ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: ED DPA 10-0-0-0


HB 2832: teachers academy; revisions.

Sponsor:  Representative Udall, LD 25

Caucus & COW

Overview

Makes multiple changes to the Arizona Teachers Academy (Academy), including expanding eligible postsecondary institutions, scholarships eligibility and altering service commitments.

History

A.R.S. § 15-1655, as amended by Laws 2020, Chapter 85, establishes the Academy at eligible Arizona and Indian tribal postsecondary institutions to incentivize students to teach in Arizona public schools or schools that serve primarily disabled public school students. For each year that a student accepts an Academy scholarship, the student must commit to teach a year in an Arizona public school or school that serves primarily disabled public school students. Scholarships are disbursed to students as follows: 1) graduate students may receive $10,000 per year for a maximum of two academic years; 2) undergraduate students may receive $5,000 per year for a maximum of four academic years; 3) community college students may receive $3,000 per year for a maximum of two academic years; and 4) students seeking national board certification may receive $2,500 once.

A.R.S. § 15-1655 (Version 2) as amended by Proposition 208, Section 4, requires Academy scholarships to be disbursed to cover the actual cost of tuition and fees for: 1) two academic years if the recipient is a graduate student; 2) four academic years if the recipient is an undergraduate student; 3) two academic years if the recipient is a community college student; 4) obtaining or renewing national board certification; and 5) obtaining a teaching certificate. Eligible postsecondary institutions are in-state universities and community colleges that offer postbaccalaureate programs that lead to teacher certification.

Provisions

1.   ☒ Prop 105 (45 votes)	     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes)	☐ Fiscal NoteExpands the Academy to include students who commit to teach for schools that serve primarily public school students with disabilities. (Sec. 1)

2.   Allows each eligible postsecondary institution to prioritize admission to the Academy for senior and junior students but specifies that sophomore and freshman students may not be excluded. (Sec. 1)

3.   Adds that Academy programs must include accelerated models for:

a)   Critical needs areas, including schools that serve primarily public school students with disabilities;

b)   Teachers who currently teach a dual enrollment course to satisfy the requirements for teaching a dual enrollment course adopted by a higher learning commission that accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions in the north central region, including Arizona; and

c)   Students in noneducation programs who must complete one or more teacher preparation courses to receive a teaching certification following graduation. (Sec. 1)

4.   Removes the requirement that a student be enrolled full-time to qualify for an Academy scholarship. (Sec. 1)

5.   Specifies that if a student enrolls in a summer term with an Academy scholarship, that term may not be included in calculation of the student's postgraduation public service commitment. (Sec. 1)

6.   Allows an Arizona college that is owned, operated or chartered by a qualifying Indian tribe on its own Indian reservation and that offers baccalaureate teacher education programs to participate in the Academy and receive monies from the Academy Fund. (Sec. 1)

7.   Defines a school that serves primarily public school students with disabilities as a school in which more than 75% of the students enrolled are public school students who are placed at the school according to an agreement with a school, a charter school or the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. (Sec. 1)

8.   Repeals A.R.S. § 15-1655 as amended by Laws 2020, Chapter 85, Section 1. (Sec. 2)

9.   Contains a retroactivity clause of January 1, 2021. (Sec. 3)

10.  Contains a Proposition 105 clause. (Sec. 4)

11.  Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

Amendment

Committee on Education

1.   Adds an emergency clause. (Sec. 5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                        HB 2832

Initials CH/NM Page 0 Caucus & COW

 

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