Chapter 0098 - 562R - S Ver of HB2645

Senate Engrossed House Bill

foster children; high school; transfer

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

CHAPTER 98

HOUSE BILL 2645

An Act

amending title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-701.04; relating to school curricula.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-701.04, to read:

START_STATUTE15-701.04. Guidelines; policies; high schools; foster children; transfer credits; graduation requirements; educational record; definitions

A. The state board of education shall develop guidelines for charter schools and school districts to consider when developing policies regarding the calculation of academic credits, including partial credits, for foster children who transfer schools pursuant to a best interest educational placement determination while the foster child is enrolled in any of grades nine through twelve. The guidelines developed pursuant to this subsection must include alternative methods for a receiving school to calculate and accept academic credits, including partial credits, that were earned by a foster child in the foster child's school of origin.

B. Each school district governing board and charter school governing body shall develop and adopt policies concerning transfer credits for foster children who transfer to the school district or charter school pursuant to a best interest educational placement determination while the foster child is enrolled in any of grades nine through twelve. The policies adopted pursuant to this subsection must specify the manner in which the school district or charter school will:

1. Calculate full and partial academic credits that were earned by the foster child at the foster child's school of origin.

2. Accept all academic credits, including partial credits, earned by the foster child in courses or instructional programs at the foster child's school of origin.

3. Determine whether to accept academic credits, including partial credits, earned by the foster child as core credits or as elective credits. The school district or charter school shall make every possible attempt to accept as core credits all academic credits earned by the foster child and shall consider each learning outcome that the foster child has mastered and each competency requirement that the foster child has demonstrated.

4. Meet with the foster child not later than ten days after the school district or charter school receives the foster child's educational records from the school of origin pursuant to subsection C of this section to review and update the foster child's graduation plan, including the foster child's participation in credit recovery programs, if necessary. The school district or charter school shall provide a written copy of the graduation plan to the foster child, each parent of the foster child whose parental rights have not been terminated and the foster child's guardian, custodian, caregiver or foster parent.

C. Each school district governing board and charter school governing body shall develop and adopt policies concerning the transfer of educational records pursuant to section 8-530.04 by the school of origin for a foster child who was enrolled in any of grades nine through twelve. The policies adopted pursuant to this subsection must require the school of origin to include in the foster child's educational records both of the following:

1. All academic credits, including partial credits, earned by the foster child.

2. If the foster child did not receive partial credit for a course in which the foster child was enrolled, documentation of the competencies achieved by the foster child in the course.

D. A school district or charter school that enrolls a foster child who transfers schools pursuant to a best interest educational placement determination may administer a local competency assessment to award full or partial academic credits for the core competencies identified in the educational records provided by the foster child's school of origin.

e. Notwithstanding sections 15-701.01 and 15-720.02, a charter school governing body or school district governing board may not require a foster child who transfers schools pursuant to a best interest educational placement determination while the foster child is enrolled in grade eleven or twelve to satisfy a course of study or competency requirements to graduate from high school that are in addition to or higher than the minimum course of study and competency requirements prescribed by the state board of education.

f. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Best interest educational placement determination" means the determination of a child's best interest educational placement pursuant to section 8-530.04.

2. "Foster child" has the same meaning prescribed in section 8-501. END_STATUTE