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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session |
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HB 2151: experienced teacher retention; pilot program
Sponsor: Representative Friese, LD 9
Committee on Education
Overview
Establishes a three-year Experienced Teacher Retention Pilot Program (Program) conducted by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Appropriates monies in FYs 2022, 2023 and 2024 for the Program.
History
Statute requires all certificated teachers to have a baccalaureate degree and a valid fingerprint clearance card. The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts rules for the issuance of teachers certificates, which include: 1) standard teaching certificates; 2) alternative teaching certificates; 3) subject-matter expert standard teaching certificates; 4) classroom-based standard teaching certificates; and 5) career and technical education teaching certificates (A.R.S § 15-501.01).
Statute establishes the teacher experience index that allows a school district to increase its base support level amount by 2.25% for each year of experience by which the district's average teacher experience exceeds the statewide average (A.R.S § 15-941).
Provisions
1. Establishes the Program that is conducted by ADE. (Sec. 1)
2. Allows eligible participants to receive a 75% tuition discount at in-state universities for the duration of the Program. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires ADE to establish application procedures. (Sec. 1)
4. Mandates ADE, in collaboration with the Arizona Board of Regents, limits the number of participants to ensure Program costs do not exceed the amount appropriated. (Sec. 1)
5. Directs ADE to prioritize eligible participants who teach in rural schools and select applicants to participate in the Program on a first-come, first-served basis. (Sec. 1)
6. Provides that a certificated teacher who has been employed at one or more Arizona school districts or charter schools for at least ten years, the teacher's spouse or the teacher's dependent are eligible to participate in the Program. (Sec. 1)
7. Allows a certificated teacher who has been employed at at least one school district or charter school for at least three but fewer than ten years to participate in the Program if:
a) The teacher uses the 75% tuition discount to obtain one or more graduate degrees in the same or similar subject matter in which the participant teaches; and
b) Signs a contract with ADE to continue teaching in an Arizona public school for at least four years after obtaining the graduate degree. (Sec. 1)
8. Requires a participant's tuition discount award to be reduced by the amount of federal aid scholarships, public grants and other public aid received by that person. (Sec. 1)
9. Mandates a participant repay the discounted tuition amount to ADE if the participant fails to fulfill their service requirement or has their teacher certificate revoked by SBE. (Sec. 1)
10. Requires, by December 31, 2022, ADE to issue a request for proposals to contract with one or more qualified persons or entities to study the impact and effectiveness of the Program on the Arizona teacher shortage. (Sec. 1)
11. Requires, by December 31, 2025, a report with the findings and conclusions to be submitted to the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Sec. 1)
12. Appropriates the following from the state General Fund (GF) to ADE for Program costs:
a) In FY 2022, $2,000,000;
b) In FY 2023, either:
i. $2,000,000 if ADE awarded less than the amount appropriated in FY 2022 to participants, excluding monies retained by ADE for administration; or
ii. $2,500,000 if ADE awarded at least the total amount appropriated in FY 2022 to participants, excluding monies retained by ADE for administration.
c) In FY 2024, either:
i. The amount appropriated in FY 2023, excluding monies retained by ADE for administration, if ADE awarded less than the FY 2023 amount to participants; or
ii. $5,000,000 if ADE awarded at least the amount appropriated in FY 2023, excluding monies retained by ADE for administration. (Sec. 2)
13. Appropriates $100,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to ADE to distribute to the persons or entities selected to study the impact of the Program. (Sec. 2)
14. Allows ADE to retain up to 2% of appropriations each FY to administer the Program. (Sec. 2)
15. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing, except that all monies unencumbered or unexpended on June 30, 2024 revert to the state GF. (Sec. 2)
16. Defines rural school. (Sec. 1)
17. Repeals Program on February 16, 2028. (Sec. 1)
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HB 2151
Initials CH/AN Page 0 Education
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