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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
schools; state board; rules; modularization
Purpose
Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt rules allowing schools to modularize subjects and courses with outlined requirements.
Background
Statue directs the SBE to adopt rules defining competency-based educational pathways for college and career readiness that can be used by schools. The rules include the following components: 1) learning outcomes for students in a particular subject; 2) a process and criteria by which assessments are established to determine whether students have the desired competencies in a particular subject; and 3) a mechanism allowing students in grades 7 through 12 demonstrating competency in a subject to obtain credit for the mastery of that subject (A.R.S. § 15-203).
Students who are eligible for a high school diploma through a defined competency-based college-ready educational pathway can: 1) enroll the following fall semester in an Arizona community college that must admit students obtaining a high school diploma through the defined competency-based educational pathway and meet admission requirements; 2) remain in high school and participate in programs of study available through the school district or charter school; 3) enroll in a full-time career and technical education program on a high school campus or a career technical education district campus; or 4) enroll if accepted for admission to an Arizona public university after completing additional coursework to prepare students for admission to selective postsecondary institutions (A.R.S. § 15-795.01).
Statute allows a governing board to adopt a policy for the application of transfer credits to determine whether a credit earned by a pupil, previously enrolled in a school district or charter school, will be assigned as an elective or core credit (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the SBE-adopted rules defining competency-based educational pathways for college and career readiness to include the ability for schools to modularize subjects and courses.
2. Directs a school that modularizes a subject or course to note the learning outcomes or competencies in which a student demonstrates or fails to demonstrate competency.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/19/21 DP 8-1-0-1
3rd Read 1/28/21 56-3-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 5, 2021
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