 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
schools; learning materials; activities
Purpose
Requires district and charter schools to post a list of procedures used to review and approve learning materials and procedures by which a parent can review learning materials in advance.
Background
School district governing boards must develop a policy promoting the involvement of parents and guardians in their child's school. The policy must include procedures by which parents may learn about the course of study, review learning materials and activities or object to any learning material or activity (A.R.S. § 15-102).
Statute grants parents of students in a public educational institution the right to review any learning materials or activities. Parents may request to withdraw their student from a class or program if they object to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful (A.R.S. § 15-113).
On written request, school personnel must make at least one copy of the instructional materials available for review by parents or guardians. Printed textbooks, supplementary books and subject matter materials can be taken by parents or guardians for review from school district premises for no longer than 48 hours (A.R.S. § 15-730).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires each district and charter school to post, by July 1 of each year, on a prominent, publicly accessible portion of its website, a list that includes:
a) procedures for the principal, administrators or teachers to document, review or approve learning materials and activities; and
b) procedures for the parent to review current learning materials and activities in advance, used for student instruction at the school.
2. Grants the parents of prospective students of a public educational institution the right to review learning materials and activities in advance.
3. Defines activities to include presentations, assemblies, lectures and other educational events facilitated by the public educational institution's staff or outside individuals or organizations, excluding student presentations.
4. Defines learning materials to include textbooks and reading materials, videos, digital materials, websites and online applications.
5. Defines parent as the parent of a current or prospective student.
6. Defines used for student instruction as:
a) assigned, distributed or otherwise presented to students in any course for which students receive academic credit;
b) any educational capacity which the public educational institution requires participation from the student body or a majority of students in a given grade level; or
c) learning materials or activities from which students are required to choose one or more from a selection of specific titles.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Removes the requirement to include learning materials and activities on the annual list posted by each school and removes related exemptions and requirements.
2. Requires district and charter schools to post all procedures by which a parent can have access in advance to review the current learning materials and activities.
3. Grants parents of prospective students the right to review learning materials and activities in advance and defines parent.
Senate Action
ED 1/26/21 DPA 5-3-0
Prepared by Senate Research
January 27, 2021
JO/JP/gs