ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DP 11-0-0-2

HB 2626: gifted pupils; weights; reports; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Bolick, LD 20

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Establishes reporting requirements for the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) regarding monies generated by Group A and Group B weights and gifted education programs. Appropriates monies for additional assistance for gifted programs.

History

As part of the school finance formula, every student in a public school receives a Group A weight; these weights differ depending on grade level, with weights being assigned to students in preschool programs for children with disabilities, students in grades K-8 and students in grades 9-12. Statute defines Group A to include funding for gifted pupils. Group B weights are assigned to specific students that have certain disabilities, such as a hearing impairment, a severe intellectual disability or orthopedic impairments. These weights are assigned depending on the disability (A.R.S. § 15-901).

Statute requires school districts to provide gifted education programs to gifted students (A.R.S. § 15-779.01). School districts must provide for routine screening for gifted students using a test adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) and include, in the district's annual financial report, the amount of monies spent on programs for gifted students and the number of students enrolled in these programs (A.R.S. § 15-779.02). Statute also establishes additional assistance for gifted education programs: a school district may apply to ADE for additional funding equal to $75 per student for 4% of the district's student count, or $2,000, whichever is more (A.R.S. § 15-779.03). Laws 2019, Chapter 263 appropriated $1,000,000 in onetime funding from the General Fund (GF) in FY 2020 for gifted education.

Provisions

Group A Weight and Group B Weight Report

1. Requires, by November 1, 2020 and by July 1 every four years thereafter, ADE to submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes:

a) Statewide data on the amount of monies generated by all Group A weights and all Group B weights;

b) Data by county on the amount of monies generated by all Group A weights and all Group B weights; and

c) The number of students attending school through open enrollment. (Sec. 1)

Gifted Education Report

2. Requires, by November 1, 2020, ADE to submit a report to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes statewide data and data by county on the:

a) Total number of students receiving gifted education in school districts and charter schools;

b) Total amount of monies spent by school districts and charter schools on gifted education; and

c) Primary services provided to students in gifted education programs in school districts and charter schools. (Sec. 2)

3. Repeals this reporting requirement on January 1, 2021. (Sec. 2)

Appropriation

4. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2021 to ADE for additional assistance for gifted programs. (Sec. 3)

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8. Initials CH Appropriations

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