ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: ED DPA 11-0-0-1

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2895: Native American language; instruction; certification

Sponsor: Representative Tsosie, LD 6

Caucus & COW

Overview

Establishes requirements for the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), State Board of Education (SBE), school districts and charter schools relating to Native American language courses and the Native American language certificate.  

History

Statute establishes the Office of Indian Education in ADE, which is tasked with several duties, such as providing technical assistance to schools and Indian nations to: 1) meet the educational needs of Native American students; 2) plan, develop, implement and evaluate curricula that are culturally relevant and aligned to state standards; and 3) develop culturally appropriate curricula and instructional materials (A.R.S. § 15-244).

A person may apply for the optional Native American language certificate, which is issued to individuals to teach only a Native American language in prekindergarten through the 12th grade. To receive a certificate, a person must have a valid fingerprint clearance card and language proficiency in a Native American language, as verified on official letterhead by a person or entity designated by the appropriate tribe. A person with a Native American language certificate is not required to have a baccalaureate degree (A.R.S. § 15-501.01) (A.A.C. R7-2-614).

Provisions

1.   Requires ADE to establish and administer a grant program for school districts to partner with federally recognized Indian tribes in Arizona to offer Native American language courses. (Sec. 1)

2.   Instructs SBE, ADE, school districts and charter schools to support certification pathways for individuals seeking to obtain a Native American language certificate. (Sec. 2)

3.   Directs SBE, a school district or a charter school that requires, in the minimum course of study for high school graduation, students to receive foreign language instruction to allow the students to satisfy the instruction requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a Native American language. (Sec. 3)

Amendments

Committee on Education

1.   Removes the requirements for:

a.   ADE to administer a grant program for school districts to partner with Indian tribes to offer Native American language courses; and

b.   SBE, ADE, school districts and charter schools to support certification pathways for individuals seeking to obtain a Native American language certificate.

2.   Specifies students who are required to receive world, rather than foreign, language instruction may satisfy the instruction requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a Native American language. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Initials CH/JD                       HB 2895

2/11/2026        Page 0 Caucus & COW

 

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