 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
continuing high school program
Purpose
Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish a continuing high school program (continuing program) for adult learners to earn a high school diploma and industry credentials. Outlines qualifications for service providers, program participants and schools in addition to establishing average daily membership (ADM) projections.
Background
The Division of Adult Education in the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) prescribes an adult education course of study in school districts, supervises and provides adult education programs in other institutions and agencies and prescribes a course of study to provide training for adults to continue their basic education to pass an SBE-approved equivalency (A.R.S. § 15-232).
A school district governing board (governing board) prescribes curricula that include SBE academic standards for the graduation of students from high school. Governing boards must also prescribe criteria that include academic standards in at least reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies, as determined by district assessment. Other criteria may include additional measures of academic achievement and attendance (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).
SBE establishes 22 credits as the minimum number of credits necessary for high school graduation, including: 1) four credits of English or English as a Second Language; 2) three credits of social studies; 3) four credits of mathematics; 4) three credits of science; 5) one credit in the arts or career and technical education and vocational education; and 6) seven credits of additional courses prescribed by the local district board (A.A.C. § R7-2-302).
A 501(c)(3) organization must be organized and operated solely for exempt purposes including charitable, religious, educational or scientific reasons and none of its earnings can benefit any private shareholder or individual (IRS Exemption Requirements 501(c)(3) organizations).
According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, H.B. 2387 would increase state General Fund costs for basic state aid by up to $2.3 million in FY 2022, $4.7 million in FY 2023 and $9.4 million in FY 2024 and subsequent years. The actual cost depends on the number of adult learners participating in the program, the average annual hours of instruction, whether any participants are under 22 years old and whether they would attend the program through a non-state aid school district (JLBC Fiscal Note).
Provisions
Continuing Program
1. Requires SBE to establish a continuing program that provides adult learners with alternative study services and leads to a high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials.
2. Provides a high school diploma to an adult learner that meets all graduation requirements as prescribed by a governing board and SBE.
3. Directs SBE to authorize participating service providers in the continuing program to operate schools through partnerships with school districts, nonprofit charter schools or CTE districts.
4. Deems a service provider eligible to participate in the continuing program if the provider:
a) is a qualified 501(c)(3) in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service code; and
b) demonstrates at least a 10-year history of providing services to persons at least 18 years old in Arizona with limited educational and training opportunities due to educational disadvantages, disabilities and challenges.
5. Directs a participating school to meet all applicable prescribed legal requirements for a public school, including requirements relating to:
a) student assessments;
b) 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.
6. Deems a continuing program ineligible for transportation and Arizona Online Instruction funding.
7. Allows a participating school to receive base support-level funding and additional assistance in the same manner as a school district or charter school.
Application Procedures
8. Directs ADE to develop application procedures for service providers to participate in the continuing program, and requires all applications to include the following:
a) a description of the service provider's administrative structure, program activities, staff, budget and specific curriculum aligned with Arizona academic standards;
b) the service provider's school calendar and schedule that outlines the location, length of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace and instructional activities, or any combination;
c) a description of specific academic, behavioral and emotional support services offered by the service provider to adult learners;
d) a description of the service provider's CTE courses leading to industry-recognized credentials, in partnership with a community college district if applicable, or dual enrollment courses from a university or community college;
e) a description of specific program outcomes, goals and metrics used to determine student success; and
f) the projected number of enrolled adult learners.
Application Evaluations
9. Requires SBE to evaluate submitted applications and approve service providers who demonstrate, through evidence or other documentation, the ability to provide students with instruction and support leading to a high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials.
10. Establishes an approved service provider is:
a) limited to an initial approval period of two school years;
b) limited to a renewal period of four school years, contingent upon specific performance expectations, including student progression, graduation rates and earning of industry-recognized credentials; and
c) subject to an SBE process to immediately revoke approval upon failure to meet outlined requirements or SBE-adopted rules.
11. Requires SBE, by July 1, 2022, to adopt performance expectations to evaluate service providers, including:
a) measurements of student progress towards earning a high school diploma;
b) student graduation rates for those earning at least one academic credit; and
c) the number of industry-recognized credentials earned.
Reporting Requirements
12. Requires an approved service provider to annually report to ADE the following information:
a) the number of enrolled adult learners;
b) the graduation rate of enrolled adult learners;
c) the average progress of adult learners towards meeting graduation requirements;
d) the number and type of industry-recognized credentials earned by enrolled adult learners; and
e) a summary of the academic, behavioral and emotional support services offered.
13. Requires ADE, before December 15, 2023, and before December 15 of each subsequent year, to submit an annual report evaluating the effectiveness of the continuing program to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
Miscellaneous
14. Allows SBE to approve program service providers with a total projected ADM limited to:
a) 350 total ADM in FY 2022;
b) 700 total ADM in FY 2023; and
c) 1,400 total ADM in FY 2024 and each subsequent fiscal year.
15. Prohibits SBE from including students 21 years old or younger in the total projected ADM.
16. Allows SBE to maximize the availability of the continuing program by adjusting the ADM allocated to individual program service providers based on:
a) the previous year's enrollment;
b) demand for new enrollment; or
c) changes in the facilities where the program is operated.
17. Limits the total ADM from exceeding the total projected ADM as outlined.
18. Allows SBE to adopt rules to carry out the continuing program.
19. Terminates the continuing program on July 1, 2030.
20. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/10/20 DP 11-1-0-1
3rd Read 3/5/20 45-15-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2020
JO/gs