the contract until May of the year preceding the final year of the contract. The term of employment of principals may be for any period not exceeding three years pursuant to section 15-341, subsection A, paragraph 42, except that if the principal's contract with the school district is for multiple years the school district shall not offer to extend or negotiate the contract until may of the year preceding the final year of the contract. The school district governing board or the governing body of the charter school shall communicate the superintendent's or principal's duties with respect to the classroom site fund established by section 15‑977.

C. The governing board shall establish systems for the evaluation of the performance of principals that meet the requirements prescribed in section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38 and other school administrators and certificated school psychologists in the school district. In the development and adoption of these performance evaluation systems, the governing board shall avail itself of the advice of its administrators and certificated school psychologists. Each evaluation shall include recommendations as to areas of improvement in the performance of the certificated school psychologist if the performance of the certificated school psychologist warrants improvement. After transmittal of an assessment, a board designee shall confer with the certificated school psychologist to make specific recommendations as to areas of improvement in the certificated school psychologist's performance. The board designee shall provide assistance and opportunities for the certificated school psychologist to improve his performance and shall follow up with the certificated school psychologist after a reasonable period of time for the purpose of ascertaining that the certificated school psychologist is demonstrating adequate performance. The evaluation process for certificated school psychologists shall include appeal procedures for certificated school psychologists who disagree with the evaluation of their performance, if the evaluation is for use as criteria for establishing compensation or dismissal.

D. On or before May 15 each year, the governing board shall offer a contract for the next school year to each certified administrator and certificated school psychologist who is in the last year of his contract unless, on or before April 15, the governing board, a member of the board acting on behalf of the board or the superintendent of the school district gives notice to the administrator or certificated school psychologist of the board's intention not to offer a new contract. If the governing board has called for an override election for the third Tuesday in May as provided in section 15‑481, the governing board shall offer a contract for the next school year to each certified administrator or certificated school psychologist who is in the last year of his contract on or before June 15 unless, no later than five days after the override election excluding Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays, the governing board, a member of the board acting on behalf of the board or the superintendent of the school district gives notice to the administrator or the certificated school psychologist of the board's intention not to offer a new contract. The administrator's or the certificated school psychologist's acceptance of the contract shall be indicated within thirty days from the date of the written contract or the offer is revoked. The administrator or certificated school psychologist accepts the contract by signing the contract and returning it to the governing board or by making a written instrument that accepts the terms of the contract and delivering the written instrument to the governing board.

E. Notice of the board's intention not to reemploy the administrator or certificated school psychologist shall be made by delivering the notice personally to the administrator or the certificated school psychologist or by sending the notice by certified mail, postmarked on or before the applicable deadline prescribed in subsection D of this section, and directed to the administrator or the certificated school psychologist at his place of residence as recorded in the school district records.

F. The school district governing board shall make available the evaluation and performance classification pursuant to section 15-203, subsection a, paragraph 38 of each principal in the school district to school districts and charter schools that are inquiring about the performance of the principal for hiring purposes. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 15-521, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-521. Duties of teachers

Every teacher shall:

1. Make student learning the primary focus of the teacher's professional time.

1. 2. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct.

2. 3. Take and maintain daily classroom attendance.

3. 4. Make the decision to promote or retain a pupil in grade in a common school or to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school. Such decisions may be overturned only as provided in section 15‑342, paragraph 11.

4. 5. Comply with all rules and policies of the governing board that relate to the duties prescribed in this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 15-536, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-536. Offer of contract to certificated teacher who has not been employed more than three consecutive school years; acceptance; notice to teacher of intention not to reemploy

A. Subject to sections 15‑539, 15‑540, 15‑541, 15‑544 and 15‑549, the governing board shall offer a teaching contract for the next ensuing school year to each certificated teacher who has not been employed by the school district for more than the major portion of three consecutive school years or who is beginning the teacher's fourth year of employment and who has been designated in one of the two lowest performance classifications pursuant to section 15-203, subsection a, paragraph 38 and who is under a contract of employment with the school district for the current school year, unless the governing board, a member of the board acting on behalf of the board or the superintendent of the school district gives notice to the teacher of the board's intention not to offer a teaching contract or unless such teacher has been dismissed pursuant to section 15‑538, 15‑539, 15‑541 or 15‑544. The teacher's acceptance of the contract for the ensuing year must be indicated within fifteen business days from the date of the teacher's receipt of the written contract or the offer is revoked. Receipt under this subsection will be deemed to have occurred when the written contract is personally delivered, placed in the teacher's school provided mailbox, including electronic mail, or two days after being placed in a United States postal service mailbox. The teacher accepts the contract by signing the contract and returning it to the governing board or by making a written instrument which accepts the terms of the contract and delivering it to the governing board. If the written instrument includes terms in addition to the terms of the contract offered by the board, the teacher fails to accept the contract.

B. Notice of the board's intention not to reemploy the teacher shall be by delivering it personally to the teacher or by sending it by registered or certified mail to the teacher at the teacher's place of residence as recorded in the school district records. The notice shall incorporate a statement of reasons for not reemploying the teacher. If the reasons are charges of inadequacy of classroom performance as defined by the governing board pursuant to section 15‑539, subsection D, the board or its authorized representative, at least ninety days prior to such notice, shall give the teacher written preliminary notice of inadequacy, specifying the nature of the inadequacy with such particularity as to furnish the teacher an opportunity to correct the inadequacies and overcome the grounds for such charge. The governing board may delegate to employees of the governing board the general authority to issue preliminary notices of inadequacy of classroom performance to teachers pursuant to this subsection without the need for prior approval of each notice by the governing board. In all cases in which an employee of the governing board issues a preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance without prior approval by the governing board, the employee shall report its issuance to the governing board within five school days. The written notice of intention not to reemploy shall include a copy of any evaluation pertinent to the charges made and filed with the board.

C. Nothing in This section shall not be construed to provide a certificated teacher who has not been employed by the school district for more than the major portion of three consecutive school years and who has received notice of the board's intention not to offer a teaching contract or a certificated teacher who has not been employed for more than the major portion of four consecutive school years, who is under contract pursuant to this section and who has been designated in one of the two lowest performance classifications pursuant to section 15-203, subsection a, paragraph 38 with the right to a hearing pursuant to section 15‑539, subsection G. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 15-537, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-537. Performance of certificated teachers; evaluation system; definition

A. The governing board of a school district shall establish a system for the evaluation of the performance of certificated teachers in the school district that meets the requirements prescribed in section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38. The objectives of the teacher performance evaluation system are to improve instruction and maintain instructional strengths. The governing board shall involve its certificated teachers in the development and periodic evaluation of the teacher performance evaluation system.

b. The school district governing board shall adopt teacher evaluation policies in a public meeting by school year 2013-2014. Before the adoption of teacher evaluation policies, the school district governing board shall provide opportunities for public discussion on the proposed policies. The policies shall describe:

1. Incentives for teachers in the highest performance classification, including multiyear contracts not to exceed three years. The policies shall specify that the offer and acceptance of a multiyear contract does not exclude that teacher from the application of section 15-538.01, 15-540, 15‑541 or 15-549 and that the teacher may accept a multiyear contract offer or decline and accept a one year contract.

2. INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS IN THE TWO HIGHEST PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATIONS TO WORK AT SCHOOLS THAT ARE ASSIGNED A LETTER GRADE OF D OR F PURSUANT TO section 15-241.

3. PROTECTIONS FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE TRANSFERRED TO SCHOOLS THAT ARE ASSIGNED A LETTER GRADE OF D OR F PURSUANT TO section 15-241.

4. PROTECTIONS FOR TEACHERS IF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL IS DESIGNATED IN THE LOWEST PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION.

C. BEGINNING IN SCHOOL YEAR 2015-2016, THE POLICIES PRESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION B of this section SHALL DESCRIBE:

1. SUPPORT AND CONSEQUENCES FOR TEACHERS DESIGNATED IN THE LOWEST PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION.

2. AN INTERVENTION OPTION FOR TEACHERS DESIGNATED IN THE LOWEST PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION THAT INCLUDES THE USE OF A PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR those TEACHERS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-539. THE POLICY SHALL SPECIFY THAT THIS INTERVENTION OPTION may BE USED only ONCE FOR EACH TEACHER.

3. DISMISSAL POLICIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-539 FOR TEACHERS WHO CONTINUE TO BE DESIGNATED IN THE LOWEST PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION AFTER USING THE INTERVENTION OPTION PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS SUBSECTION.

4. DISMISSAL POLICIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-539 FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE NOT PROVIDED AN INTERVENTION OPTION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS subSECTION. THE POLICIES SHALL require THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD INITIATE THE NOTICE OF INADEQUACY OF CLASSROOM performance PROCESS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-539 NO LATER THAN THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE TEACHER IS DESIGNATED IN THE LOWEST PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION.

D. A teacher who has been employed by the school district for the major portion of three or more consecutive school years and who is designated in the lowest performance classification for two consecutive school years shall not be transferred as a teacher to another school in that school district unless the school district has issued a notice of inadequacy of classroom performance and approved a performance improvement plan for the teacher pursuant to section 15-539 and the governing board has approved the new placement as in the best interests of the pupils in the school. A teacher who continues to be designated in one of the two lowest performance classifications shall not be permitted to transfer to another school. A teacher shall not be transferred more than once pursuant to this subsection.

B. E. The governing board shall prescribe specific procedures for the teacher performance evaluation system PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-203, SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPH 38, which shall include at least the following elements:

1. A reliable evaluation instrument including specific criteria for measuring effective teaching performance in each area of the teacher's classroom responsibility.

2. An assessment of the competencies of teachers as they relate to the specific criteria for measuring teacher performance prescribed in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3. 1. A specified minimum number and minimum duration of At least two actual classroom observations of the certificated teacher demonstrating teaching skills in a complete and uninterrupted lesson by the persons evaluating person observing the teacher. THERE SHALL BE AT LEAST sixty CALENDAR DAYS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND LAST OBSERVATIONS. Within ten business days after each observation, the person observing the teacher shall provide written FEEDBACK to the teacher.

4. 2. Specific and reasonable plans for the improvement of teacher performance as provided in subsection F H of this section.

5. 3. Appeal procedures for teachers who disagree with the evaluation of their performance, if the evaluation is for use as criteria for establishing compensation.

C. A regular evaluation of the performance of each certificated teacher as provided in this section shall be performed at least twice each year for a teacher who has not been employed by the school district for more than the major portion of three consecutive school years and at least once each year for a teacher who has been employed by the school district for more than the major portion of three consecutive school years. The governing board may provide for additional teacher performance evaluations as it deems necessary.

D. F. The governing board shall designate persons who are qualified to evaluate observe teachers and to serve as evaluators for the district's teacher performance evaluation system. The governing board shall ensure that persons evaluating teachers are TRAINED AND qualified to evaluate teachers.

E. G. THE RESULTS OF an Annual evaluation made conducted as provided in this section shall be in writing, and a copy shall be transmitted to the certificated teacher within five days after completion of the evaluation. The certificated teacher may initiate a written reaction or response to the evaluation.

F. H. Each evaluation shall include recommendations as to areas of improvement in the performance of the certificated teacher if the performance of the teacher warrants improvement. After transmittal of an assessment evaluation a board designee shall confer with the teacher to make specific recommendations as to areas of improvement in the teacher's performance. The board designee shall provide assistance and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT opportunities for the certificated teacher to improve his performance and follow up with the teacher after a reasonable period of time for the purpose of ascertaining that the teacher is demonstrating adequate classroom performance.

G. I. Copies of the assessment and evaluation report and performance classification of a certificated teacher retained by the governing board and the department of education are confidential, do not constitute a public record and shall not be released or shown to any person except:

1. To the certificated teacher who may make any use of it.

2. To authorized district officers and employees for all personnel matters regarding employment and contracts and for any hearing which that relates to personnel matters.

3. To school districts and charter schools that inquire about the performance of the teacher for employment purposes.

3. 4. For introduction in evidence or discovery in any court action between the governing board and the certificated teacher in which either:

(a) The competency of the teacher is at issue.

(b) The assessment and evaluation and performance classification were an exhibit at a hearing, the result of which is challenged.

J. Any school district policy pertaining to the transfer of teachers from one school to another school in a school district shall take into consideration the current distribution of teachers across all of the performance classifications and the needs of the pupils in the school district.

K. For the purposes of this section, "performance classification" means the four performance classifications adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-203, subsection a, paragraph 38. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Title 15, chapter 5, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-537.01, to read:

START_STATUTE15-537.01. Posting of best practices for teacher and principal evaluation systems

A. On or before September 15, 2012, the department of education shall identify and prominently post on the website maintained by the department the best practices for the implementation and assessment of principal and teacher evaluation systems.

B. The best practices posted by the department of education pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be from at least the following public schools in this state:

1. One large school district located in a county with a population of at least eight hundred thousand persons.

2. One small school district located in a county with a population of at least eight hundred thousand persons.

3. One school district located in a county with a population of fewer than eight hundred thousand persons.

4. One charter school.

C. The best practices posted by the department of education pursuant to subsection A of this section shall include detailed information on the following:

1. The implementation process for teacher and principal evaluation systems.

2. The evaluation weightings.

3. The types of qualitative and quantitative elements used.

4. The methods in which the evaluations guide professional development.

5. The types of decisions for which the evaluations are used. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Section 15-538.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-538.01. Offer of contract to certificated teacher employed more than three consecutive school years

A. Subject to sections 15‑539, 15‑540, 15‑541, 15‑544 and 15‑549, the governing board shall offer to each certificated teacher who has been employed by the school district for more than the major portion of three consecutive school years and who is under contract of employment with the school district for the current year or who is not designated in the lowest performance classification pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38 and was offered a contract in the prior year pursuant to section 15-536 a contract renewal for the next ensuing school year unless the governing board, a member of the board acting on behalf of the board or the superintendent of the school district gives notice to the teacher of the board's intent not to offer a contract and to dismiss the teacher as provided in section 15‑539.

B. The teacher's acceptance of the contract must be indicated within fifteen business days from the date of the teacher's receipt of the written contract or the offer of a contract is revoked. Receipt under this subsection will be deemed to have occurred when the written contract is personally delivered, placed in the teacher's school provided mailbox, including electronic mail, or two days after being placed in a United States postal service mailbox. The teacher accepts the contract by signing the contract and returning it to the governing board or by making a written instrument which that accepts the terms of the contract and delivering it to the governing board. If the written instrument includes terms in addition to the terms of the contract offered by the board, the teacher fails to accept the contract. END_STATUTE

Sec. 9. Section 15-539, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-539. Dismissal of certificated teacher; due process; written charges; notice; hearing on request

A. On a written statement of charges presented by the superintendent, charging that there exists cause for the suspension without pay for a period of time greater than ten school days or dismissal of a certificated teacher of the district, the governing board, except as otherwise provided in this article, shall give notice to the teacher of its intention to suspend without pay or dismiss the teacher at the expiration of ten days from the date of the service of the notice.

B. Whenever the superintendent presents a statement of charges wherein the alleged cause for dismissal constitutes immoral or unprofessional conduct, the governing board may adopt a resolution that a complaint be filed with the department of education. Pending disciplinary action by the state board of education, the certificated teacher may be reassigned by the superintendent or placed on administrative leave by the governing board pursuant to section 15‑540.

C. Except as provided in section 15‑536, the governing board shall give a certificated teacher who has been employed by the school district for more than the major portion of three consecutive school years notice of intention to dismiss if its intention to dismiss is based on charges of inadequacy of classroom performance as defined by the governing board pursuant to subsection D of this section. The governing board or its authorized representative shall give the teacher a written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance at least ten instructional days before the start of the period of time within which to correct the inadequacy and overcome the grounds for the charge. The governing board may delegate to employees of the governing board the general authority to issue preliminary notices of inadequacy of classroom performance to teachers pursuant to this section without the need for prior approval of each notice by the governing board. In all cases in which an employee of the governing board issues a preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance without prior approval by the governing board, the employee shall report its issuance to the governing board within five school days. The written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance shall specify the nature of the inadequacy of classroom performance with such particularity as to furnish the teacher an opportunity to correct the teacher's inadequacies and overcome the grounds for the charge. The written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance shall be based on a valid evaluation according to school district procedure, shall include a copy of any evaluation pertinent to the charges made and shall state the date by which the teacher has to correct the inadequacy and overcome the grounds for the charge. That evaluation shall not be conducted within two instructional days of any school break of one week or more. The written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance shall allow the teacher not less than sixty instructional days within which to correct the inadequacy and overcome the grounds for the charge. If within the time specified in the written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance the teacher does not demonstrate adequate classroom performance, the governing board shall dismiss the teacher either within ten days of the service of a subsequent notice of intention to dismiss or by the end of the contract year in which the subsequent notice of intention to dismiss is served unless the teacher has requested a hearing as provided in subsection G of this section. If the teacher demonstrates adequate classroom performance during the period allowed to correct such deficiencies as specified in the written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance, the governing board may not dismiss the teacher for the reasons specified in the written preliminary notice of inadequacy of classroom performance. If the governing board of a school district has received approval to budget for a career ladder program, the governing board may define inadequacy of classroom performance by establishing a single level of performance that is required of all teachers or by establishing more than one required level of performance. If more than one level is established, the same level of performance for minimum adequacy shall be required of all teachers who have completed the same number of years of teaching in the district.

D. The governing board shall develop a definition of inadequacy of classroom performance that aligns with the performance classifications adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-203, subsection a, paragraph 38. this definition of inadequacy of classroom performance applies to notices issued pursuant to section 15‑536, section 15‑538 and this section. The governing board shall develop its definition of inadequacy of classroom performance in consultation with its certificated teachers. The consultation may be accomplished by holding a public hearing, forming an advisory committee, providing teachers the opportunity to respond to a proposed definition or obtaining teacher approval of a career ladder program that defines inadequacy of classroom performance.

E. Any written statement of charges alleging unprofessional conduct, conduct in violation of the rules or policies of the governing board or inadequacy of classroom performance shall specify instances of behavior and the acts or omissions constituting the charge so that the certificated teacher will be able to prepare a defense. If applicable, it shall state the statutes, rules or written objectives of the governing board that the certificated teacher is alleged to have violated and set forth the facts relevant to each occasion of alleged unprofessional conduct, conduct in violation of the rules or policies of the governing board or inadequacy of classroom performance.

F. The notice shall be in writing and shall be served on the certificated teacher personally or by United States registered or certified mail addressed to the teacher's last known address. A copy of the charges, together with a copy of this section and sections 15‑501, 15‑538.01, 15‑540, 15‑541, 15‑542 and 15‑544 through 15‑547, shall be attached to the notice.

G. The certificated teacher who receives notice that there exists cause for dismissal or suspension without pay shall have the right to a hearing if the teacher files a written request with the governing board within ten days of service of notice. The filing of a timely request shall suspend the imposition of a suspension without pay or a dismissal pending completion of the hearing. END_STATUTE

Sec. 10. Section 15-977, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-977. Classroom site fund; definitions

A. The classroom site fund is established consisting of monies transferred to the fund pursuant to section 37‑521, subsection B and section 42‑5029, subsection E, paragraph 10. The department of education shall administer the fund. School districts and charter schools may not supplant existing school site funding with revenues from the fund. All monies distributed from the fund are intended for use at the school site. Each school district or charter school shall allocate forty per cent of the monies for teacher compensation increases based on performance and employment related expenses, twenty per cent of the monies for teacher base salary increases and employment related expenses and forty per cent of the monies for maintenance and operation purposes as prescribed in subsection H of this section. Teacher compensation increases based on performance or teacher base salary increases distributed pursuant to this subsection shall supplement, and not supplant, teacher compensation monies from any other sources. The school district or charter school shall notify each school principal of the amount available to the school by April 15 of each year. The district or charter school shall request from the school's principal each school's priority for the allocation of the funds available to the school for each program listed under subsection H of this section. The amount budgeted by the school district or charter school pursuant to this section shall not be included in the allowable budget balance carryforward calculated pursuant to section 15‑943.01.

B. A school district governing board must adopt a performance based compensation system at a public hearing to allocate funding from the classroom site fund pursuant to subsection A of this section. BEGINNING IN SCHOOL YEAR 2014-2015, INDIVIDUAL TEACHER PERFORMANCE AS MEASURED BY THE TEACHER'S PERFORMANCE CLASSIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-203, SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPH 38 SHALL BE A COMPONENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PORTION OF THE FORTY PER CENT ALLOCATION FOR TEACHER COMPENSATION BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND EMPLOYMENT RELATED EXPENSES.

C. A school district governing board shall vote on a performance based compensation system that includes the following elements:

1. School district performance and school performance.

2. Individual teacher performance as measured by the teacher's performance classification pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38. Beginning in school year 2014-2015, the individual teacher performance component shall account for thirty-three per cent of the forty per cent allocation for teacher compensation based on performance and employment related expenses.

2. 3. Measures of academic progress toward the academic standards adopted by the state board of education.

3. 4. Other measures of academic progress.

4. 5. Dropout or graduation rates.

5. 6. Attendance rates.

6. 7. Ratings of school quality by parents.

7. 8. Ratings of school quality by students.

8. 9. The input of teachers and administrators.

9. 10. Approval of the performance based compensation system based on an affirmative vote of at least seventy per cent of the teachers eligible to participate in the performance based compensation system.

10. 11. An appeals process for teachers who have been denied performance based compensation.

11. 12. Regular evaluation for effectiveness, which shall comply by fiscal year 2014‑2015 with section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38.

D. A performance based compensation system shall include teacher professional development programs that are aligned with the elements of the performance based compensation system.

E. A school district governing board may modify the elements contained in subsection C of this section and consider additional elements when adopting a performance based compensation system. A school district governing board shall adopt any modifications or additional elements and specify the criteria used at a public hearing.

F. Until December 31, 2009, each school district shall develop an assessment plan for its performance based compensation system and submit the plan to the department of education by December 31 of each year. A copy of the performance based compensation system and assessment plan adopted by the school district governing board shall be included in the report submitted to the department of education.

G. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated, are exempt from the provisions of section 35‑190 relating to lapsing of appropriations and shall be distributed as follows:

1. By March 30 of each year, the staff of the joint legislative budget committee shall determine a per pupil amount from the fund for the budget year using the estimated statewide weighted count for the current year pursuant to section 15‑943, paragraph 2, subdivision (a) and based on estimated available resources in the classroom site fund for the budget year adjusted for any prior year carryforward or shortfall.

2. The allocation to each charter school and school district for a fiscal year shall equal the per pupil amount established in paragraph 1 of this subsection for the fiscal year multiplied by the weighted student count for the school district or charter school for the fiscal year pursuant to section 15‑943, paragraph 2, subdivision (a). For the purposes of this paragraph, the weighted student count for a school district that serves as the district of attendance for nonresident pupils shall be increased to include nonresident pupils who attend school in the school district.

H. Monies distributed from the classroom site fund shall be spent for the following maintenance and operation purposes:

1. Class size reduction.

2. Teacher compensation increases.

3. AIMS intervention programs.

4. Teacher development.

5. Dropout prevention programs.

6. Teacher liability insurance premiums.

I. The district governing board or charter school shall allocate the classroom site fund monies to include, wherever possible, the priorities identified by the principals of the schools while assuring that the funds maximize classroom opportunities and conform to the authorized expenditures identified in subsection A of this section.

J. School districts and charter schools that receive monies from the classroom site fund shall submit a report by November 15 of each year to the superintendent of public instruction that provides an accounting of the expenditures of monies distributed from the fund during the previous fiscal year and a summary of the results of district and school programs funded with monies distributed from the fund. The department of education in conjunction with the auditor general shall prescribe the format of the report under this subsection.

K. School districts and charter schools that receive monies from the classroom site fund shall receive these monies monthly in an amount not to exceed one‑twelfth of the monies estimated pursuant to subsection G of this section, except that if there are insufficient monies in the fund that month to make payments, the distribution for that month shall be prorated for each school district or charter school. The department of education may make an additional payment in the current month for any prior month or months in which school districts or charter schools received a prorated payment if there are sufficient monies in the fund that month for the additional payments. The state is not required to make payments to a school district or charter school classroom site fund if the state classroom site fund revenue collections are insufficient to meet the estimated allocations to school districts and charter schools pursuant to subsection G of this section.

L. The state education system for committed youth shall receive monies from the classroom site fund in the same manner as school districts and charter schools. The Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind shall receive monies from the classroom site fund in an amount that corresponds to the weighted student count for the current year pursuant to section 15‑943, paragraph 2, subdivision (b) for each pupil enrolled in the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind and the state education system for committed youth are subject to this section in the same manner as school districts and charter schools.

M. Each school district and charter school, including school districts that unify pursuant to section 15‑448 or consolidate pursuant to section 15‑459, shall establish a local level classroom site fund to receive allocations from the state level classroom site fund. The local level classroom site fund shall be a budgetary controlled account. Interest charges for any registered warrants for the local level classroom site fund shall be a charge against the local level classroom site fund. Interest earned on monies in the local level classroom site fund shall be added to the local level classroom site fund as provided in section 15‑978. This state shall not be required to make payments to a school district or charter school local level classroom site fund that are in addition to monies transferred to the state level classroom site fund pursuant to section 37‑521, subsection B and section 42‑5029, subsection E, paragraph 10.

N. Monies distributed from the classroom site fund for class size reduction, AIMS intervention and dropout prevention programs shall only be used for instructional purposes in the instruction function as defined in the uniform system of financial records, except that monies shall not be used for school sponsored athletics.

O. For the purposes of this section:

1. "AIMS intervention" means summer programs, after school programs, before school programs or tutoring programs that are specifically designed to ensure that pupils meet the Arizona academic standards as measured by the Arizona instrument to measure standards test prescribed by section 15‑741.

2. "Class size reduction" means any maintenance and operations expenditure that is designed to reduce the ratio of pupils to classroom teachers, including the use of persons who serve as aides to classroom teachers. END_STATUTE

Sec. 11. Teacher and principal evaluations; alternative timeline

Notwithstanding section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, a school district governing board or a charter school governing body may elect to postpone the full implementation of the required teacher and principal evaluation until the 2013-2014 school year if a majority of the governing board or a majority of the governing body votes to postpone the evaluation implementation at a public meeting and adopts a plan at the public meeting that includes:

1. All of the following, which shall be adopted before September 30, 2012:

(a) A timeline for the evaluation to be implemented by the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.

(b) A plan for engaging teachers and other interested stakeholders.

2. All of the following, which shall be adopted before December 31, 2012:

(a) An instrument or instruments considered for the evaluation.

(b) The percentage of the outcome of the evaluation in accordance with the framework adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act.

Sec. 12. Pilot evaluation instrument

A. The department of education may develop an evaluation instrument that complies with the framework adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, for school districts and charter schools.

B. The instrument developed by the department of education may be pilot tested in the school districts and charter schools that choose to participate in the pilot program in school year 2012-2013.