ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

 

HB 2032: public schools; innovation plans

Sponsor:  Representative Udall, LD 25

Committee on Education

Overview

Establishes a process for a public school to become a school of innovation.

History

The State Board of Education (SBE) is tasked with exercising general supervision over and regulating the conduct of the public school system, which includes the power to adopt any rules and policies deemed necessary to accomplish this. Additionally, statute requires SBE to administer and implement a statewide assessment to measure pupil achievement of adopted academic standards in reading, writing and math in at least four grades (A.R.S. § 15-741).

Statute defines average daily membership (ADM) as the total enrollment of part-time and full-time students, minus withdrawals. To generate an ADM, students must either be attending a program, be enrolled in an SBE-required course of study or enrolled in instructional programs required for graduation that meet for the minimum number of days and minimum number of hours as specified in statute. Statute details the minimum instructional hours and days by disability status or grade level a part-time or full-time student must meet (A.R.S. § 15-901).

Arizona public schools must provide instruction for school sessions that last at least 180 days each school year. If a school fails to provide instruction for at least 180 days, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) is directed to adjust all school funding formulas to reflect the number of instructional days provided (A.R.S. § 15-341.01).

Provisions

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteInnovation Plan Requirements

1.   Requires a school, to become a school of innovation, to submit an innovation plan to the SPI by April 15 annually.

a)   Exempts a school from this requirement if SBE approves the school's innovation plan for an initial five-year period.

2.   Instructs SBE to prescribe the requirements for an innovation plan, which must include:

a)   A statement of the school's mission and why designation as a school of innovation would enhance the school's ability to achieve its mission and improve learning or enhance academic opportunities for all students;

b)   A description and plan for implementation of innovative practices the school would like to implement;

c)   A description of the school's programs, policies or operations that would need to change to successfully implement the innovative practice and a plan addressing them;

d)   A detailed implementation timeline;

e)   Proof of a resolution adopted by the school district governing board or charter school governing body that supports the innovation plan and the anticipated implementation timelines and describes the resources and support the school will receive;

f) Documentation that shows parental, educator and community engagement and capacity for the changes identified in the innovation plan;

g)   A description of the goals, identified performance indicators, implementation milestones and expected outcomes of the innovation plan;

h)   A description of the long-term community outreach goals and stakeholder communication plans; and

i)   Any other materials SBE requires. (Sec. 2)

Exemptions

3.   Allows a school to request an exemption from instructional hour requirements and any rules or policies that may hinder the full implementation of the innovation plan and propose alternative solutions. (Sec. 2)

4.   Stipulates a request for an exemption must include a rationale of how the exemption will support the implementation of the innovation plan. (Sec. 2)

5.   Prohibits a school from requesting:

a)   A reduction in instructional hours for the school year; or

b)   Exemptions from the statewide assessment and any state or federal accountability system. (Sec. 2)

6.   Instructs SBE to prescribe a process for a school of innovation, that requests an exemption, to submit amendments to an approved innovation plan. (Sec. 2)

7.   Specifies that a school of innovation is subject to all statutes, rules and policies that are not explicitly exempted by SBE. (Sec. 2)

8.   Provides that any SBE-granted exemption applies for the duration of the innovation plan and includes any subsequent amendment or re-designation of statute, rule or policy. (Sec. 2)

9.   Allow a school to request that ADE include, in its evaluation, any exemption for a statute that was denied. (Sec. 2)

Innovation Plan Approval

10.  Requires the SPI, within 60 days of receipt, to transmit an innovation plan to SBE with a recommendation for approval or resubmission. (Sec. 2)

11.  Mandates SBE, within 60 days of receipt from the SPI, approve or reject an innovation plan. (Sec. 2)

12.  Instructs SBE to explain in writing why an innovation plan is rejected and that the school may resubmit an amended plan at any time. (Sec. 2)

13.  Requires, if the innovation plan is approved, SBE to specify in writing whether any exemptions are approved. (Sec. 2)

14.  States that if SBE approves an innovation plan, SBE must approve the innovation plan for an initial five-year period. (Sec. 2)

15.  Allows SBE to extend an innovation plan's approval period for up to five additional years if the school complies with the renewal procedures and prescribed performance criteria. (Sec. 2)

16.  Allows SBE to revoke a school's innovation status at any time if the goals, performance indicators or implementation milestones of its approved innovation plan are not met. (Sec. 2)

 

Evaluation and Reporting

17.  Requires ADE to develop an evaluation plan for schools of innovation that includes:

a)   Performance measures of:

i.   Student engagement;

ii. Performance on formative, benchmark and state assessments;

iii.   High school and postsecondary success.

b)   Instructional practices;

c)   Communication strategies;

d)   The exemptions requested and granted; and

e)   Statutes that hindered schools in fully implementing innovation plans and for which exemptions were not allowed. (Sec. 2)

18.  Requires ADE to compile the evaluation data in an annual report that includes:

a)   Findings;

b)   Implementation milestones;

c)   Outcomes;

d)   Recommended statutory changes;

e)   Exemptions requested and granted; and

f) Statutes that hindered full implementation of innovation plans and were not exempted. (Sec. 2)

19.  Requires ADE, by September 1, to submit the report to the Governor, President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and SBE. (Sec. 2)

Student Protections

20.  Prohibits a school from penalizing a student who previously attended a school of innovation and who transfers to another Arizona school by:

a)   Requiring the student to repeat coursework or content if the student demonstrated mastery at the school of innovation; and

b)   Changing any grade the student received at the school of innovation. (Sec. 2)

21.  Requires the Arizona Board of Regents and each community college district governing board to establish policies that ensure fair and equitable:

a)   Admission of graduates of schools of innovation or other graduates with nontraditional diplomas and transcripts; and

b)   Access to scholarships and other financial aid for graduates of schools of innovation or other graduates with nontraditional diplomas and transcripts. (Sec. 2)

Miscellaneous

22.  Directs SBE to adopt any necessary rules. (Sec. 2)

23.  Defines innovation and school of innovation. (Sec. 2)

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27.                    HB 2032

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