Assigned to K-12 ED                                                                                                                               AS ENACTED

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Forty-seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session

FINAL AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1382

AIMS test; dropout prevention

Purpose

            An emergency measure expanding the services of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) Intervention and Dropout Prevention Program to include middle school pupils and any pupil for 12 months after the student exits the program.

Background

            Laws 2000, Chapter 277 authorized the AIMS Intervention and Dropout Prevention Program to provide additional academic support for at-risk high school pupils who are likely to drop out of schools. Students who participate in this Program must receive academic support, comprehensive training on workplace skills and instruction on leadership and civic duty. The FY 2005-2006 appropriation of $550,000 for this Program funds three community programs:  Arizona Call-A-Teen, Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates and Tucson Youth Development.  Additionally, monies are distributed to school district programs at Mesa Unified and Tolleson Union school districts.

            Beginning with the class of 2006, high school students are required either to pass the AIMS test in order to graduate or complete an alternative AIMS score augmentation program. In FY 2004‑2005, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) transferred $10 million in surplus formula aid monies to increase funding for AIMS tutoring. In FY 2005-2006, ADE received a new $5 million appropriation for expanded AIMS tutoring designed to increase the percentage of students passing the high school AIMS test. As of January 2006, ADE reports that approximately 19,500 pupils still need to pass one or more parts of the AIMS test to graduate in 2006.

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund.

Provisions

1. Expands the high school grades currently served by the AIMS Intervention and Dropout Prevention Program to include middle school grades (seventh and eighth) and funds program services to continue 12 months beyond the pupil’s exit from the program.

2. Allows ADE to use monies from the AIMS Intervention and Dropout Prevention Program to purchase materials designed to assist students to meet academic standards and to achieve a passing score on the AIMS test in order to graduate from high school.

3. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

1. Removes the provision allowing ADE to use a portion of the current year appropriation for staffing.

2. Modifies the fiscal impact statement.

Amendments Adopted by House of Representatives

· Allows monies from the AIMS Intervention and Dropout Program to be used for materials designed to assist in passing the AIMS test.

Senate Action House Action

K-12 ED         2/1/06     DP     8-0-0-0                       ED                   3/29/06     DPA     9-0-0-1

APPROP         3/2/06     W/D                                     APPROP (B)  4/4/06       DP        12-0-0-3

3^rd Read           3/14/06             27-2-0-0-1                  3^rd Read           5/22/06                  58-0-2-0

Final Read       5/24/06             24-0-6-0                    

Signed by the Governor 5/30/06

Chapter 305

Prepared by Senate Research

June 2, 2006

DN/jas