ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

 

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HB 2478: Arizona commission on student outcomes

Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4

Committee on Education

Overview

Establishes the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes (Commission) to review and recommend improvements to the K-12 education system. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the Classroom Site Fund (CSF) in FY 2027 to the Commission.

History

The Arizona Constitution requires the Legislature to enact laws to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a general and uniform public school system. The general conduct and supervision of the public school system is vested in the State Board of Education (SBE), the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), county school superintendents and governing boards as provided by law (Ariz. Const. art. 11 §§ 1 and 2).

The CSF is administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and consists of a portion of education sales tax monies and expendable earnings from the Permanent State School Fund. CSF monies must be used for class size reduction, teacher compensation and development, assessment intervention programs, dropout recovery programs, teacher liability insurance premiums and student support services (A.R.S. § 15-977).

Provisions

Commission

1.   Establishes the Commission to analyze, review and recommend improvements to the current Arizona K-12 education system. (Sec. 1)

2.   Repeals the Commission on July 1, 2033. (Sec. 1)

3.   Specifies the Commission is composed of:

a.   the following five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

i. three members, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party and one of whom is designated as cochairperson of the Commission;

ii.   one member who represents a nonprofit organization that produces research on economic and educational policies;

iii.  one person who represents an organization that represents school district governing boards (governing boards);

b.   the following five members appointed by the President of the Senate:

i. three members, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party and one of whom is designated as cochairperson of the Commission;

ii.   one person who represents a statewide taxpayer organization;

iii.  one person who represents an organization that represents charter schools;

c. one member appointed by the Governor; and

d.   the SPI, or their designee. (Sec. 1)

4.   States that Commission members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses as permitted by statute. (Sec. 1)

5.   Subjects Commission meetings to open meeting law requirements. (Sec. 1)

6.   Authorizes the Commission to appoint an executive director who serves at the Commission's pleasure. (Sec. 1)

7.   Makes the executive director eligible to receive compensation as allowed by statute relating to the compensation of certain state officers and employees. (Sec. 1)

Commission Duties

8.   Tasks the Commission with:

a.   analyzing school district expenditures to determine how resources are aligned with Commission-identified core instructional priorities;

b.   identifying state laws, SBE rules and governing board and charter school governing body policies that might not direct resources toward positive instructional outcomes;

c. examining barriers and challenges to teacher compensation and workforce readiness;

d.   assessing whether state oversight and accountability programs and systems are aligned with improving student outcomes, rather than compliance with federal laws or regulations;

e. identifying barriers to academic innovation that prevent school districts from adopting effective teaching or instructional models;

f. developing recommendations for the Legislature to improve academic standards, statewide assessments, high school graduation requirements, school accountability and the public school finance formula; and

g.   if sufficient monies are available, contracting with third-party service providers as necessary to discharge the Commission's duties. (Sec. 1)

9.   Requires the Commission to submit to specified individuals:

a.   by December 1, 2027 and annually thereafter, a report containing:

i. the status of the Commission's work;

ii.   recommendations for reforms the Commission believes will support teachers, maximize student resources and improve student outcomes;

b.   by December 1, 2032, a final report containing:

i. all studies, data and information the Commission gathered and that relate to the Arizona K-12 education system; and

ii.   recommendations for reforms the Commission believes will improve the Arizona K-12 education system. (Sec. 1)

Commission Appropriation

10.  Appropriates $1,000,000 from the CSF in FY 2027 to the Commission. (Sec. 2)

11.  Allows the Commission to use up to $500,000 of the appropriation on employee-related expenses. (Sec. 2)

12.  Exempts the appropriation from lapsing, except that any unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining on June 30, 2033, revert to the CSF. (Sec. 2)

Miscellaneous

13.  Mandates SBE and ADE to collect and provide any data or information requested by the Commission. (Sec. 1)

14.  Contains a legislative intent clause. (Sec. 3)

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