ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: DPA 6-5-0-2

HB2013: schools; student promotions

Sponsor: Representative Fillmore, LD 16

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires a school district governing board to prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that stipulate teachers must retain or fail a student if the student does not meet the criteria or competency requirements prescribed by the school district governing board.

History

Statute directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to prescribe a minimum course of study for both common schools and high schools that incorporate the academic standards adopted by SBE. SBE is also required to prescribe the competency requirements for the promotion of students from the 3rd grade and 8th grade in at least the areas of reading, writing, math, science and social studies (A.R.S. § 15-701). In addition to the minimum course of study, statute directs SBE to prescribe competency requirements that incorporate the academics standards in reading, writing, math, science and social studies for the graduation of students from high school (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).

Governing boards are required to prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of students from common school grades and high school, respectively, that include the academic standards set by SBE (A.R.S. § 15-341(A)(5)). The criteria prescribed by a governing board must include the accomplishment of the academic standards in at least reading, writing, math, science and social studies, as determined by district assessment. A governing board may include additional measures of academic achievement and attendance. Finally, a governing board may prescribe course of study and competency requirements for promotion or graduation that are in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements prescribed by SBE.

Currently, statute requires a teacher to determine whether to promote or retain a student in a common school grade based on the governing board's prescribed criteria. A governing board may review the decision of the teacher to promote or retain a pupil but must base its decision on its prescribed criteria (A.R.S. § 15-701(E)). For students in high school courses, statute requires a teacher to determine whether to pass or fail a student based on competency requirements, if any have been prescribed (A.R.S. § 15-701.01(E)).

Provisions

Governing Boards

1. Requires a governing board to prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that stipulate teachers must:

a) Retain a student in a common school grade if the student does meet the criteria prescribed by the governing board for promotion; and

b) Fail a student in a high school course if the student does not meet the criteria prescribed by the governing board for graduation. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that the retainment of a student or the failure of a student by a teacher is subject to review by the governing board. (Sec. 1)

Common Schools

3. Requires a teacher to retain a student in a common school course if the student does not meet the criteria for promotion prescribed by the governing board. (Sec. 2)

4. Allows a teacher to promote a student from the 3rd grade who receives a score on the reading portion of the statewide assessment that does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills as established by SBE if the student:

a) Is an English learner or a limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two years of English language instruction;

b) Is in the process of a special education referral or evaluation for placement in special education, has been diagnosed as having a significant reading impairment or is disabled and if the student's guardian and individualized education program team agree that promotion is appropriate;

c) Has demonstrates or subsequently demonstrates sufficient reading skills or adequate progress towards sufficient reading skills of the 3rd grade reading standards; or

d) Receives intervention and remedial services during the summer or a subsequent school year and demonstrates sufficient progress. (Sec. 2)

5. Allows a teacher to promote a student in any common school grade who does not meet the prescribed criteria for promotion if the student:

a) Is an English learner or a limited English proficient student, has had fewer than two years of English language instruction and if the student's teacher and guardian agree that promotion is appropriate; or

b) Is in the process of a special education referral or evaluation for placement in special education, has been diagnosed as having a significant reading impairment or is disabled and if the student's individualized education program team and the student's guardian agree that promotion is appropriate; or

c) Receives a special exception that the governing board prescribes. (Sec. 2)

High Schools

6. Requires a teacher to fail a student in a high school course if the student does not meet competency requirements prescribed by the governing board, if any have been prescribed. (Sec. 3)

7. Allows a teacher to pass a student who does not meet the competency requirements for a high school course if the student:

b) Is in the process of a special education referral or evaluation for placement in special education, has been diagnosed as having a significant reading impairment or is disabled and if the student's individualized education program team and the student's guardian agree that promotion is appropriate; or

c) Receives a special exception that the governing board prescribes. (Sec. 3)

Miscellaneous

8. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 5)

9. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 2, 3, 4)

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13. Initials CH House Engrossed

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