BILL #    HB 2057

TITLE:     classroom-based preparation program; employment

SPONSOR:    Diaz

STATUS:   As Introduced

PREPARED BY:    Patrick Moran

 

 

Description

 

The bill would clarify that participants in classroom-based preparation programs provided by districts and charters for teacher certification would need to be paid employees of the district or charter providing the program.

 

Estimated Impact

 

The bill would not have a state fiscal impact, as the bill makes no modifications to state funding formula requirements.

 

Analysis

 

A.R.S. § 15-553 authorizes school districts and charter schools to become classroom-based preparation program providers subject to approval by the State Board of Education.  These programs allow districts and charters to certify their own teachers once the applicants have had at least 2 years of classroom teaching experience with mentoring and coaching and have completed specified coursework or trainings as prescribed by the school.  School district representatives have indicated that there are at least 8 such programs statewide.

 

The bill would clarify that any certification candidate enrolled in a classroom-based preparation program would have to be a paid employee of the district or charter school.  Under current law, paid employment is allowed but is not a required feature of the program. 

 

The bill would not generate a state fiscal impact, as there would be no change to district or charter funding formula requirements.

 

School district representatives have stated that all existing classroom-based preparation programs already use only paid employees.  Given that the bill would appear to codify current practice, we anticipate that the bill would have a minimal to no impact on districts and charter expenses.

 

Local Government Impact

 

None.

 

1/25/23