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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
Native American language; instruction; certification
Purpose
Stipulates that, if the State Board of Education (SBE), a school district or a charter school includes a requirement that students receive instruction in a world language for high school graduation, the SBE, school district or charter school must allow students to satisfy the requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a Native American language. Specifies that a school district or charter school is not required to offer a Native American language course.
Background
The SBE must prescribe a minimum course of study and competency
requirements for high school graduation that incorporate the SBE-adopted
academic standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies.
The SBE establishes 22 credits as the minimum number of credits necessary for
high school graduation, which include: 1) 4 credits of English or English as a second
language; 2) 3 credits in social studies; 3) 4 credits of mathematics; 5) 3
credits of science; 6) 1 credit of the arts or career and technical education
and vocational education; and
7) 7 credits of additional courses prescribed by the school district governing
board (governing board) or charter school. A governing board may prescribe
course of study and competency requirements for high school graduation that are
in addition to, or higher than, the course of study and competency requirements
that the SBE prescribes (A.R.S.
§ 15-701.1; A.A.C. R7-2-302).
The Arizona Board of Regents' (ABOR's) policies require, in the minimum admission requirements for admission to a public university, that an applicant demonstrates competency in a second language by completing two high school credits in the same second language (ABOR).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Stipulates that, if the SBE, a school district or a charter school includes a requirement in the minimum course of study for high school graduation that students receive instruction in a world language, the SBE, school district or charter school must allow students to satisfy the instruction requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a Native American language.
2. Specifies that a school district or charter school is not required to offer a Native American language course.
3. Allows the SBE to establish criteria for evaluating the Native American language proficiency of students.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Specifies that a school district or charter school is not required to offer a Native American language course.
2. Allows the SBE to establish criteria for evaluating the Native American language proficiency of students.
House Action Senate Action
ED 2/10/26 DPA 11-0-0-1 ED 3/25/26 DPA 7-0-0
3rd Read 3/4/26 44-9-6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 26, 2026
MH/KP/hk