This Week in Education Legislation: Last Week of Committee—Where Do We Go from Here?
Happy Friday! This week, we saw the last of education committee in both the House and Senate. If you recall, during Crossover Week we published a timeline of the legislative process. Now that committees have adjourned for the final time this session, we move forward to the next steps: Concurrent Committees and the Governor’s Desk. If any bills have strikers or amendments after going through the opposite chamber, they must be approved by the originating chamber or be subject to a Concurrent Committee’s decision. If there are no conflicts in the version of the bill that leaves the opposite chamber, then it goes as is to the Governor’s desk where it will either be vetoed with reasoning or signed into law. But it’s not quite over! Budget conversations are ongoing, and we will likely begin to see budget allocation proposals in April.
This Week’s Important Bills
This week, school safety took center stage in the House Education Committee with the passage of SB1292 and SB1493, both aimed at enhancing security for students in public schools.
SB1292 strengthens background check requirements by mandating that noncertified school personnel obtain an IVP Clearance Card rather than just a fingerprint check. This ensures that anyone working around children has an identifiable record, preventing individuals terminated for inappropriate behavior from securing similar positions elsewhere without accountability. Previously, no safeguards existed to track misconduct by noncertified personnel unless a conviction occurred, allowing them to continue working with children in different roles—this bill closes that loophole.
SB1493 enhances campus security by requiring DCS caseworkers to provide two forms of identification or a verified contact at the DCS office when visiting a student. By ensuring clear identity verification, this measure eliminates uncertainty about who is interacting with students, especially in emergencies. Ultimately, this bill formalizes a practice that should already be standard in public schools, reinforcing a safer learning environment.
State Board of Education Update
This Monday, the State Board of Education (SBE) voted to approve the 2024-2025 A-F Accountability Models and Business Rules for Traditional K- and 9-12 schools, Non-Typical (Hybrid) Configuration, 9-12 Alternative Schools, and AOI schools. Sean Smith, Chief Accountability Officer at the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), presented on their process in determining a standard of measurement of acceptable academic progress.
The Board also failed to vote on the approval of the revised Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Handbook, pushing this agenda item to next month’s SBE meeting on April 28th, 2025 at 9am. This comes after hearing a presentation by John Ward and Janelle Woods on the revisions to the Handbook and comments made by parents. The deadline for the approval of the new ESA Handbook is May 1.
If you’d like more information, click the links below to access the agenda and meeting recording.
Bill Action Recap:
HB 2019 Schools; Water Safety; Information; Resources (Gress) — Monitor
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Requires that before the 2025-2026 school year, the Department of Education (ADE) must compile and make accessible on ADE’s website both of the following:
Information about how water safety education courses and swimming lessons are saving lives
A list of local providers of water safety courses or swimming lessons, or both, that result in an acceptable form of certification
Includes providers that offer water safety courses or swimming lessons, or both, for free or at a discounted rate
Requires that each school district and charter school provide to each parent the webpage address for the information and resources compiled by ADE beginning on the 2025-2026 school year
Defines “water safety course” as age-appropriate education that is intended to promote safety in, on, or around bodies of water, for the purpose of reducing risk of injury or drowning
S/E: HB 2029 Internet Safety Instruction; Public Schools (Now: Academic Standards; Attestation; Posting) (Martinez) — Monitor
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 5-0-2-0
Requires that, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all school districts or charter schools in Arizona must annually complete an attestation stating that the school provides instruction meeting the digital citizenship and media literacy standards found in the educational technology standards, computer science standards, English language arts standards, and social studies standards
Requires each school to submit their attestation to the department of education
Further requires each school to post a copy of its attestation on their website
S/E: HB 2058 School Immunizations; Exemption; Adult Students (Now: Immunizations; Proof; Exemptions; Higher Education) (Fink) — Monitor
This Bill was subject to an Unrelated S/E Amendment in the House, meaning that the bill text below is as written in its original version. The Bill now pertains to higher education only.
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 4-2-0-1
Requires higher education institutions that mandate documentary proof for enrollment or attendance to fully disclose to prospective students the requirements and exemptions provided in section 15-1825, Arizona Revised Statutes
Exempts any student who is at least 18 years old from the requirement if the student submits either a signed statement affirming that they have received information about immunizations from the department of health services, understand the risks and benefits of immunizations and the potential risks of non-immunization, and do not consent to immunizations due to personal beliefs, including religious beliefs, or a written certification signed by the student and a physician or registered nurse practitioner stating that one or more required immunizations may be detrimental to the student’s health and specifying the nature and probable duration of the medical condition or circumstance preventing immunization
Establishes that an exemption under section 15-1825, Subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, remains valid only for the duration of the condition or circumstance preventing immunization
Defines "documentary proof" as having the same meaning as in section 15-871, Arizona Revised Statutes
Includes within "higher education institution" a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents, a community college, and a career technical education district that provides instruction to adult students
HB 2063 Parental Notification; School Immunization Exemptions (Fink) — Monitor
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 4-2-0-1
Requires each public school to fully disclose school immunization requirements and exemptions as outlined in this section and section 15-873 Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires any communication to a parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis regarding school immunization requirements to include information about the school immunization exemptions established by section 15-873 Arizona Revised Statutes
Makes technical corrections
S/E: HB2067 School Facilities Oversight Board; Continuation (Now: school district governing boards) (Gress) — Monitor
A Strike Everything Amendment removed this bill’s original text and replaced it with new legislation.
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Allows each member of a school district governing board to access all information and records maintained by the school district for the purpose of carrying out official functions and duties
Requires an administrator, official, or records custodian of the school district, upon receiving a request from a governing board member, to provide the requested information or records by the following deadlines:
One week before the meeting at which the governing board will vote on an item if related to an item on the school district governing board's agenda, including budget adoption, personnel decisions, interest-based negotiations, proposed expenditures, or contracts
One week before the proposed budget is published if related to the school district's proposed budget
Ten business days after receiving the request for all other information and records
Prohibits requiring a governing board member to submit a public records request under Title 39, Chapter 1
Prohibits considering whether the requested information or records are relevant to an agenda item for an upcoming governing board meeting when reviewing and fulfilling a request for records not related to an agenda item or the proposed budget
Requires each governing board member who receives information or access to records to maintain any confidentiality, privilege, or privacy protections granted or imposed by statute or common law, including those required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
Allows a governing board member to disclose information or share records with a law enforcement agency, a peace officer, the Office of the Auditor General, or the State Board of Education if related to the member’s reasonable suspicion of unlawful conduct
HB 2663 Classroom Management; Students; Temporary Removal (Marshall) — Monitor
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Requires a principal or designated school administrator to provide a teacher with written certification before directing a student removed from a classroom pursuant to rules governing student conduct to return to the classroom. The certification must:
State that the principal or administrator is authorizing the student's readmission to the classroom
Describe any disciplinary action taken in response to the behavior that led to the student's removal
Defines the following terms:
"Classroom" refers to any area where regularly scheduled instruction is provided to students by a certificated public-school employee
"Rules governing student conduct":
Refers to rules, procedures, policies, or guidelines outlining expectations for student behavior in school and the potential disciplinary actions for failing to meet those expectations
Includes policies and procedures adopted by school district governing boards or charter school governing bodies, school-developed procedures related to discipline and temporary classroom removal, classroom management plans, student handbooks, and parent-teacher handbooks
HB 2677 Middle School Students; CTE Courses (Aguilar) — Monitor
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 6-0-1-0
Authorizes schools operated by school districts or charter schools in Arizona to offer career and technical education courses during the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 school years.
Establishes that these courses may count for both eighth-grade promotion and high school graduation
Requires all public schools in Arizona to accept credits earned by students in these courses, provided the student completed the course and earned a passing grade
Directs school districts or charter schools offering career and technical education courses to enter into intergovernmental agreements or contracts with one or more of the following:
A career and technical education district established under title 15, chapter 3, article 6, Arizona Revised Statutes
A school approved by the state board of education to provide career and technical education and vocational education
A community college district offering career and technical education courses approved by the department of education under the Carl D. Perkins career and technical education improvement act
Requires school districts and charter schools offering such courses to report annually to the department of education, by July 1, the following information for the previous school year:
The number of career and technical education courses offered by each school
The number of students who successfully completed a career and technical education course
Directs the department of education to compile these reports and prepare a summary by December 31, 2028, submitting them to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor, and the secretary of state
Repeals the contents of this bill effective December 31, 2036
Defines "middle school student" as a student in grades six, seven, or eight
HB 2700 Academic Standards; Social Studies; Geography (Martinez) — Monitor
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Prescribes competency requirements for high school graduation incorporating academic standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies
Requires social studies standards to include personal finance, American civics education, geography, and a comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States
Requires geography instruction to include the Gulf of America
Authorizes the state board to consider establishing a required separate personal finance course for graduation
Mandates at least one-half of a course credit in economics, including financial literacy and personal financial management
HB 2724 Patriotic Youth Groups; School Access (Rivero) — Oppose
Passes Senate Education Committee
Vote: 6-0-1-0
Amends title 15, chapter 1, article 1 Arizona Revised Statutes to add section 15-120.05 relating to school access
Allows the principal of a public school to permit representatives from any patriotic youth group to address students as determined by the principal during the first quarter of each academic school year about how the group supports educational interests and civic involvement
Requires a representative of the group to submit a verbal or written request to the principal within the first two weeks of the academic school year
Authorizes the principal to provide verbal or written approval, including the date and time for the address
Establishes that the principal may accept materials provided by a patriotic youth group or its representatives for distribution directly to students
Specifies that if the principal accepts materials, the principal must ensure that the materials are distributed directly to students on school property
Permits the principal to request prior access to materials for approval and to determine the method of distribution
Prohibits a public school from denying equal access or a fair opportunity to meet any patriotic youth group within a designated open forum or limited public forum
Prohibits discrimination against such groups based on membership or leadership criteria or oath of allegiance to God and country
Defines "patriotic youth group" as any group or organization that meets all of the following criteria:
Serves individuals who are under twenty-one years of age
Has an educational purpose that promotes patriotism and civic involvement
Is either:
Listed in 36 United States Code, subtitle II, part B, chapter 301, 309, 311, 403, 709, 803, 1305, 1401, or 1541 on the effective date of this section
The state affiliate of a group or organization of a patriotic youth group as defined in 36 United States Code
SB 1292 Noncertificated School Personnel; Disciplinary Action (Miranda) — Support
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: Unanimous
Requires an applicant applying for a new teaching certificate, a participant in field experience or student teaching, an applicant renewing an existing teaching certificate, an applicant who is required to renew fingerprints in order to continue teaching at a charter school, an applicant who is required to be fingerprinted or to obtain a fingerprint clearance card, and any person contracted by the state, a school district, or a charter school to provide tutoring services, to submit for an identity-verified fingerprint card to be used by the department of public safety for verification to process the fingerprint clearance card
Requires all persons engaged in instructional work, including classroom, laboratory, or other teachers, as well as supervisory teachers, speech therapists, and principals, along with all charter representatives, charter school governing body members, and officers, directors, members, and partners of the charter holder, to have a valid fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article 3.1 Arizona Revised Statutes, unless they are volunteers or guest speakers accompanied in the classroom by a person with a valid fingerprint clearance card
Subjects all other personnel to the fingerprint check or fingerprint clearance card requirements prescribed by section 15-512 Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows a charter school to require personnel not subject to fingerprint check requirements to obtain a fingerprint clearance card
Allows charter schools to hire personnel before receiving the results of a fingerprint check or the issuance of a fingerprint clearance card if proof is provided of the submission of an application to the department of public safety for a fingerprint check or a fingerprint clearance card
Requires the charter school seeking to hire the applicant to document in the applicant's file the necessity for hiring and placing the applicant before the results of a fingerprint check are received or a fingerprint clearance card is issued
Requires the charter school to ensure that the department of public safety completes a statewide and federal criminal records check on the applicant every one hundred twenty days until the fingerprint check is completed, or the fingerprint clearance card is issued or denied
Requires the charter school to provide general supervision of the applicant until the results of the fingerprint check are received or the fingerprint clearance card is obtained
Requires the state board of education to investigate written complaints alleging that a noncertificated person has engaged in immoral or unprofessional conduct if sufficient monies are available and pursuant to the rules and procedures adopted under section 15-203 Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires the state board to adopt rules and procedures for disciplinary action of noncertificated persons that are substantially like those for certificated persons if sufficient monies are available
Eliminates a provision that clarified that a “noncertificated person” is required or allowed to provide services directly to students “without being supervised by a certificated employee”
Eliminates multiple instances of text containing the definition of “supervised” as pertaining to “noncertificated persons”
Requires noncertificated personnel and personnel who are not paid employees of the school district, who are not also either the parent or the guardian of a student who attends school in the school district, and who are hired by the school district after January 1, 1990, to obtain a fingerprint clearance card
Removes exceptions to the fingerprint card requirement
Requires school districts to develop procedures for fingerprinting employees and submitting identity verified fingerprint cards under section 15-106 Arizona Revised Statutes
Eliminates fingerprint checks
Establishes that school districts must assume the costs of fingerprint clearance cards and may charge these costs to the school district’s fingerprinted employees
Establishes that school districts may not charge the costs of the fingerprint clearance cards to personnel of the school district who are not paid employees
Eliminates a provision that establishes that section 15-505, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, does not apply to a person who provides instruction or other education services to a student, with the written consent of the parent or guardian of the student, under a work release program, advance placement course, or other education program that occurs off school property
Allows a school district to hire noncertificated personnel who are required or allowed to provide services directly to students before a fingerprint clearance card is issued, if the school district ensures that the department of public safety completes a statewide and federal criminal history information check on the applicant every one hundred twenty days until the date the fingerprint clearance card is issued or denied
Appropriates $1,200,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the state board of education to implement the requirements in this act
Intends for the appropriation to be considered ongoing funding in future years
Establishes that this act does not take effect unless $1,200,000 is allocated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the state board of education to implement section 15-505, Arizona Revised Statutes
Makes technical corrections
SB 1355 School Mapping Data; Requirements; Accessibility (Gowan) — Monitor
Held in House Education Committee
SB 1383 Schools; Health Services; Disclosures (Epstein) — Monitor
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: Unanimous
Requires each school district or charter school providing routine health care services to students in the school's health office to provide, on request by a student's parent or guardian, the health care credentials of each individual providing routine health care services, if any
Requires each school district or charter school to provide, on request by a student's parent or guardian, information describing the types of emergency response training, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, that the school district or charter school requires school employees to complete
Clarifies that this bill does not require a school district or charter school to release the personally identifiable information of a school employee or individual providing routine health care services, including the employee's or individual's address, salary, social security number, or telephone number
Defines "health care credentials" as a license, certificate, permit, or registration to practice a health care profession
SB 1470 Graduation; Children with Disabilities (Farnsworth) — Monitor
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: Unanimous
Includes a requirement in the annual achievement profile for schools and local education agencies that they must include, at a minimum, graduation rates in their academic and educational performance indicators
Requires that the school accountability system adopted by the state board of education gives a child with a disability, as defined in section 15-761 Arizona Revised Statutes, who graduates in a fifth, sixth, or seventh-year cohort, the same weight as a student who graduates in a fourth-year cohort
Requires the governing board of each school district or the county school superintendent to:
Allow an individualized education program team to determine that a student may benefit from special education and related services, including transition planning and services, until the end of the school year in which the student reaches twenty-two years of age
Prohibit the governing board of a school district or the county school superintendent from requiring a student to graduate before the graduation date determined by the student's individualized education program team
Prevent the department from imposing a penalty or withholding funding from a school for providing special education and related services to a high school student for more than four years if the student's individualized education program extends their graduation beyond four years
Makes technical corrections
SB 1472 School District Budgets; Three Years (Farnsworth) — Monitor
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: 7-5-0-0
Allows any existing override authorization of the former high school district and the former common school district or districts to continue until expiration, based on the revenue control limit of the school district or districts that had override authorization before unification
Allows the unified school district to request new override authorization for one or more budget years based on the combined revenue control limit of the new district after unification
Replaces any existing override for each budget year for which override authorization is approved, if the unified school district's request for override authorization is approved
Requires the governing board to order an override election to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November at least ninety days before the proposed election if a proposed budget of a school district exceeds the aggregate budget limit for any budget year
Mandates that the purpose of the election is to present the proposed budget to the qualified electors of the school district, who by a majority vote shall either affirm or reject the budget
Limits the maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in section 15-481, subsections E or F Arizona Revised Statutes, or the combination of subsections E and F Arizona Revised Statutes, to fifteen percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes for any budget year, except as provided in subsection H Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows a school district requesting an override pursuant to section 15-482 or continuing with a budget override for pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one through three authorized before December 31, 2008, to request and authorize a maximum budget increase of ten percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for any budget year
Limits the maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection I or J of section 15-481 Arizona Revised Statutes, or a combination of both, to five percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for any budget year
Allows the governing board to request a new budget increase under section 15-481, subsection E or F, Arizona Revised Statutes, based on the prior budget increase, if a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for at least one budget year or subsequent years
Limits the new budget increase to not exceed the maximum amount allowed under section 15-481, subsection G, Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows the governing board to request a new budget increase under section 15-481, subsection I or J, Arizona Revised Statutes, based on the prior budget increase, if a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for at least one budget year or subsequent years
Limits the new budget increase to not exceed the maximum amount allowed under section 15-481, subsection K, Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows the governing board to request an additional budget in excess of district additional assistance if a budget in excess of district additional assistance was previously adopted by the voters in a school district, and will be in effect for at least one budget year or subsequent years as provided in section 15-481, subsection L or M, Arizona Revised Statutes
Defines "budget year" as a fiscal year that is both a fiscal year for which the school district is budgeting and one of the three fiscal years that immediately follow the current year
Requires that the budget format must also contain:
The enrollment projections for each of the next three years, including a description of the methods used to make the projections
The rate of change in student enrollment between the current year and the fifth year immediately preceding the current year
Requires the governing board of each school district to prepare and furnish a proposed budget in an electronic format for the next three fiscal years to the superintendent of public instruction and the county school superintendent, unless waived by the county school superintendent, no later than July 5 of each year or the publication of notice of the public hearing and board meeting as required by this section
Mandates that the proposed budget contain the required information and be in the form provided by the department of education
Includes in the proposed budget the total amount of revenues by source necessary to meet the proposed budget of the school district for each budget year, excluding property taxes
Allows school district governing boards to include in the proposed budget any items or amounts authorized by legislation filed with the secretary of state that will become effective during each budget year
Requires the auditor general to include, in the summary form of the proposed budget, the rate of change in student enrollment as prescribed by section 15-903, subsection E, Arizona Revised Statutes, along with enrollment projections for each of the next three years
Includes the following when calculating the sum for the aggregate budget limit for each budget year:
The general budget limit for each budget year
The unrestricted capital budget limit for each budget year
Allows a school district, except for an accommodation school, that applies for Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 assistance during the current year to budget an amount for Title VIII administrative costs for each budget year
Exempts the amount budgeted for Title VIII administrative costs from the revenue control limit and limits it to an amount determined for each budget year, including the following:
The amount determined in paragraph 6 the amount, if any, to be expended by the school district in each budget year through an intergovernmental agreement with other school districts or the department of education to provide Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 technical assistance to participating districts
The lesser of the amount determined in paragraph 7 or the revenues available as determined in paragraph 3 for each budget year
The amount determined in paragraph 8 as the maximum amount that may be budgeted for Title VIII administrative costs for each budget year as provided in this subsection
Defines "Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 assistance" for the current year as an amount equal to the final determination of Title VIII assistance for the fiscal year preceding the current year as confirmed by the Division of Impact Aid, United States Department of Education, or if a final determination has not been made, the amount estimated by the superintendent of public instruction as confirmed by the Division of Impact Aid, United States Department of Education
Establishes for each budget year an amount equal to the determination of Title VIII assistance for the fiscal year preceding the budget year as estimated by the superintendent of public instruction
Requires the superintendent of public instruction to correct errors in the calculation of state aid or budget limits for a school district or charter school within the previous three years if they did not conform with statutory requirements
Allows corrections to be made in the current year or the budget year immediately following, except that in cases of hardship to the school district, permits the superintendent to approve corrections partly in one year and partly in the year after that year
Makes technical corrections
SB 1493 DCS; School Visits; Identification Requirements (Farnsworth) — Support
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: Unanimous
For the purposes of section 8-530.08, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, requires a department caseworker visiting a child at the child's school for the purpose of an interview to present both of the following forms of identification:
Mandates the caseworker's department identification
Mandates the caseworker's valid driver license or valid nonoperating identification license
Establishes that if a caseworker declines or is unable to provide the forms of identification listed in section 8-530.08, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, the caseworker must provide the child's school with the contact information for the department office where the caseworker is employed
Requires the school to then contact the department office and verify the caseworker's identification and employment
For the purposes of section 15-160.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, requires a school to require a department of child safety caseworker visiting a child at the child's school for the purpose of an interview to present both forms of identification
Mandates the caseworker's department of child safety identification
Mandates the caseworker's valid driver license or valid nonoperating identification license
Establishes that if a caseworker declines or is unable to provide the forms of identification listed in section 8-530.08, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, the caseworker must provide the child's school with the contact information for the department office where the caseworker is employed
Requires the school to then contact the department office and verify the caseworker's identification and employment
SB 1503 Continuation; School Facilities Oversight Board (Farnsworth) — Support
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: 10-2-0-0
Overrides any other law to prohibit a city or town from charging a school district or charter school fees under section 9-463.05, Arizona Revised Statutes, except that a city or town may charge fees for streets and water and sewer utility functions only if the development, as defined in section 9-463.05, Arizona Revised Statutes, is not funded in whole or in part with money from the New School Facilities Fund under section 41-5741, Arizona Revised Statutes
Repeals section 41-3025.07, Arizona Revised Statutes, pertaining to the termination of the school facilities oversight board
Changes the termination of the school facilities oversight board to July 1, 2030
Repeals Title 41, Chapter 56, Articles 1 through 9 Arizona Revised Statutes, and section 41-3027.09 on January 1, 2031, only if:
No outstanding state school facilities revenue bonds, no outstanding state school improvement revenue bonds, and no outstanding lease-to-own transactions exist
The legislature provides for paying or retiring all outstanding bonds and lease-to-own transactions
Delays repeal beyond January 1, 2031, if neither condition is met
Repeals Title 41, Chapter 56, Articles 1 through 9 Arizona Revised Statutes, and section 41-3025.07, thirty days after the retirement of all revenue bonds and lease-to-own transactions
Requires the school facilities and oversight board to:
Determine whether any interest disclosed pursuant to section 41-5702, subsection D, Arizona Revised Statutes, is a substantial interest as defined in Section 38-502, Arizona Revised Statutes
Maintain a record of all substantial interests identified pursuant to this requirement
Eliminates a provision that the director of the division, who serves as the director of the school facilities oversight board, may expedite any request for monies in which the local match was not obtained for a project that received preliminary approval by the state board for school capital facilities
Requires the director of the school facilities oversight board to require each employee of the board to disclose in writing to the board at least once per year any interest the employee has in any contract, sale, purchase, service, or other transaction of the board, division, or a school district
Continues the school facilities oversight board to evaluate the capital needs of school districts
Authorizes the board to distribute monies to school districts to cure existing deficiencies, provide for building renewal, and construct new facilities
Establishes that the legislature intends that the school facilities oversight board provide only one estimate of projected enrollment, and the associated cost, to the legislature
Establishes that sections 1, 2, and 3 of this act are effective retroactively to July 1, 2025
Makes technical corrections
SB 1659 State Board; Allegations of Misconduct (Bolick) — Monitor
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: 11-0-1-0
Establishes that the highest ranking official of a school or school district described in section 15-530, subsection B, paragraph 1 or 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, may request from the state board of education information related to allegations that a certificated or noncertificated person engaged in conduct that, if true, constitutes grounds for disciplinary action if the certificated or noncertificated person resigned, or otherwise separated from employment with a school before the state board of education investigates the allegations or determines whether to take disciplinary action against the person
Establishes that notwithstanding section 15-530 subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, the State Board of Education, after verifying the official's identity, must provide the requested information, if available, to the official or to an administrator designated by the official
If providing the requested information might impede the State Board of Education's investigation of the allegations, the State Board of Education may deny the official's request or provide the information after completing the investigation
Makes technical corrections
SB 1693 Students; Interscholastic Activities; Eligibility; Costs (Kavanagh) — Monitor
Passes House Education Committee
Vote: 7-5-0-0
Allows a private school student residing in a public school attendance area to try out for interscholastic activities at the public school under the same conditions as enrolled students, except as provided in section 15-802.03, Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires policies and requirements for registration, eligibility, fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, qualifications, responsibilities, schedules, behavior, and performance standards to be consistent for both private and public school students
Requires the parent of a private school student trying out for an interscholastic activity to submit written verification that the student is receiving passing grades in all courses and making satisfactory progress toward advancement or promotion
Prohibits a private school student who was previously enrolled in a school district, charter school, or different private school from participating in interscholastic activities for the remainder of the school year in which the student was previously enrolled
Prohibits a school district from contracting with any private entity supervising interscholastic activities if the entity prohibits private school students from participating in interscholastic activities at public, private, or charter schools
Defines "private school student" as a student residing in a public school attendance area who is educated in a private school and whose private school does not offer the interscholastic activity for which the student is trying out
Prohibits a public school from charging a participation fee for a student not enrolled in the public school to participate in interscholastic activities that exceeds the student's pro rata share of program costs
Requires a student's pro rata share to be calculated by dividing the total budgeted amount for the interscholastic activity by the total number of participating students during the budget year
Allows a public school to require students participating in interscholastic activities to pay for related expenses if the school requires all participating students, including those enrolled in the public school, to pay for the same expenses
Makes technical corrections