REFERENCE TITLE: Arizona online instruction; study committee

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2825

Introduced by

Representatives Schwiebert: Espinoza, Hernandez D, Pawlik, Pratt, Salman, Sierra, Terán, Senator Marsh

AN ACT

establishing the Study committee on Arizona online instruction.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Study committee on Arizona online instruction; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The study committee on Arizona online instruction is established consisting of the following members:

1. Three members of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are from the same political party, who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2. Three members of the senate, not more than two of whom are from the same political party, who are appointed by the president of the senate.  The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3. An operator, principal or school district superintendent of a school that is operated by a school district and that provides Arizona online instruction under section 15-808, Arizona Revised Statutes, who is appointed by the speaker of the house representatives.

4. A person who has extensive experience in independent program evaluation of technology initiatives and who is appointed by the governor.

5. An operator, principal or superintendent of a charter school that provides Arizona online instruction under section 15-808, Arizona Revised Statutes, who is appointed by the President of the Senate.

6. A teacher in this state who facilitates asynchronous instruction in any combination of kindergarten programs or grades one through five and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

7. A teacher in this state who facilitates asynchronous instruction in any combination of grades six through nine and who is appointed by the governor.

8. A teacher in this state who facilitates asynchronous instruction in any combination of grades ten through twelve and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

9. A certified special education teacher in this state who facilitates asynchronous instruction for special education students in a school district and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

10. A certified special education teacher in this state who facilitates asynchronous instruction for special education students in a charter school and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

11. The superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee.

B. The study committee on Arizona online instruction shall do all of the following:

1. Examine studies on the comparative effectiveness of asynchronous digital teaching and learning programs in K-12 charter school education to traditional instruction.

2. Determine the elements and the cost of best practices for academic success.

3. Review current financial and other data gathered from existing Arizona online instruction providers, including both charter and district public school providers, that conduct asynchronous instruction.

4. Review current financial and other data gathered from existing Arizona online instruction providers, including both charter and district public school providers, regarding how funding allocated for special education expenses is being used.

5. Develop recommendations for modifying charter additional assistance and district additional assistance for online asynchronous students that best rewards academic success, especially for those students who are most at academic risk.

6. Develop recommendations for how Arizona online instruction providers may use monies allocated for special education expenses in a manner that best supports special education student learning by asynchronous instruction.

C. On or before December 15, 2021, the study committee on Arizona online instruction shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations for administrative or legislative action to the governor, the president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

D. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2021.