ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DP 6-3-1-0

HB 2675: school report cards; letter grades

Sponsor: Representative Pingerelli, LD 28

Caucus & COW

Overview

Replaces the A-F letter grade system with performance classifications adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE). Modifies requirements relating to school report cards and notification procedures.

History

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteThe Arizona Department of Education (ADE), subject to final adoption by SBE, must develop an annual achievement profile for every public school and local education agency (LEA) based on an A-F letter grade system adopted by SBE. The annual achievement profile is required to reflect the achievement for each public school and LEA on the prescribed academic and educational performance indicators. Furthermore, statute mandates the A-F letter grade system: 1) be applied to each performance indicator; and 2) indicate expected performance standards for all schools. SBE must assign an overall letter grade for a public school or LEA (A.R.S. § 15-241).

Currently, each school must distribute an annual report card that contains specified information, including: 1) student results and progress on assessments; 2) graduation rates; 3) expenditure data; and 4) average class sizes (A.R.S. § 15-746). A school report card must also include the classification on each performance indicator of the annual achievement profile for each school (A.R.S. § 15-241).  Schools must distribute report cards to parents of enrolled students by the last day of school of each fiscal year, as well as present a summary of the report card's contents at an annual public meeting.

Provisions

Performance Classifications

1.   Requires the annual achievement profile to use performance classifications based on a system adopted by SBE, rather than an A-F letter grade system adopted by SBE. (Sec. 3)

2.   Applies the performance classifications, instead of the A-F letter grade system, to each performance indicator of the annual achievement profile. (Sec. 3)

3.   Directs SBE to assign an overall performance classification, rather than letter grade, for a public school or LEA. (Sec. 3)

4.   Transfers the statutory requirements for the A-F letter grade system to the performance classifications adopted by SBE. (Sec. 3)

5.   Replaces references to the A-F letter grade system with the performance classifications adopted by SBE in the following statutes relating to:

a)   K-3 reading program requirements;

b)   the petition process for regulatory exemptions for school districts or charter schools;

c) alternative operation plans;

d)   school improvement plans;

e)   the exemption of a career technical education district from receiving a letter grade;

f) the consolidation of school districts;

g)   teacher evaluation policies;

h)   menu of achievement assessments;

i) the definition of qualified student as it relates to an empowerment scholarship account; and

j) achievement district schools. (Sec. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)

School Report Cards

6.   Requires the school report card to also explain whether the assigned performance classification indicates that the school:

a)   meets the expected standards;

b)   fails to meet the expected standards; or

c) exceeds the expected standards. (Sec. 3)

7.   Requires, within 60 days after receiving notification that a charter school or district school has been assigned a failing performance classification, the charter school governing body or school district governing board to provide to the parents of each student:

a)   notification that the school has been assigned a failing performance classification; and

b)   the school's report card. (Sec. 5)

8.   Allows a school to provide a web address for or hyperlink to the school's report card. (Sec. 5)

9.   Authorizes a school district or charter school to electronically deliver the notification if the school district or charter school electronically communicates with parents in the ordinary course of business. (Sec. 5)

10.  Requires any electronic communications sent to contain hyperlinks to websites that provide further information. (Sec. 5)

11.  Replaces the requirement that ADE publish a list of F letter grade schools in a newspaper in each county at least twice a year with the requirement that ADE post a list of schools assigned the lowest performance classification in a conspicuous location on its website and all official communication channels. (Sec. 5)

12.  Instructs ADE to publish the annual report that contains each school's report card on its website. (Sec. 10)

13.  Specifies the requirement for a school to distribute school report cards to parents may be satisfied by electronic communications if the school district or charter school electronically communicates with parents in the ordinary course of business. (Sec. 10)

14.  Stipulates any electronic communications sent to satisfy the required distribution of school report cards must contain hyperlinks to websites that provide further information. (Sec. 10)

15.  Mandates each school district and charter school prominently post the report cards for each school on the school district's or charter school's website and, if available, the school's website. (Sec. 10)

Miscellaneous

16.  Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)

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20.                    HB 2675

21.  Initials CH           Page 0 Caucus & COW

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