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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
gifted pupils; weights; reports; appropriation
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to submit reports on statewide and county data related to gifted education, group weight funding and open enrollment. Appropriates $1,000,000 in FY 2021 from the state General Fund (GF) to ADE for gifted programs.
Background
Statute defines gifted education as appropriate academic course offerings required to provide an educational program that is an integral part of the school day and is commensurate with the academic abilities of a gifted pupil (A.R.S. § 15-779). A school district governing board (governing board) must provide gifted education to support unique opportunities for high‑achieving and underachieving pupils who are identified as gifted. Identification of gifted pupils is based on tests or subtests that are demonstrated to be effective with special populations. A governing board must modify the course of study and adapt teaching methods, materials and techniques to provide educationally for those gifted pupils (A.R.S. § 15-779.01).
Statute allows a school district to apply to ADE for additional funding for gifted education programs equal to $75 per pupil for four percent of the district's student count, or $2,000, whichever is more. School districts must conduct evaluation studies of their gifted programs and submit the results to ADE (A.R.S. § 15-779.03).
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 defines Group A to include funding for gifted pupils, students with a specific learning, emotional or mild intellectual disability, remedial education, a speech/language impairment, a developmental delay, homebound, bilingual or other health impairments. Group B includes funding for educational improvements for pupils in kindergarten and grades one through three and for pupils with specified conditions (A.R.S. § 15-901).
H.B. 2626 appropriate $1,000,000 in FY 2021 from the state GF to ADE.
Provisions
1. Requires ADE, by November 1, 2020, and July 1 every four years thereafter, to submit a report that includes statewide data and data by county on:
a) the amount of monies generated by all group A and B weights; and
b) the number of students attending school through open enrollment.
2. Requires ADE, by November 1, 2020, to submit a report that includes statewide data and data by county relating to:
a) the total number of pupils receiving gifted education in district and charter schools;
b) the total amount of monies spent on gifted education by district and charter schools; and
c) the primary services provided in district and charter gifted education programs.
3. Requires ADE to submit the reports to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
4. Repeals the gifted education reporting requirement on January 1, 2021.
5. Appropriates $1,000,000 in FY 2021 from the state GF to ADE for additional assistance for gifted programs.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/17/20 DP 11-0-0-2
APPROP 2/19/20 DP 11-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/26/20 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 6, 2020
JO/JP/gs