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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session |
House: ED DP 6-4-0-0 |
HB 2063: schools; student promotions
Sponsor: Representative Fillmore, LD 16
House Engrossed
Overview
Requires a teacher to retain a pupil in a kindergarten program or the 1st-4th grades if the pupil does not meet the prescribed criteria for promotion.
History
School district governing boards (governing boards) are required to prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of students from common school grades and high school that include the academic standards adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) (A.R.S. § 15-341). The criteria prescribed by a governing board must include the accomplishment of the academic standards in at least reading, writing, math, science and social studies, as determined by district assessment. A governing board may include additional measures of academic achievement and attendance and may prescribe course of study and competency requirements for promotion or graduation that are in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements prescribed by SBE.
Currently, statute requires a teacher to determine whether to promote or retain a student in a common school grade based on the governing board's prescribed criteria. (A.R.S. § 15-701). For students in high school courses, statute requires a teacher to determine whether to pass or fail a student based on any prescribed competency requirements (A.R.S. § 15-701.01). A governing board may review the decision of a teacher to retain or fail a pupil but must base its decision on its prescribed criteria. Statute places the burden of proof to overturn the teacher's decision on the pupil. If the governing board overturns the teacher's decision, the governing must adopt a written finding that the pupil mastered academic standards (A.R.S. § 15-342).
Provisions
1.
Requires a governing board to prescribe
and enforce policies and procedures that require teachers to retain a pupil in
a kindergarten program or the 1st-4th grades if the pupil does not meet the prescribed
criteria for promotion. (Sec. 1)
2. Subjects the retention of a pupil in a kindergarten program or the 1st-4th grades to governing board review. (Sec. 1)
3. Instructs a teacher to retain a pupil in a kindergarten program or the 1st-4th grades if the pupil does not meet the prescribed criteria for promotion. (Sec. 2)
4. Allows a teacher to promote a 3rd grade pupil who does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills as determined by the pupil's score on the reading portion of the statewide assessment and who does not meet the criteria for promotion if the pupil:
a) Is an English language learner (ELL) or a limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two years of English language instruction;
b) Is in the process of a special education referral or evaluation, has been diagnosed with a significant reading impairment or is a child with a disability, with the agreement of the pupil's individualized education program (IEP) team and parent;
c) Demonstrates sufficient reading skills or adequate progress toward 3rd grade reading standards; or
d) Receives intervention and remedial services. (Sec. 2)
5. Allows a teacher to promote a pupil in a kindergarten program or the 1st-4th grades who does not meet the prescribed criteria for promotion if the student is:
a) Eligible for a special exception prescribed by the governing board;
b) An ELL or a limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two years of English language instruction, with the agreement of the pupil's teacher and parent; or
c) In the process of a special education referral or evaluation, has been diagnosed with a significant reading impairment or is a child with a disability, with the agreement of the pupil's IEP team and parent. (Sec. 2)
Miscellaneous
6. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)
7. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 2)
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HB 2063
Initials CH Page 0 House Engrossed
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