Assigned to ED AS
PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
technical correction; collection agencies;
qualifications
(NOW: study committee; special education; gifted)
Purpose
Establishes the Special Education Weights and Funding for Gifted Pupils Study Committee (Study Committee).
Background
Under the school finance formula, a school's student count is weighted based on students' classification into funding categories (A.R.S. § 15-943). Statute outlines special education funding weights as follows:
|
Funding Category |
Weight |
Program Type |
|
HI |
4.771 |
hearing impairments |
|
MD-R, A-R, SID-R |
6.024 |
multiple disabilities, autism, severe intellectual disability (resource) |
|
MD-SC, A-SC, SID-SC |
5.833 |
multiple disabilities, autism, severe intellectual disability (self-contained) |
|
MD-SSI |
7.947 |
multiple disabilities with severe sensory impairment |
|
OI-R |
3.158 |
orthopedic impairments (resource) |
|
OI-SC |
6.773 |
orthopedic impairments (self-contained) |
|
P-SD |
3.595 |
preschool severe delay |
|
DD, ED, MIID, SLD, SLI, OHI |
0.003 |
developmental delays, emotional disabilities, mild intellectual disabilities, specific learning disability, speech/language impairments, other health impairments |
|
ED-P |
4.822 |
emotional disabilities (private special education or intensive school district) |
|
MOID |
4.421 |
moderate intellectual disabilities |
|
VI |
4.806 |
visual impairments |
Statute requires school district governing boards to educationally provide for gifted pupils by modifying courses of study and adapting teaching methods, materials and techniques. Statute allows school districts to apply for gifted program additional assistance from the Arizona Department of Education that is equal to the greater of $75 per pupil for four percent of district students or $2,000 (A.R.S. §§ 15-779.01 and 15-779.03).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Study Committee consisting of:
a) five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Speaker), three of whom must be members of the majority party and two of whom must be members of the minority party; and
b) five members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate (Senate President), three of whom must be members of the majority party and two of whom must be members of the minority party.
2. Requires the Speaker to designate one House of Representatives member to serve as the chairperson and requires the Senate President to designate one Senate member to serve as vice chairperson.
3. Requires the Study Committee to examine and make recommendations on special education weights and funding for gifted pupils.
4. Requires the Study Committee to meet as often as the members deem necessary.
5. Requires the House of Representatives and the Senate to provide staff assistance to the Study Committee as directed by the Speaker and the Senate President.
6. Requires, by January 1, 2020, the Study Committee to report its findings and recommendations to the Speaker and the Senate President and provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State.
7. Repeals the Study Committee on January 16, 2020.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Adds five members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President, to the Study Committee's membership.
2. Requires the Senate President to designate one Senate member as vice chairperson.
3. Requires the Senate to provide staff assistance to the Study Committee as directed by the Senate President.
4. Adds the Senate President to the entities to which the Study Committee must submit a report.
5. Makes conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
APPROP 2/25/19 DPA/SE 11-0-0-0 ED 3/26/19 DP 7-0-1
3rd Read 2/28/19 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
April 23, 2019
JO/LB/gs