ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DP 6-4-0-1

HB 2284: schools; student promotions

Sponsor: Representative Fillmore, LD 16

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires a teacher retain a pupil in a common school grade or fail a pupil in a high school course if the pupil does not meet the prescribed criteria for promotion or prescribed competency requirements. 

History

School district governing boards (governing boards) are required to prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of students from common school grades and high school that include the academic standards adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) (A.R.S. § 15-341). The criteria prescribed by a governing board must include the accomplishment of the academic standards in at least reading, writing, math, science and social studies, as determined by district assessment. A governing board may include additional measures of academic achievement and attendance and may prescribe course of study and competency requirements for promotion or graduation that are in addition to or higher than the course of study and competency requirements prescribed by SBE.

Currently, statute requires a teacher to determine whether to promote or retain a student in a common school grade based on the governing board's prescribed criteria. (A.R.S. § 15-701). For students in high school courses, statute requires a teacher to determine whether to pass or fail a student based on any prescribed competency requirements (A.R.S. § 15-701.01). A governing board may review the decision of a teacher to retain or fail a pupil but must base its decision on its prescribed criteria. Statute places the burden of proof to overturn the teacher's decision on the pupil. If the governing board overturns the teacher's decision, the governing must adopt a written finding that the pupil mastered academic standards (A.R.S. § 15-342).

Provisions

Governing Boards

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteInstructs a governing board to prescribe policies and procedures that, subject to governing board review, require teachers to:

a)   Retain a pupil in a common school grade if the pupil does meet the criteria prescribed by the governing board for promotion; and

b)   Fail a pupil in a high school course if the pupil does not meet the competency requirements prescribed by the governing board for the passage of pupils. (Sec. 1)

Common School Grades

2.   Requires a teacher to retain a pupil in a common school grade if the pupil does not meet the criteria prescribed by the governing board for promotion. (Sec. 2)

3.   Permits a teacher to promote a pupil in the 3rd grade who does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills nor meet the criteria prescribed for promotion if the pupil:

a)   Is an English learner or limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two years of English language instruction;

b)   Is in the process of a special education referral or evaluation, has a significant reading impairment or is a child with a disability, with the agreement of the pupil's individualized education (IEP) team and guardian;

c)   Has demonstrated sufficient reading skills or adequate progress toward sufficient reading skills; or

d)   Receives intervention and remedial services and demonstrates sufficient progress. (Sec. 2)

4.   Allows a teacher to promote a pupil in a common school grade who does not meet the criteria prescribed for promotion if the pupil is:

a)   Eligible for a special exception prescribed by the governing board;

b)   An English learner or limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two years of English language instruction, with the agreement of the pupil's teacher and guardian; or

c)   In the process of a special education referral or evaluation, has a significant reading impairment or is a child with a disability, with the agreement of the pupil's IEP team and guardian. (Sec. 2)

High School Courses

5.   Directs a teacher to fail a pupil in a high school course if the pupil does not meet competency requirements prescribed by the governing board. (Sec. 3)

6.   Allows a teacher to pass a pupil who does not meet the competency requirements of a high school course if the pupil either:

a)   Meets the requirements for a special exception that the governing board prescribes;

b)   Is an English learner or a limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two years of English language instruction, with the agreement of the pupil's teacher and guardian; or

c)   Is in the process of a special education referral or evaluation, has a significant reading impairment or is a child with a disability, with agreement of the pupil's IEP team and guardian. (Sec. 3)

Miscellaneous

7.   Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 4, 5)

8.   Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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12.                    HB 2284

13.  Initials CH Page 0 House Engrossed

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