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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
high-quality teacher pilot program
Purpose
Extends funding for the High-Quality Teacher Professional Development Pilot Program (Program) through FY 2022.
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) develops and administers a proficiency examination to applicants for a provisional or standard teacher certificate. The proficiency examination consists of a professional knowledge test and a subject knowledge test. Applicants seeking certification in a subject area must pass the subject knowledge test specific to that subject area. Statute exempts applicants with a baccalaureate degree, master's degree or doctoral degree in the relevant subject area from the subject knowledge test (A.R.S. § 15-533). Certified teachers seeking to add an approved subject area to their certificate may show competency in the subject area by passing the appropriate subject knowledge test or possessing a baccalaureate degree, master's degree or doctoral degree.
In 2017, the Legislature directed the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to establish the Program, and appropriated $300,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2018 for the Program. Under the Program, SBE-certified teachers currently teaching at an Arizona public school may apply to receive up to $2,000 in scholarship and grant assistance to obtain additional credentials and certifications from an accredited postsecondary educational institution to teach in high-need content areas. A high-need content area is any math, science, technology, engineering or career and technical education content (Laws 2017, Chapter 284).
S.B. 1051 appropriates a total of $600,000 from the state General Fund in FYs 2020 through 2022.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $200,000 from the state General Fund to ADE in each of FYs 2020 through 2022 to fund scholarships and grants provided through the Program.
2. Extends the Program from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2023.
3. Delays, from July 2, 2022, to July 2, 2025, the repeal of the Program's statutory authorization.
4. Allows ADE to retain up to three percent of appropriated monies to offset administrative costs.
5. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing.
6. Makes a technical change.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 18, 2019
JO/LB/gs