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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
education; federal funds; technical correction
(NOW: continuing high school; continuing study)
Purpose
Establishes the Continuing High School Program (Program) to provide alternative study services to adult learners. Outlines Program requirements and deems the Program eligible for base support level funding and additional assistance.
Background
An individual who is at least 16 years of age may obtain an Arizona High School Equivalency Diploma through the: 1) GED Test Pathway, which requires the individual to pass the GED Tests; or 2) College Credit Pathway which requires the individual to obtain 25 college credits in outlined subject areas from an Arizona accredited public community college or state university. Both pathways additionally require a passing score on the Arizona Civics Test (ADE).
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Division of Adult Education Services provides state-funded adult education programs to prepare individuals for the GED Test. ADE may allocate funding to eligible adult education providers which may include: 1) local educational agencies; 2) community-based organizations; 3) institutions of higher education; 4) public or private nonprofit organizations; 5) correctional facilities; 6) libraries; and 7) public housing authorities. Adult education providers may charge supplemental fees, subject to ADE approval (A.R.S. § 15-234 and A.A.C. R7-2-308). There are currently 25 adult education programs offered throughout Arizona (ADE).
H.B. 2307 provides base support level funding and additional assistance for the Program in the same manner as a school district or charter school and caps the total projected average daily membership (ADM) for the Program at 350 ADM in FY 2021, 700 ADM in FY 2022, and 1,750 ADM in FY 2023 and each subsequent year. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates the Program would have a basic state aid cost of $6,400 per ADM (JLBC fiscal note). Based on this figure, and if the prescribed caps on ADM are met, there would be a cost of approximately $2.24 million in FY 2021, $4.48 million in FY 2022, and $11.2 million in FY 2023 and each subsequent year. The cost would be lower if the Program's actual ADM is lower than the prescribed caps.
Provisions
The Program
1. Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish a Program to provide alternative study services to adult learners leading to the issuance of a high school diploma and workforce skills credentials.
2. Requires the Program to provide public education through partnerships between approved service providers and school districts, nonprofit charter schools or career technical education districts.
3. Restricts the issuance of a high school diploma to an adult learner who meets all graduation requirements prescribed by statute and the SBE.
4. Subjects the Program to all applicable legal requirements prescribed in education statutes for a public school, including:
a) requirements for student assessments;
b) requirements for special education services; and
c) prohibitions against admission limits based on ethnicity, national origin, gender, income level, disabling condition, English language proficiency or athletic ability.
5. Deems the Program eligible to receive base support level funding and additional assistance in the same manner as a school district or charter school.
6. Deems the Program ineligible for transportation funding and Arizona online instruction funding.
7. Caps the total projected ADM the SBE may approve for Program service providers at:
a) 350 ADM for FY 2021;
b) 700 ADM for FY 2022; and
c) 1,750 ADM for FY 2023 and each subsequent fiscal year.
8. Allows the SBE to maximize Program availability by adjusting the ADM allocated to individual Program service providers, subject to the caps on total ADM, based on:
a) the previous year's enrollment;
b) strong demand for new enrollment; or
c) changes in the facilities where the Program is operated.
Program Approval
9. Stipulates that eligible service providers must:
a) qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
b) demonstrate at least a 10-year history of providing services in Arizona to persons 18 years of age or older whose educational and training opportunities have been limited by educational disadvantages, disabilities and challenges.
10. Directs ADE to develop service provider application procedures for the Program and requires an application to include:
a) a description of the service provider's administrative structure, program activities and program staff, the service provider's budget and the specific curriculum of the service provider that is aligned with Arizona academic standards;
b) the service provider's school calendar and schedule describing the location, length of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace and instructional activities or any combination of these;
c) a description of specific academic, behavioral and emotional support services the service provider will offer to enrolled adult learners;
d) if applicable, a description of the service provider's career and technical education (CTE) courses that lead to industry certifications in high-growth and in-demand industry sectors or dual enrollment courses from a university or community college;
e) a description of specific program outcomes, goals and metrics the service provider will use to determine student success; and
f) the projected number of adult learners the service provider will enroll.
11. Requires the SBE to evaluate applications and approve service providers that demonstrate through evidence or other documentation the ability to meet SBE-adopted performance expectations.
12. Caps, at two school years, initial SBE approval of a service provider's participation in the Program.
13. Subjects SBE renewal of approval to a cap of four school years and contingency on specific performance expectations, including student progression, graduation rates and earning of industry-recognized credentials.
14. Requires the SBE to immediately initiate a process to revoke the service provider's approval to provide the Program if an approved service provider fails to meet Program requirements in statute or SBE rule.
Miscellaneous
15. Allows a service provider to partner with a community college district to provide CTE courses that lead to industry certifications.
16. Allows the SBE to adopt rules to carry out the Program.
17. Requires an approved service provider to annually report to ADE:
a) the number of students the service provider enrolls in the Program;
b) the graduation rate of students the service provider enrolls in the Program;
c) the average student progress toward meeting graduation requirements;
d) the number and type of industry-recognized credentials earned by students the service provider enrolls in the Program; and
e) a descriptive summary of the academic, behavioral and emotional support services the service provider offers to adult learners in the Program.
18. Requires, by December 15 of each year, ADE to submit a report on the Program that includes an evaluation of Program effectiveness to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
19. Ends the Program on July 1, 2029.
20. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/18/19 DPA/SE 10-2-1-0
3rd Read 3/19/19 50-8-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 21, 2019
JO/LB/gs