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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
ENACTED
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR h.b. 2402/S.B. 1178
schools; test results; letter classification
Purpose
Prohibits the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) from assigning school letter grade classifications for school year 2020-2021. Allows the State Board of Education (SBE) to adjust the dates local education agencies (LEA) are required to receive statewide assessment scores and data.
Background
ADE must compile an annual achievement profile, by November 1, for each LEA consisting of an educational dashboard that reflects achievement on the following academic performance indicators: 1) measures of academic performance or other relevant indicators determined by the SBE; 2) academic progress on assessments in English Language Arts, Mathematics and English Language Learner assessments; 3) progress toward college and career readiness for LEAs offering instruction to students in grades 9 through 12; 4) academic progress on assessments; and 5) measures of educational performance or other indicators of school quality such as graduation and attendance rates. The annual achievement profile must use classifications based on an A through F letter grade system adopted by the SBE, in which a letter of grade A reflects an excellent level of performance and a letter grade of F reflects a failing level of performance (A.R.S. § 15-241).
The SBE is required to administer and implement a statewide test to measure pupil achievement of adopted academic standards in reading, writing and mathematics and is also permitted to adopt assessments in social studies and science. The SBE must direct assessment contractors to provide each LEA statewide assessment scores and data. LEAs must annually receive assessment scores and data from the third grade reading portion of the statewide assessment by May 15 and all other portions of the statewide assessment by May 25. Current statute requires the SBE to impose penalties on the assessment contractor for scores received after these dates (A.R.S. § 15-741).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits ADE from assigning schools or school districts letter grade classifications for school year 2020-2021.
2. Directs ADE to continue collecting and publishing data on academic and educational performance indicators for school year 2020-2021.
3. Requires ADE to develop criteria, subject to the SBE approval, to identify schools and school districts that demonstrate a below average performance level for school year 2020-2021.
4. Allows a school district governing board, for school year 2020-2021, to adopt alternative policies regarding:
a) performance based funding; or
b) dismissal or nonrenewal procedures for teachers who continue to be designated in the lowest performance classification.
5. Allows the SBE to proportionally adjust the dates LEAs are required to receive statewide assessment scores and data if the SBE alters the assessment window for any reason.
6. Prohibits the SBE from imposing penalties on the assessment contractor if the dates for an LEA to receive scores and data are adjusted, unless the scores and data are received after the adjusted dates.
7. Makes technical changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date, retroactive to July 1, 2020.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Reduces the pause on school letter grade assignments from two school years to one school year.
House Action Senate Action
ED 1/26/21 DP 10-0-0-0 ED 1/26/21 DP 7-1-0
3rd Read 2/4/21 46-12-1-0-1 3rd Read 2/9/21 25-4-1
(H.B. 2402 was substituted for S.B. 1178 on
3rd Read)
Signed by the Governor 2/15/21
Chapter 19
Prepared by Senate Research
February 23, 2021
JO/JP/gs