ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

HB2426: Arizona online instruction; cost study

Sponsor: Representative Epstein, LD 18

Committee on Education

Overview

Directs the Auditor General (OAG) to conduct a cost study of Arizona online instruction (AOI). Appropriates monies to the OAG for the cost study.

History

Statute permits school districts and charter schools to develop online instructional systems for students. These online instructional systems are often to referred to as AOI. The State Board of Education (SBE) approves school district AOI programs and the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools (ASBCS) approves charter school AOI programs. Statute outlined criteria schools must meet to be AOI providers. SBE and ASBCS must develop annual reporting mechanisms for schools participating in AOI. The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is required to compile these annual reports and submit an overall report to specified entities by November 15 annually.

AOI students must reside in Arizona and are subject to state testing requirements. The ADM of student who participates in AOI may not exceed 1.0. A student enrolled full-time in AOI is funded at 95% of the base support level that would be calculated for the student if they were enrolled full-time in a school that does not participate in AOI. Part-time AOI students are funded at 85% of this amount (A.R.S. § 15-808).

Provisions

1. Directs the OAG to conduct a cost study of AOI. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires ADE to cooperate with and provide necessary information to the OAG. (Sec. 1)

3. Specifies the cost study must include:

a) The cost of providing AOI to students;

b) The percentage of online courses offered that are taught in real time by a human instructor;

c) The average amount of monies that schools spend on each type of course offered as AOI;

d) The average class size of online courses that are offered by AOI providers;

e) The amount of monies that the school finance formula generates for a student who receives AOI and the amount of monies that follows the student to the student's school of attendance;

f) Areas in AOI in which Arizona can reduce or eliminate administrative and reporting requirements; and

g) Any other areas the OAG deems necessary. (Sec. 1)

4. Appropriates $150,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2023 to the OAG for the cost study. (Sec. 2)

5. Repeals the cost study on January 1, 2024. (Sec. 1)

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9. HB 2426

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