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Senate Engrossed
schools; course equivalents |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022
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SENATE BILL 1326 |
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An Act
amending title 15, chapter 9, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-901.04; relating to school instruction.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 9, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-901.04, to read:
15-901.04. Course equivalents; credits; calculation of average daily membership; definition
A. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, school districts and charter schools serving students in any of grades nine through twelve and the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind, at the request of the student and with the permission of the parent, may approve course equivalents through which students in grades nine through twelve receive no more than two elective credits total during grades nine through twelve through any of the following:
1. For students of legal working age only, working at a job for at least five hours per week over the course of any semester.
2. Participating in an organized sport, including the following:
(a) Off-campus leagues.
(b) Sports that are not organized by the arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind or the school district or charter school, including any of the following:
(i) Sports leagues that are organized by for-profit or nonprofit organizations.
(ii) Club sports.
(iii) Any other sports league that students generally participate in outside of school.
(c) school district or charter school sports or sports organized by the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind in which the student participates for a season.
(d) any other activity prescribed by The state board of education.
3. Participating in learning opportunities outside of the courses offered by the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind or the school district or charter school, including STEM clubs and other project-based learning opportunities, internships and apprenticeships as approved by the state board of education or by the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind or the school district or charter school. For the purposes of this paragraph, "STEM" has the same meaning prescribed in section 15-782.01.
4. Participating in community arts, including music lessons and community theater.
5. Enrolling in and passing any course offered by any of the following:
(a) A university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
(b) A community college as defined in section 15-1401.
(c) Any private postsecondary institution approved by the state board of education.
B. Notwithstanding section 15-701.01, for each course equivalent approved and completed under subsection A of this section, a student shall earn the equivalent of one currently required elective credit that counts toward the graduation requirements prescribed in section 15-701.01.
C. A course equivalent prescribed in subsection A of this section is considered a subject for the purposes of meeting the definition of a fractional student or full-time student prescribed in section 15-901. A course equivalent prescribed in subsection A of this section is required to meet one hundred twenty-three hours a year, or the equivalent, to be considered a subject.
D. Instructional hours provided to a student who completes an approved course equivalent prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be included in the calculation of the average daily membership for that student pursuant to section 15-901. Except as otherwise provided by law, for a full-time high school student who completes an approved course equivalent pursuant to this section, the average daily membership may not exceed 1.0.
E. The state board of education shall:
1. Adopt a framework for schools to carry out this section.
2. As provided by the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind and school districts and charter schools, post a list of local or statewide nonprofit organizations and vendors where students' out-of-school experiences may be recognized for credit.
F. The Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind and each participating school district governing board and participating charter school governing body may establish a process to approve requests for course equivalent credit at the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind, at the charter school or at a school in the school district.
G. For the purposes of this section, "elective credit" means a credit earned for successfully completing an additional course that is not a core course prescribed by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-701.01.