ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

 


HB2438: college credit by examination; appropriations

Sponsor:  Representative Udall, LD 25

Committee on Education

Overview

States that the College Credit by Examination Development Fund (Fund) consists of legislative appropriations as opposed to monies appropriated to ADE for the College Credit by Examination Incentive Program (Program) but that are not distributed by the end of the fiscal year. Specifies how Fund monies are to be distributed and prioritized. Appropriates monies from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2021 for the Program and the Fund.

History

Laws 2016, Chapter 124 established the Program to provide an incentive bonus to teachers, school districts and charter schools for high school students who pass a qualifying exam for college credit. The bonus amounts are generated as follows:

1)    $450 per passing exam for students who receive a passing score on a qualifying exam and are enrolled in a school where 50% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches; and

2)    $300 per passing exam for students who receive a passing score on a qualifying exam and are enrolled in a school where less than 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

A school district or charter school is required to distribute at least 50% of the bonus monies to the classroom teacher for each student who passes a qualifying exam and to the teachers of relevant subjects who instructed the student. The remainder of any bonus monies may be allocated by the principal on behalf of students who receive a passing score and may be used for teacher professional development, student instructional support, reimbursement of the exam fee or instruction materials. The Program is set to end on July 1, 2026 (A.R.S. § 15-249.06).

Laws 2019, Chapter 98 established the Fund. Currently, any monies that are not distributed by the end of the fiscal year for the Program are deposited to the Fund. Statute requires that Fund monies are distributed to schools in which 50% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches to aid in the development and operation of classes that offer qualifying exams. Finally, ADE is required to prioritize distributions from the Fund based on need. The Legislature appropriated $5,000,000 from the state GF to the ADE in FY 2020 for the Program (Laws 2019, Chapter 263).

Provisions

1.    ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)	     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes)	☐ Fiscal NoteStates that the Fund consists of legislative appropriations as opposed to monies appropriated to ADE for the Program but that are not distributed by the end of the fiscal year. (Sec. 1)

2.    Allocates monies in the Fund to eliminate or reduce the exam fee costs for students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches on a pro rata basis. (Sec. 1)

3.    Requires, subject to available monies, other monies in the Fund to be distributed to schools in which 50% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches to assist in developing and operating classes that offer qualifying exams, including through professional development grants. (Sec. 1)

4.    Prioritizes distributions from the Fund based on need, which may include showing that students are academically prepared for a qualifying exam that will provide them college credit from any in-state university but lack access in their local school to the corresponding course or an instruction. (Sec. 1)

5.    Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 to ADE for the Program. (Sec. 2)

6.    Appropriates $1,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2021 to the Fund. (Sec. 2)

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10.  Initials CH             Education

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