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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
schools; incentive program; dual enrollment
Purpose
Expands the College Credit by Examination Incentive Program (CCEIP), renamed as the Dual Enrollment and College Credit by Examination Incentive Program (Program), to provide incentive bonuses to school districts and charter schools for qualifying dual enrollment courses beginning in FY 2025. Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2024 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) for the Program.
Background
A community college district (CCD) governing board may enter into a contract or agreement with a school district governing board to offer dual enrollment college courses at a high school during the school day that count toward both high school and college graduation requirements (A.R.S. § 15-1821.01).
The CCEIP provides an incentive bonus to school districts and charter schools for students who obtain a passing score on a qualifying examination for college credit while in high school. The Arizona Board of Regents maintains a list of qualifying examinations that a high school student may take to receive college credit from an Arizona public university and the passing score required to receive college credit for each examination. If a student is enrolled in a school where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program (FRPL), the student generates a bonus of $450 per passing score. If a student is enrolled in a school where less than 50 percent of students are FRPL-eligible, the student generates a bonus of $300 per passing score. ADE must annually distribute bonus monies to school districts and charter schools by March 1.
A school district or charter school that receives an incentive bonus must distribute at least 50 percent of the bonus monies to the classroom teacher associated with the qualifying student and other teachers who are identified as having contributed to the student passing the exam. Remaining bonus monies must be used for teacher professional development, student instructional support or reimbursement of examination fees or materials. The College Credit by Examination Development Fund is administered by ADE, consisting of monies appropriated to provide incentive bonuses under the CCEIP (A.R.S. § 15-249.06).
S.B. 1621 appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2024 to ADE for the Program.
Provisions
1. Renames the College Credit by Examination Incentive Program as the Dual Enrollment and College Credit by Examination Incentive Program.
2. Renames the College Credit by Examination Development Fund as the Dual Enrollment and College Credit by Examination Development Fund.
3. Requires ADE, beginning in FY 2025, to pay an incentive bonus of $450 per passing grade to school districts and charter schools for each student in grades 9 through 12 who:
a) completes a qualifying dual enrollment course with a passing grade during the previous fiscal year; and
b) is enrolled in a school where more than 50 percent of enrolled students are FRPL-eligible.
4. Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2024 to ADE for the Program.
5. Applies, to the distribution of dual enrollment incentive bonus monies, the existing CCEIP distribution requirements.
6. Requires each CCD governing board to maintain a list of:
a) the offered qualifying dual enrollment courses that a high school student may take to receive college credit in mathematics, English language arts, social studies or science; and
b) the passing grade required to receive college credit.
7. Requires, by September 1, each CCD governing board to annually provide the list of qualifying dual enrollment courses and passing grades to ADE and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC).
8. Specifies that, if the statewide sum of per student bonuses awarded exceeds the amount of available monies, incentive bonus monies must be reduced to proportionally cover all eligible incentive bonuses.
9. Includes, in ADE's required report to the President of Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor, the Secretary of State and JLBC, the:
a) number of students who completed a qualifying dual enrollment course;
b) number of students who completed a qualifying dual enrollment course with a passing grade; and
c) number and types of qualifying dual enrollment courses.
10. Makes technical and conforming changes.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2023
LB/MH/slp