ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

 


HB2015: schools; supplemental materials; approval

Sponsor:  Representative Fillmore, LD 16

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires a school district governing board to approve all supplemental books, instructional computer software and teaching aids before use in a common school or high school course that includes a basic textbook and supplemental books.

History

The governing boards of common schools and high schools are required to approve the course of study, basic textbook and all credit units under each subject before a course is implemented. For common school courses that do not include a basic textbook, supplemental books must be approved by the governing board before the course itself is approved. For high school courses that do not include a basic textbook, supplemental books must be approved by the governing board before they are used in a course (A.R.S. § 15-721).

If a common school or high school course includes a basic textbook or supplemental books (including instructional computer software), the governing board is permitted to approve all supplemental books and instructional computer software before approving the course. Finally, if a common school or high school course includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books that have yet to be approved, a teacher may use the supplemental books at any time during the school year; however, supplemental books that are used must be brought to the attention of the governing board during the school year. (A.R.S. § 15-722)

 

Provisions

1.    Requires a governing board to approve all supplemental books and teaching aids, including instructional computer software, before approving a common school course that includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books. (Sec. 1)

2.    Requires a governing board to approve all supplemental books and instructional computer software before they are used in a high school course that includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books or instructional computer software. (Sec.1)

3.    Specifies that a teacher may not use supplemental books in a common school or high school course that includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books until approved by the governing board. (Sec. 1, 2)

4.    Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

Amendments

Committee on Education

1.    States that if a public school or school district is required to secure the permission of a student's parent before the student may participate in certain curriculum, course of study or use certain materials, the public school or school district must notify the parent on a written permission form both of the following:

a.    That the parent may review the curriculum, course of study or materials; and

b.    The time and location at which the parent may review the curriculum, course of study or materials.

2.    Outlines the actions a student or student's parent must take before initiating legal action to enforce the written permission form requirement as follows:

a.    The student or student's parent must submit a written complaint to the principal of the school, after which the principal has 15 days to respond in writing with a description of any action taken to resolve the complaint;

b.    If the principal does not resolve the complaint, the student or student's parent must submit a written complaint to the superintendent or other designated administrator, after which the superintendent or designated administrator has 25 days to respond in writing with a description of any action taken to resolve the complaint;

c.     If the action taken by the superintendent or designated administrator does not resolve the complaint, the student or student's parent may pursue legal action.

 

 

 

 

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Initials CH                   Caucus & COW

 

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