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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
Arizona online instruction; cost study
Purpose
Requires the Auditor General (OAG) to conduct a cost study of Arizona Online Instruction (AOI) programs and schools. Appropriates $165,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2024 to the OAG for the cost study.
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) selects district public schools, and charter authorizers sponsor charter schools, to be online course providers or online schools according to standards developed according to outlined criteria. An online school is a district school selected by the SBE or a charter school sponsored to participate in AOI and that provides at least four online academic courses or at least one online course for the equivalent of at least five hours each day for 180 days. An online course provider is a school other than an online school that is selected by the SBE or a charter authorizer to participate in AOI that provides at least one online academic course that is approved by the SBE.
A full-time AOI
pupil's base support level (BSL) is 95 percent of the BSL that would be
calculated if the pupil were enrolled in a brick-and-mortar school and a
part-time AOI pupil's BSL is 85 percent. District Additional Assistance and Charter
Additional Assistance are calculated in the same manner as if the student were
enrolled in a district or charter school. A
full-time AOI pupil must be enrolled in the following minimum number of
instructional hours:
1) for high school students, 900 hours; 2) for grades seven and eight, 1,068
hours; 3) for grades four through six, 890 hours; 4) for grades one through
three, 712 hours; and 5) for kindergarten pupils, 346 hours (A.R.S.
§ 15-808).
S.B. 1674 appropriates $165,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2024 to the OAG.
Provisions
1. Directs the OAG to conduct and complete a cost study of AOI programs and schools in Arizona.
2. Allows the OAG to select a sample of AOI programs, schools and courses for the cost study.
3. Requires the SBE, State Board for Charter Schools, the Arizona Department of Education, and AOI programs and schools to timely cooperate with and provide to the OAG necessary information in an OAG-prescribed form and format.
4. Requires the cost study to include:
a) the cost of providing AOI to students including administration, technology, personnel and curriculum costs for FYs 2020, 2021 and 2022;
b) recommendations for reporting options for AOI programs and schools related to courses offered by an online delivery method, monies spent on each type of course delivery method, the number of students served and the number of teachers by course delivery method;
c) the amount of monies that the school finance formula generates for a student who receives AOI and the amount of monies spent by the student's school of attendance;
d) areas in AOI in which Arizona can reduce or eliminate administrative and reporting requirements; and
e) any other areas the OAG deems necessary.
5. Specifies that costs supported by the federal government must be considered for the purposes of the cost study.
6. Allows the OAG to rely on self-reported costs by AOI programs and schools.
7. Appropriates $165,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2024 to the OAG for the cost study.
8. Repeals the AOI cost study requirement on January 1, 2025.
9. Specifies that the appropriation is exempt from lapsing.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2023
LB/slp