ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

Senate: ED DPA 8-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 28-0-2-0

SB 1682: juveniles; educational classes; discretionary

Sponsor: Senator Gonzales, LD 3

Committee on Education

Overview

Authorizes an eligible committed youth who has not received a high school diploma or high school certificate of equivalency to take the general equivalency diploma test or an approved equivalency test.

History

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) maintains a state educational system to educate committed youth. Statute requires this state educational system to provide appropriate education to committed youth as required by state and federal law, including an appropriate education to all committed youth who have not received a high school diploma or a high school certificate of equivalency. The Director of ADJC and the Superintendent of Public Instruction must select a superintendent to oversee the system.

Upon entering the state educational system, a committed youth is administered a basic skills examination to determine their educational needs. A similar examination is administered on the youth's exit from the state educational system to assess the youth's progress while enrolled in the system (A.R.S. § 41-2831).

If a committed youth is confined in a secure care facility and has not received a high school diploma, a high school certificate of equivalency or an exception from the Director of ADJC, the committed youth must attend school full time and make satisfactory progress in educational classes. A committed youth who has a high school diploma or high school certificate of equivalency may participate in regular classes or educational programming as deemed appropriate by ADJC (A.R.S. § 41-2822.01).

Provisions☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

1.   Allows a committed youth who is at least 16 years old, has not received a high school diploma, a high school certificate of equivalency or an exception from the Director of ADJC and who is functionally literate to take at any time:

a)   The general equivalency diploma test; or

b)   An equivalency test approved by the State Board of Education (SBE). (Sec. 1)

2.   Stipulates a committed youth may be required to complete and pass a practice test in order to request administration of the general equivalency diploma test or an SBE-approved equivalency test. (Sec. 1)

3.   Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

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7.                     SB 1682

8.   Initials CH Page 0 Education

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