|
|
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
House: APPROP DP 11-7-0-0 |
HB 2956: K-12 education; 2025-2026
Sponsor: Representative Livingston (with permission of Committee on Rules), LD 28
House Engrossed
Overview
Contains provisions relating to K-12 education needed to implement the FY 2026 budget.
History
The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt. Statutory changes necessary to reconcile the appropriations made in the feed bill and other changes are drafted into separate budget bills. These bills are prepared according to subject area.
Provisions
School Finance Formula (Permanent Law)
1. Increases the base level for FY 2026 from $5,013.00 to $5,113.26. (Sec. 6)
2. Increases charter additional assistance from:
a) $2,090.10 to $2,131.90 per student count in preschool programs for children with disabilities, kindergarten and the 1st-8th grades; and
b) $2,435.97 to $2,484.69 per student count in the 9th-12th grades. (Sec. 2)
3. Increases the FY 2026 state support level per route mile from:
a) $2.95 to $3.01 for 0.5 or less approved daily route mileage;
b) $2.42 to $2.47 for more than 0.5 through 1.0 approved daily route mileage; and
c) $2.95 to $3.01 for more than 1.0 approved daily route mileage. (Sec. 8)
4. Adjusts tax year 2025 qualifying tax rates in accordance with statutory truth-in-taxation requirements. (Sec. 9)
Public School Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Requirements
5. As session law, requires, beginning on the general effective date and until August 1, 2026, each public high school that sponsors an athletic team or sports program to provide an AED at each school campus. (Sec. 14)
6. As session law, allows a public school to accept gifts, grants and donations to provide AEDs. (Sec. 14)
7. As session law, defines AED and public school. (Sec. 14)
8. As permanent law, mandates, beginning August 1, 2026, each public high school that sponsors an athletic team or sports program to provide an AED at each school campus and school-sponsored athletic event and ensure that each AED provided is:
a) in an unlocked location that is clearly marked and easily accessible during the school day and at each school-sponsored athletic event;
b) in a location that complies with guidelines established by a nationally recognized organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care and from which it may be promptly retrieved and used at the school or school-sponsored athletic event; and
c) maintained in good working order and tested according to manufacturer's guidelines. (Sec. 1)
9. As permanent law, allows a school district or charter school to accept gifts, grants and donations to provide AEDs as prescribed. (Sec. 1)
10. As permanent law, defines AED and school-sponsored athletic event. (Sec. 1)
Teacher Retention Study (Permanent Law) (Sec. 4)
11. Instructs the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to annually conduct a comprehensive study to determine the retention rate of teachers in school districts and charter schools.
12. Specifies the study must include:
a) a summary of the total number of teachers and the retention and turnover rates for:
i. certificated teachers, by each type of teaching certificate;
ii. teachers who were issued a certificate by the State Board of Education (SBE) during the past year, disaggregated by the type of certificate and whether the applicant was certified via reciprocity;
iii. noncertificated teachers;
iv. teaching assignment, including subject area and grade level taught;
v. location, by school site, school district or charter school, city or town and county;
vi. the number of years of experience of each teacher;
vii. the number of teachers who, within their first three years of teaching, received formal mentorship from an individual with at least five years of teaching experience;
viii. the number of teachers in each demographic segment in Arizona and each district; and
ix. the number of teachers who failed to renew their teaching certificate or endorsement during the past year, together with the renewal requirements that the teachers failed to satisfy;
b) a summary of the number of vacant teaching positions, including the average time to fill a vacancy, for:
i. teaching assignment, including subject area and grade level taught;
ii. location, by school site, school district or charter school, city or town and county;
iii. the manner by which the vacancy is filled, if applicable; and
c) an analysis of data for each SBE-approved teacher preparation program, including:
i. program completion data;
ii. any program emphasis, including subject area and grade level;
iii. enrollment disaggregated by endorsement; and
iv. the number of years that individuals spend working as teachers in Arizona after program completion.
13. Requires the data regarding the manner by which a vacancy is filled to include whether the vacancy is:
a) unfilled;
b) temporarily filled by a long-term substitute teacher; or
c) temporarily filled by a certificated teacher whose regular teaching assignment is in a different subject area or grade level than the vacancy's teaching assignment.
14. Mandates SBE and the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools collect and provide any data or information requested by ADE.
15. Requires ADE to analyze public job postings by school districts and charter schools to compile the prescribed vacant teaching position data.
16. Asserts ADE must allow SBE to access any retention, turnover and vacancy data and information collected by ADE for the study.
17. Directs ADE, by December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, to submit the study results and recommendations to specified individuals.
18. Instructs ADE to maintain a publicly accessible, interactive dashboard on its website that contains the study results, recommendations and the data compiled by ADE.
School Financial Transparency Portal (Transparency Portal)
19. As permanent law, transfers the Transparency Portal and all related requirements from the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) to ADE. (Sec. 5)
20. As session law, transfers all matters relating to the Transparency Portal from ADOA to ADE on the general effective date, including:
a) contracts executed by ADOA;
b) rules adopted by ADOA; and
c) property, records, data, investigative findings and obligations. (Sec. 12)
21. As session law, transfers all remaining unspent and unencumbered appropriated monies of ADOA for the Transparency Portal to ADE. (Sec. 12)
Continuing High School and Workforce Training Program (High School Program) (Sec. 11)
22. As session law and retroactive to July 1, 2025, caps the total FY 2026 projected full-time enrollment for the High School Program at 130, rather than 1,400.
23. As session law, repeals the FY 2026 enrollment cap on July 1, 2027.
9th Grade On-track Grant Program (Session Law) (Sec. 13)
24. Directs ADE to establish and administer a 9th Grade On-track Grant Program.
25. Authorizes ADE to adopt policies and procedures to carry out the grant program.
26. Instructs ADE to establish procedures for:
a) a school district or charter school to apply for a grant; and
b) ADE to evaluate the applications and award grants to eligible school districts and charter schools.
27. Specifies ADE must ensure that grant application and reporting requirements do not impose an undue burden on school districts and charter schools.
28. Requires each application to be approved by the school district governing board or charter school governing body before the school district or charter school may submit the application to ADE.
29. Directs ADE to award to each eligible school district or charter school grants of at least $150 for each enrolled 9th grade student on a first-come, first-served basis.
30. Limits the total number of projected 9th grade students who may be funded at 6,650.
31. Mandates ADE provide administrative support to grant recipients for implementing 9th grade on-track programs and services.
32. Requires each school district or charter school that receives a grant award to use monies to establish and expand programs, opportunities and strategies to help 9th grade students complete sufficient credits to be on track to graduate in four years, including:
a) providing real-time, accessibly formatted student grade, attendance and behavior data to 9th grade teachers and support staff;
b) allocating time for 9th grade teachers and support staff to meet during the school day to review data and develop intervention strategies for at-risk 9th grade students;
c) providing timely, actionable data for 9th grade teachers;
d) creating highly effective 9th grade success teams;
e) establishing foundational structures and conditions for 9th grade on-track work;
f) establishing systems and processes to optimize 9th grade success team operations;
g) systematizing 9th grade success by recruiting and engaging all stakeholders;
h) executing proactive and data-driven intervention and referral systems and processes;
i) implementing proactive and high-leverage intervention strategies;
j) executing a comprehensive system of 9th grade transition supports;
k) creating a personalized and supportive environment for 9th grade students;
l) providing early preparation for high school entry;
m) providing proactive supports to 9th grade teachers and support staff;
n) implementing high quality instructional strategies and fair grading practices;
o) developing learning-centered professional communities and student-centered learning communities; and
p) establishing a partnership with an organization that has at least five years of experience providing 9th grade on-track programs and services to school districts and charter schools to increase 9th grade on-track rates.
33. Requires a school district or charter school to maintain records of meetings held by 9th grade teachers and support staff to review data and develop intervention strategies and provide those records to ADE on request.
34. Instructs a school district or charter school that receives a grant award to provide, on request from ADE, any information necessary to demonstrate grant program compliance.
35. Declares a school district or charter school that receives grant monies must supplement and not supplant programs, opportunities and strategies to help 9th grade students complete sufficient credits to be on track to graduate in four years.
36. Specifies a student is on track to graduate in four years if the student:
a) completes at least 25% of the credits required for high school graduation by the end of the 9th grade; and
b) does not earn more than one F letter grade, or the equivalent, in the 9th grade.
37. Terminates the 9th Grade On-track Grant Program on January 1, 2031.
Miscellaneous
38. As permanent law, adds, to the budget format for a charter school or school district, the number of full-time equivalent teachers included in the budget for the current year. (Sec. 3, 7)
39. As permanent law, specifies the full-time equivalent teacher data in a charter school's or school district's budget must include the number of teachers included in the budget for each school, disaggregated by subject area and grade level. (Sec. 3, 7)
40. As session law, continues to authorize ADE to use Failing Schools Tutoring Fund monies in FY 2026 for:
a) providing assistance to school districts and charter schools for professional development and coaching for teachers and principals;
b) monitoring the progress of school districts and charter schools towards improved academic outcomes; and
c) outreach to ensure that schools and parents have access to tutoring opportunities. (Sec. 10)
41. As session law, requires ADE, by September 1, 2025, to report proposed FY 2026 Failing Schools Tutoring Fund expenditures for the authorized purposes to specified individuals. (Sec. 10)
42. As session law, continues to contain an intent clause relating to classroom spending. (Sec. 15)
43. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 5, 6)
44. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 5, 6, 7)
45.
46.
47. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------
48. HB 2956
49. Initials CH Page 0 House Engrossed
50.
51. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------