ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HB 2435: English language learners; instruction; budgeting

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Boyer, LD 20

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

Abstract

Relating to ELL instructional models.

Provisions

1. Instructs SBE to adopt SEI models that include at least the following amount of English language development:

a. for K-6, 120 minutes per day, 600 minutes per week or 360 hours per year.

b. for 7-12, 100 minutes per day, 500 minutes per week or 300 hours per year. (Sec. 2)

2. Directs SBE to adopt alternative English instruction models that are evidence and research based.

a. Includes alternative models in statutory requirements for SBE's adopted models. (Sec. 2)

3. Allows school districts and charter schools to submit models for SEI and alternative English instruction to SBE for approval. (Sec. 2)

4. Directs SBE to establish a framework for evaluating models for approval, outlines criteria for the framework and requires SBE to solicit input from experienced educators. (Sec. 2)

5. Removes the requirement to adopt SEI models developed by the ell task force. (Sec. 2)

6. Eliminates the requirement for SEI models to be limited to programs not intended to exceed one year. (sec. 2)

7. Removes the offset for federal and desegregation monies in annual SEI budget requests and the exclusion of incremental costs for students who have been classified as an ELL for more than two years. (Sec. 2)

8. Asserts that ELLs are not restricted from being concurrently enrolled in SEI and an alternative English instruction model. (Sec. 2)

9. Removes the prohibition on distributing SEI Fund and ELL Weight monies for the same student for more than two years. (Sec. 5)

10. Renames the SEI Fund to the ELL Fund. (Sec. 5)

11. Removes the annual reenrollment testing requirement for students who were ELLs within the last two years. (Sec. 6)

12. Eliminates reporting requirements related to federal monies received for ELLs, ELL programs and funding and the success of schools at achieving ELL English proficiency. (Sec. 3, 9)

13. Requires ADE to provide an annual report on ELL programs to the SBE, OAG, Governor, Secretary of State, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1 that includes:

a. A detailed description of adopted models, the number of schools using each model and the number of students enrolled in each model.

b. The length of ELL classifications.

c. The statewide assessment performance for the two years after achieving English proficiency.

d. A summary of information relating to successes of schools at achieving English proficiency. (Sec. 7)

14. Deletes the monthly 300 ELL random sampling requirement. (Sec. 8)

15. Requires OAG to analyze the effectiveness of SBE's adopted models and identify the most effective models. (Sec. 11)

16. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-5, 8, 9, 11, 12)

Current Law

All children in Arizona's public schools are required to be taught English by having classes taught in English language classrooms.  Children who are identified as an ELL are directed to be educated through SEI during a temporary transition that is not intended to exceed one year. Once ELL students have acquired a good working knowledge of English and can do regular school work in English, they are no longer classified as ELL and are directed to be placed in an English language mainstream classroom (A.R.S. § 15-752). SBE is charged with adopting research-based models of SEI programs for school district and charter school use.  Models are required to take district size, location, grade levels and the number and percentage of ELL students into account.  SBE is additionally charged with developing a separate model for first year ELL students that requires at least four hours per day of English language development (A.R.S § 15-756.01).  SEI models are limited to the regular school day and school year, except that instruction outside of those requirements may be funded by the Compensatory Instruction Fund.  Schools submit SEI budget requests to SBE that are the incremental costs of the selected model offset by federal funding, impact aid, a portion of desegregation monies and the ELL Support Level Weight.  The incremental costs for students who have been classified as ELLs for more than two years must be excluded from budget requests, except that those students may be provided funding through the Compensatory Instruction Fund.

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2435

Second Regular Session                               Version 3: House Engrossed

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