Assigned to HEWD                                                                                             AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE

 


 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session

 

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1492

 

Arizona teachers academy; program pathways

Purpose

Expands the Arizona Teachers Academy (Academy) to include students committed to teaching public school students with disabilities and establishes additional accelerated teaching models.

Background

Established in 2017, the Academy encourages students at eligible postsecondary institutions to enter the teaching profession and commit to teaching in Arizona public schools. Eligible postsecondary institutions include state universities and Arizona community colleges offering postbaccalaureate programs leading to teacher certification, upon agreement with the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) (A.R.S. § 15-1655).

The Academy includes new or existing teacher preparation program pathways that are student-focused and that employ proven, research-based models of best practices. Each eligible university or community college can develop a portfolio of teacher preparation programs as part of the Academy. Programs offered include accelerated models for: 1) high-demand teacher specializations, including special education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics; 2) critical need areas, including low-income public schools, schools located on Indian reservations and rural public schools; and 3) individuals seeking postbaccalaureate coursework that leads to professional certification.

Each eligible university or community college provides an annual scholarship for students enrolled in the Academy as follows: 1) $10,000 to each full-time graduate university student; 2) $5,000 to each undergraduate university student; and 3) $3,000 to each community college student for tuition and fees associated with their program of study. Teachers are awarded $2,500 one time for national board certification after all other financial gifts, aid or grants are received. For each academic year that a student successfully completes with a scholarship for all tuition and fees, the student is required to teach for one full year in an Arizona public school. Teachers seeking national board certification are required to teach one additional year after completing the certification program (A.R.S. § 15-1655).

According to ABOR, 221 students enrolled in the Academy in FY 2018 and 464 students enrolled in FY 2019.

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.      Adds to the Academy, students who are entering the teaching profession and commit to teaching for or in schools that primarily serve public school students with disabilities.

2.      Requires each eligible postsecondary institution to admit students to the Academy, regardless of class standing.

3.      Expands the Academy’s programs to include accelerated models for:

a)      critical needs areas, including schools serving primarily public school students with disabilities;

b)      teachers currently instructing a dual enrollment course, to satisfy requirements for teaching a dual enrollment course, adopted by a higher learning commission that accredits degree‑granting postsecondary educational institutions in the north central region, including Arizona; and

c)      students in noneducation programs who need to complete at least one teacher preparation course to receive a teaching certification following graduation.

4.      Allows an Arizona college that is owned, operated or chartered by a qualifying Indian tribe on its own Indian reservation and that offers baccalaureate teacher education programs to participate in the Academy and to receive monies from the Arizona Teachers Academy Fund (Fund).

5.      Defines a school that services primarily public school students with disabilities as a school in which more than 75 percent of the students enrolled are public school students who are placed at the school according to an agreement with a school, a charter school or the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind.

6.      Makes technical and conforming changes.

7.      Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1.      Allows a tribally owned, operated or chartered college that offers baccalaureate teacher education programs to participate in the Academy and receive Fund monies.

2.      Makes conforming changes.

Senate Action

HEWD     2/10/20     DPA     7-0-0

Prepared by Senate Research

February 12, 2020

JO/gs