SB1449 - 511R

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

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. The academic standards prescribed by the state board of education in social studies shall include personal finance. This paragraph does not allow the state board of education to establish a required separate personal finance course for the purpose of the graduation of pupils from high school.

3. Develop and adopt competency tests pursuant to 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. 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. 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. The governing board may prescribe competency requirements for the passage of pupils in courses that are required for graduation from high school.

F. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-720.02, to read:

START_STATUTE15-720.02. Instruction on personal finance in high schools

A. A school district governing board or charter school may prescribe a separate personal finance course for the graduation of pupils from high school or incorporate personal finance instruction into an existing course or existing curricula for the graduation of pupils from high school, that is in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements that the state board of education prescribes for the graduation of pupils.

B. If a personal finance course is prescribed by a school district governing board or charter school or if personal finance instruction is incorporated into an existing course or existing curricula, the course or incorporated instruction shall include the following:

1. Explanations on how education, career choices and family obligations affect future income.

2. Analyses of how advertising influences consumer choices.

3. The determination of short-term and long‑term financial goals and plans, including income, spending, saving and investing.

4. Comparisons of the advantages and disadvantages of using various forms of credit and the determining factors of credit history.

5. Explanations of the risk, return and liquidity of short‑term and long‑term saving and investment choices.

6. Identification of investment options available to individuals and households.

C. A school district governing board or charter school may develop its own curriculum on personal finance or may use a curriculum on personal finance that is currently used by other public schools in this state or by public schools in other states. A school district governing board or charter school may use curriculum on personal finance developed by or in conjunction with an organization with expertise in providing instruction to high school pupils on personal finance skills. END_STATUTE