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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
schools; clubs; organizations; parental consent
Purpose
Prohibits a public school from allowing any student in grades six, seven or eight to participate in or join a student club or organization without first obtaining written parental permission. Outlines requirements for communication with parents when requesting parental permission for a student's participation.
Background
Statute requires each school district governing board (governing board), in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, to develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents and guardians of the children enrolled in the schools within the school district, including procedures by which parents may learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and activities that are part of the school curriculum and extracurricular clubs and activities that have been approved by the school (A.R.S. § 15-102).
The State Board of Education (SBE) must prescribe rules for policies regarding students' participation in extracurricular activities, including minimum statewide requirements that: 1) must be appropriate to the grade in which the student is enrolled; 2) must be based on the number of courses passed or failed, or on grades received; 3) may incorporate additional factors; and 4) must take into consideration the minimum course of study and competency requirements prescribed by the SBE. Each governing board, after consultation with parents and teachers, must adopt policies and procedures that meet or exceed the minimum statewide requirements prescribed by the SBE for students in grades 6 through 12 regarding the student participation in extracurricular activities (A.R.S. § 15-705).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a public school from allowing any student in grades six, seven or eight to participate in or join a student club or organization without first obtaining written permission from the student's parent.
2. Requires a public school, when requesting permission from a student's parent, to include in the communication a description of the purpose, activities and supporters of the student club or organization.
3. Defines student club or organization as any athletic team, association, order, society, corps, cooperative, club or other similar group that is affiliated with a public school and whose membership consists primarily of students enrolled at that public school, including clubs and activities that are part of the school curriculum and extracurricular clubs and activities that have been approved by the school.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/17/26 DP 7-3-1-1
3rd Read 2/26/26 31-22-7
Prepared by Senate Research
March 12, 2026
MH/SM/hk