Page 1, between lines 1 and 2, insert:
"Section 1. Section 15-701.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE15-701.01. High school; graduation; requirements; community college
or university courses; transfer from private schools; academic credit
A. The state board of education shall:
1. Prescribe a minimum course of study, as defined
in section 15‑101 and incorporating the academic standards adopted by the
state board of education, for the graduation of pupils from high school.
2. Prescribe competency requirements for the
graduation of pupils from high school incorporating the academic standards in
at least the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science and social
studies.
3. Develop and adopt competency tests pursuant to
section 15‑741. English language learners who are subject to
article 3.1 of this chapter are subject to the assessments prescribed in
section 15-741. for
the graduation of pupils from high school in at least the areas of reading,
writing and mathematics and shall establish passing scores for each such test.
For the purposes of satisfying the graduation requirements of this paragraph, a
minimum score as determined by the state board of education on one or more
nationally recognized college entrance examinations selected by the state board
of education, if examination information may be accessed at no cost to this
state, may be substituted for passing scores on the Arizona instrument to
measure standards test for a pupil who is in grade twelve. For the
purposes of satisfying the graduation requirements of this paragraph, a score
as determined by the state board of education on a board examination prescribed
in article 6 of this chapter may be substituted for passing scores on the
Arizona instrument to measure standards test if a pupil who is in grade twelve
has previously taken the board examination and has not achieved the minimum
score required to be eligible for a Grand Canyon diploma. A pupil
shall not be required to pass the competency test required in this paragraph to
graduate from high school if the pupil transfers into the district from out‑of‑state
and has successfully passed a statewide assessment test on state adopted
standards that are substantially equivalent to the state board adopted academic
standards.
B. If the
state board of education adopts a competency test as a graduation requirement
for a child with a disability as defined in section 15‑761 or a child who
receives special education pursuant to section 15‑763, pupils with
individualized education programs shall not be required to achieve passing
scores on competency tests in order to graduate from high school unless the
pupil is learning at a level appropriate for the pupil's grade level in a
specific academic area and unless passing scores on a competency test are specifically
required in a specific academic area by the pupil's individualized education
program as mutually agreed on by the pupil's parents and the pupil's
individualized education program team or the pupil, if the pupil is at least
eighteen years of age. These competency tests shall be administered to pupils
in a manner prescribed in the pupil's individualized education program, and
school districts and charter schools shall make specific and appropriate
accommodations for pupils with individualized education programs. Pupils with
section 504 plans as defined in section 15‑731 shall not be required to
achieve passing scores on competency tests in order to graduate from high
school unless the pupil is learning at a level appropriate for the pupil's
grade level in a specific academic area and unless passing scores on a
competency test are specifically required in a specific academic area by the
pupil's section 504 plan that is developed in consultation with the pupil's
parents. These competency tests shall be administered to pupils in a
manner prescribed in the pupil's section 504 plan, and school districts and
charter schools shall make specific and appropriate accommodations for pupils
with a section 504 plan. A pupil with an individualized education program or a
section 504 plan who graduates from high school but who is not required to
achieve a passing score on a competency test in order to graduate from high
school shall receive the standard diploma issued by the school district or
charter school.
C. B. The governing
board of a school district shall:
1. Prescribe curricula that include the academic
standards in the required subject areas pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1
of this section.
2. Prescribe criteria for the graduation of pupils
from the high schools in the school district. These criteria shall include
accomplishment of the academic standards in at least reading, writing,
mathematics, science and social studies, as determined by district assessment.
Other criteria may include additional measures of academic achievement and
attendance.
D. C. The governing
board may prescribe the course of study and competency requirements for the
graduation of pupils from high school that are in addition to or higher than
the course of study and competency requirements which that
the state board prescribes.
E. D. The governing
board may prescribe competency requirements for the passage of pupils in
courses that are required for graduation from high school.
F. E. A teacher shall
determine whether to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school as
provided in section 15‑521, paragraph 3 4 on
the basis of the competency requirements, if any have been
prescribed. The governing board, if it reviews the decision of a
teacher to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school as provided in
section 15‑342, paragraph 11, shall base its decision on the competency
requirements, if any have been prescribed.
G. F. Graduation
requirements established by the governing board may be met by a pupil who
passes courses in the required or elective subjects at a community college or
university, if the course is at a higher level than the course taught in the
high school attended by the pupil or, if the course is not taught in the high
school, the level of the course is equal to or higher than the level of a high
school course. The governing board shall determine if the subject
matter of the community college or university course is appropriate to the
specific requirement the pupil intends it to fulfill and if the level of the
community college or university course is less than, equal to or higher than a
high school course, and the governing board shall award one‑half of a
carnegie unit for each three semester hours of credit the pupil earns in an
appropriate community college or university course. If a pupil is
not satisfied with the decision of the governing board regarding the amount of
credit granted or the subjects for which credit is granted, the pupil may
request that the state board of education review the decision of the governing
board, and the state board shall make the final determination of the amount of
credit to be given the pupil and for which subjects. The governing
board shall not limit the number of credits that is required for high school graduation
and that may be met by taking community college or university courses. For the
purposes of this subsection:
1. "Community college" means an
educational institution that is operated by a community college district as
defined in section 15‑1401 or a postsecondary educational institution
under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe recognized by the United States
department of the interior.
2. "University" means a university under
the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
H. G. A pupil who
transfers from a private school shall be provided with a list that indicates
those credits that have been accepted and denied by the school
district. A pupil may request to take an examination in each
particular course in which credit has been denied. The school district shall
accept the credit for each particular course in which the pupil takes an
examination and receives a passing score on a test designed and evaluated by a
teacher in the school district who teaches the subject matter on which the
examination is based. In addition to the above requirements, the governing
board of a school district may prescribe requirements for the acceptance of the
credits of pupils who transfer from a private school.
I. H. If a pupil who
was previously enrolled in a charter school or school district enrolls in a
school district in this state, the school district shall accept credits earned
by the pupil in courses or instructional programs at the charter school or
school district. The governing board of a school district may adopt a policy
concerning the application of transfer credits for the purpose of determining
whether a credit earned by a pupil who was previously enrolled in a school
district or charter school will be assigned as an elective or core credit.
J. I. A pupil who
transfers from a charter school or school district shall be provided with a
list that indicates which credits have been accepted as an elective credit and
which credits have been accepted as a core credit by the school
district. Within ten school days after receiving the list, a pupil
may request to take an examination in each particular course in which core
credit has been denied. The school district shall accept the credit as a core
credit for each particular course in which the pupil takes an examination and
receives a passing score on a test designed and evaluated by a teacher in the
school district who teaches the subject matter on which the examination is
based.
K. J. The state board
of education shall adopt rules to allow high school pupils who can demonstrate
competency in a particular academic course or subject to obtain academic credit
for the course or subject without enrolling in the course or subject.
L. K. Pupils who earn a
Grand Canyon diploma pursuant to article 6 of this chapter are exempt from the
graduation requirements prescribed in this section, including the requirement that a pupil obtain passing
scores on the Arizona instrument to measure standards test in order to graduate
from high school. Pupils who earn a Grand Canyon diploma
are entitled to all the rights and privileges of persons who graduate with a
high school diploma issued pursuant to this section, including access to
postsecondary scholarships and other forms of student financial aid and access
to all forms of postsecondary education. Notwithstanding any other law, a
pupil who is eligible for a Grand Canyon diploma may elect to remain in high
school through grade twelve and shall not be prevented from enrolling at a high
school after the pupil becomes eligible for a Grand Canyon
diploma. A pupil who is eligible for a Grand Canyon diploma and who
elects not to pursue one of the options prescribed in section 15‑792.03
may only be readmitted to that high school or another high school in this state
pursuant to policies adopted by the school district of readmission. END_STATUTE
Sec. 2. Repeal
Section 15-701.02,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed.
Sec. 3. Section 15-702, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE15-702. High school equivalency diploma; fees; rules
A. Any person who is sixteen years of age or older
and who passes a general educational development test shall be awarded an
Arizona high school equivalency diploma by the state board of education and the
state superintendent of public instruction. The state board of
education may establish eligibility requirements for persons wishing to take a
general educational development test, except that the minimum age required to
take the test may not be older than sixteen nor shall the board require the
completion of any high school credits.
B. A person who meets the minimum course of study
and competency requirements prescribed by the state board of education for
graduation from high school through a combination of high school credits and
community college and university credits, which are converted to high school
credits in the same manner as provided in section 15‑701.01, subsection G F by the governing board or the state board of
education, shall be awarded an Arizona high school equivalency diploma.
C. The state board of education may establish and
collect fees for the issuance and reissuance of the following:
1. A general equivalency diploma.
2. A general equivalency transcript.
D. The state board of education shall develop adopt
rules for fee waivers for the general equivalency diploma and
general equivalency transcripts. END_STATUTE
Sec. 4. Section
15-741, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE15-741. Assessment of pupils
A. The state board of
education shall:
1. Adopt rules for purposes of this article pursuant
to title 41, chapter 6.
2. Adopt and implement an Arizona instrument to
measure standards test to measure pupil achievement of the state board adopted
academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics in at least four grades
designated by the board. The board shall determine the manner of
implementation. The board shall not
require high school pupils to meet or exceed the standards measured by the
Arizona instrument to measure standards test in any standards other than
reading, writing and mathematics in order to graduate from high school. The
board may administer assessments of the academic standards in social studies
and science, except that a pupil shall not be required to meet or exceed the
social studies or science standards measured by the Arizona instrument to
measure standards test in order to
graduate from high school.
3. Adopt and
implement a statewide nationally standardized norm‑referenced achievement
test in reading, language arts and mathematics, except that the superintendent
of public instruction may determine additional grade levels for which pupils
are tested. The tests shall be consistent with the state standards and shall
be administered during the spring of each year between March 15 and May 1.
4. 3. Ensure that the
tests prescribed in this section are uniform throughout the state.
5. 4. Ensure that the
tests prescribed in this section are able to be scored in an objective manner
and that the tests are not intended to advocate any sectarian, partisan or
denominational viewpoint.
6. Ensure that
the results of the nationally standardized norm‑referenced achievement
tests established as provided in this article are comparable to associated
grade equivalents, percentiles and stanines derived from a multistate sample.
7. 5. Include within its
budget all costs pertaining to the tests prescribed in this
article. If sufficient monies are appropriated, the state board may
provide norm‑referenced
achievement test services to school districts which that
request assistance in testing pupils in grades additional to
those required by this section.
8. Use
subtests of the statewide nationally standardized norm‑referenced
achievement test as designated by the state board to assess pupils in reading,
language arts and mathematics, at a level appropriate for their grade level.
9. 6. Survey teachers,
principals and superintendents on achievement related nontest indicators,
including information on graduation rates by ethnicity and dropout rates by
ethnicity for each grade level. Before the survey, the state board of
education shall approve at a public meeting the nontest indicators on which
data will be collected. In conducting the survey and collecting data, the
state board of education shall not violate the provisions of the family
educational rights and privacy act (P.L. 93‑380), as amended, nor
disclose personally identifiable information.
10. 7. Establish a fair
and consistent method and standard by which norm‑referenced test scores from schools
in a district may be evaluated taking into consideration demographic
data. The board shall establish intervention strategies to assist
schools with scores below the acceptable standard. The board shall
annually review district and school scores and shall offer assistance to school
districts in analyzing data and implementing intervention
strategies. The board shall use the adopted norm‑referenced test and methods of data
evaluation for a period of at least ten years.
11. 8. Participate in
other assessments that provide national comparisons as needed.
B. The standardized
norm‑referenced achievement tests adopted by the state
board as provided in subsection A of
this section shall be given at least annually. The tests shall be administered over a one week period
between March 15 and May 1. Nontest indicator data and other
information shall be collected at the same time as the collection of standardized norm‑referenced
achievement test data.
C. Local school district governing boards shall:
1. Administer the tests prescribed in subsection A of this section.
2. Survey teachers, principals and superintendents
on achievement related nontest indicator data as required by the state board,
including information related to district graduation and dropout rates. In
conducting the survey and collecting data, the governing board shall not
violate the provisions of the family educational rights and privacy act (P.L.
93‑380), as amended, nor disclose personally identifiable information.
D. Any additional assessments for high school pupils
that are adopted by the state board of education after the effective date of this amendment to this section
november 24, 2009 shall
be designed to measure college and career readiness of pupils.
E. A test for penmanship shall not be required
pursuant to this article. END_STATUTE
Sec. 5. Repeal
Sections 15-744
and 15-747, Arizona
Revised Statutes, are repealed."
Renumber to conform
Page 7, line 7, strike "This act applies" insert
"Sections 15‑756.01, 15‑756.02, 15‑756.03, 15‑756.04
and 15‑756.11, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, and
section 11 of this act, relating to succession, apply"
Amend title to conform
Bill
Number: H.B. 2425