REFERENCE TITLE: professional development personnel; teachers; appropriation

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HB 2159

Introduced by

Representatives Schwiebert: Aguilar, Bravo, Cano, Contreras L, Contreras P, De Los Santos, Gutierrez, Hernandez L, Hernandez M, Longdon, Mathis, Ortiz, Pawlik, Peshlakai, Quiñonez, Seaman, Shah, Stahl Hamilton, Terech, Travers, Senators Epstein, Marsh

An Act

appropriating monies to the department of education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Appropriation; department of education; professional development and support personnel; reporting requirements

A. The sum of $3,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the department of education to distribute to school districts that have a low teacher experience index calculated pursuant to section 15-941, Arizona Revised Statutes, for the purposes of hiring professional development and support personnel.

B. The department of education shall distribute fifty percent of the monies appropriated in subsection A of this section to school districts in counties with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons and fifty percent of the monies appropriated in subsection A of this section to school districts in counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more persons.

C. A school district that receives monies under subsection A of this section shall ensure that professional development and support services are made available to both new teachers and teachers who are moving to a different grade or subject area.

D. On or before September 1, 2024, each school district that received monies under subsection A of this section shall submit a report to the department of education that includes all of the following information:

1. The average salaries of teachers in the school district who have:

(a) Less than one year of teaching experience.

(b) At least one year but less than five years of teaching experience.

(c) Five or more years of teaching experience.

2. The retention rates of teachers in the school district who have:

(a) Less than one year of teaching experience.

(b) At least one year but less than five years of teaching experience.

(c) Five or more years of teaching experience.

3. Quantitative data, such as benchmark and statewide assessment data, as prescribed by the department.

E. On or before January 1, 2025, the department of education shall compile the information contained in the reports submitted pursuant to subsection D of this section into a final collective report and shall submit the report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.