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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
junior reserve officer training; CTE
Purpose
Classifies a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program as a career technical education (CTE) course or a career technical education district (CTED) program. Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to distribute as outlined.
Background
Each military department establishes and maintains a JROTC which is organized into units at public and private postsecondary institutions. A unit can be established at an institution that: 1) has a prescribed number of physically fit students; 2) has adequate facilities; 3) provides a course in military instruction for at least three academic years; 4) limits members in the unit to students maintaining acceptable standards of academic achievement and conduct; and 5) meets all other standards prescribed by the secretary of each military department. The purpose of the JROTC is to instill in students a sense of accomplishment and values of citizenship, service to the United States and personal responsibility (10 U.S.C. § 2031).
A CTE course is offered as part of a CTED program and must be approved by the CTE Division of ADE. CTE courses and CTED programs must meet prescribed requirements pertaining to instruction, assessments, educational environment and instructional materials (A.R.S. § 15-391).
Upon application made by the governing board to the State Board of Education, a school containing satisfactory facilities and equipment to provide CTE and vocational education may be designated to maintain CTE and vocational programs in addition to program improvement services for pupils in grades 7 through 12 (A.R.S. § 15-782).
H.B. 2082 appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2020 to ADE for distribution to JROTC programs on a prorated per pupil basis. According to a Joint Legislative Budget Committee fiscal note there would also be an increase in Basic State Aid costs to the state GF by an unknown amount on an ongoing basis. The amount of the increase would depend on the number of pupils currently enrolled in JROTC courses or programs that are not classified as CTE courses or programs. This number is unknown because JROTC programs do not require ADE approval.
Provisions
1. Requires a school district, charter school or CTED to classify a JROTC program as a CTE course or program.
2. Requires the ADE CTE Division to approve a CTED's JROTC program that meets requirements for a CTE course or CTED program.
3. Appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2020 to ADE for distribution on a prorated per pupil basis to:
a) CTEDs that offer a JROTC program approved by ADE as either a CTE course or CTED program; and
b) school districts that offer a JROTC program that ADE determines would meet the requirements for a CTE course or a CTED program, if the JROTC program were operated by a CTED.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
MVA 2/4/19 DP 6-0-0-1
ED 2/11/19 DP 13-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/25/19 56-4-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 8, 2019
JO/CP/gs