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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
continuing high school program.
Purpose
Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish a continuing high school program (continuing program) for adult learners to earn a high school diploma and industry credentials. Outlines qualifications for service providers, program participants and schools in addition to establishing average daily membership (ADM) projections.
Background
The Division of Adult Education in the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) prescribes an adult education course of study, supervises and provides adult education programs in other institutions and agencies and prescribes a course of study to provide training for adults to continue their basic education to pass an SBE-approved equivalency (A.R.S. § 15-232).
A school district governing board (governing board) prescribes curricula that include SBE academic standards for the graduation of students from high school. Governing boards must also prescribe criteria that include academic standards in at least reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies, as determined by district assessment. Other criteria may include additional measures of academic achievement and attendance (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).
The SBE establishes 22 credits as the minimum number of credits necessary for high school graduation, including: 1) four credits of English or English as a Second Language; 2) three credits of social studies; 3) four credits of mathematics; 4) three credits of science; 5) one credit in the arts or career and technical education and vocational education; and 6) seven credits of additional courses prescribed by the local district board (A.A.C. § R7-2-302).
S.B. 1393 has an identical measure, H.B. 2405, that the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) has produced a Fiscal Note on. According to JLBC, H.B. 2405, would increase state General Fund costs for basic state aid by up to $2.5 million in FY 2023, $4.9 million in FY 2024 and $9.8 million in FY 2025 and subsequent years. The actual cost depends on the number of adult learners participating in the program, the average annual hours of instruction, whether any participants are under 22 years old and whether they would attend the program through a non-state aid school district (JLBC Fiscal Note).
Provisions
Continuing Program
1. Requires the SBE to establish a continuing program that provides adult learners with alternative study services and leads to a high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials.
2. Provides a high school diploma to an adult learner that meets all graduation requirements as prescribed by a governing board and the SBE.
3. Directs the SBE to authorize participating service providers in the continuing program to establish program schools through partnerships with school districts, nonprofit charter schools or career technical education districts (CTEDs).
4. Deems a service provider eligible to participate in the continuing program if the provider:
a) is a qualified 501(c)(3) in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service code; and
b) demonstrates at least a 10-year history of providing workforce training and career services to persons at least 18 years old in Arizona with limited educational and training opportunities due to educational disadvantages, disabilities and other challenges.
5. Directs a participating school to meet all applicable prescribed legal requirements for a public school, including requirements relating to:
a) adult learner assessments;
b) special education services; and
c) prohibitions against admission limits based on ethnicity, national origin, gender, income level, disabling condition, English language proficiency or athletic ability.
6. Deems a program school ineligible for transportation and Arizona Online Instruction funding.
7. Allows a participating school to receive base support-level funding and additional assistance in the same manner as a school district or charter school.
Application and Approval Requirements
8. Directs ADE to develop application procedures for the continuing program and directs service providers to submit applications on behalf of program schools that include:
a) a description of the service provider's partnership with a school district, nonprofit charter or CTED;
b) a description of the program school's administrative structure, program activities, staff, budget and specific curriculum aligned with Arizona academic standards;
c) the program school's academic calendar and schedule that outlines the location, length of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace and instructional activities, or any combination;
d) a description of specific academic, behavioral and emotional support services offered by the service provider to adult learners;
e) a description of the program school's career technical education (CTE) instruction and courses leading to industry-recognized credentials, in partnership with a community college district if applicable, or dual-enrollment courses from a university or community college;
f) a description of specific program outcomes, goals and metrics used to determine adult learner success; and
g) the projected number of enrolled adult learners.
9. Requires the SBE to evaluate submitted applications and approve program schools that demonstrate, through evidence or other documentation, the ability to provide adult learners with instruction and support leading to a high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials.
10. Establishes an approved program school is:
a) limited to an initial approval period of two school years;
b) limited to a renewal period of four school years, contingent upon specific performance expectations, including adult learner progression, and graduation rates and earning of industry-recognized credentials; and
c) subject to an SBE process to bring the program school into compliance or revoke authorization upon failure to meet outlined requirements or SBE-adopted rules.
11. Requires the SBE, by July 1, 2023, to adopt performance expectations to evaluate program schools, including:
a) measurements of adult learner progress towards earning a high school diploma;
b) adult learner graduation rates for those earning at least one academic credit; and
c) the number of industry-recognized credentials earned.
Reporting Requirements
12. Requires an approved service provider to annually report to ADE the following information:
a) the number of enrolled adult learners;
b) the graduation rate of enrolled adult learners;
c) the average progress of adult learners towards meeting graduation requirements;
d) the number and type of industry-recognized credentials earned by enrolled adult learners; and
e) a summary of the academic, behavioral and emotional support services offered.
13. Requires ADE, before December 15, 2024, and before December 15 of each subsequent year, to submit an annual report evaluating the effectiveness of the continuing program to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
Miscellaneous
14. Allows the SBE to approve program schools with a total projected ADM limited to:
a) 350 total ADM in FY 2023;
b) 700 total ADM in FY 2024; and
c) 1,400 total ADM in FY 2025 and each subsequent fiscal year.
15. Prohibits the SBE from including adult learners 21 years old or younger in the total projected ADM.
16. Allows the SBE to adopt rules to carry out the continuing program.
17. Terminates the continuing program on July 1, 2031.
18. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 5, 2021
JO/JP/gs