ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

Senate: ED DP 6-1-0-0 | 3rd Read 25-4-1-0

House: ED DP 9-0-0-1 | 3rd Read 42-15-2-0-1

SB 1113: adult education; program schools; revisions

Sponsor: Senator Bennett, LD 1

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Exempts a Continuing High School and Workforce Training Program (Program) school from public school legal requirements as specified. Outlines requirements for a Program school regarding English language proficiency assessments and enrollment documents for an adult learner.

History

Laws 2022, Chapter 317 directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish, and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to administer, the Program to provide adult learners with alternative study services that lead to the issuance of a high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials. SBE must select eligible service providers who meet prescribed criteria and application requirements to establish a Program school in partnership with a school district or nonprofit charter school. Statute requires a Program school to meet all applicable statutory legal requirements, including requirements for student assessments and special education services and prohibitions against admission limits based on ethnicity, national origin, gender, income level, disabling condition, English language proficiency or athletic ability. An adult learner enrolled in the Program may receive a high school diploma if they meet high school graduation requirements (A.R.S. § 15-217.01).

By July 1, 2024, SBE and ADE are required to adopt performance measures that evaluate the performance of adult education and workforce development programs (including the Program). These performance measures must include prescribed metrics, such as the number of high school diplomas or high school equivalency diplomas and industry-recognized credentials earned, as well as the number of adult learners who acquired employment or matriculated at a postsecondary educational institution (A.R.S. § 15-217).

Provisions☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

1.   Exempts a Program school from being required to meet all applicable statutory legal requirements for a public school if:

a)   Program schools are expressly exempt from the legal requirement; or

b)   the legal requirement is determined by SBE to be unfeasible or inapplicable to the education of adult learners. (Sec. 2)

2.   Asserts a Program school is exempt from statutory provisions relating to the:

a)   English language proficiency assessment;

b)   residency record;

c) withdrawal form if the adult learner has not attended another Arizona school during the two years immediately preceding their enrollment in the Program school;

d)   school records; and

e)   school letter grades. (Sec. 2)

3.   Instructs each Program school to:

a)   exercise best effort to confirm each adult learner's withdrawal from another Arizona school, including requesting a student transcript or receiving verbal confirmation from an official of the school from which the adult learner withdrew;

b)   require an adult learner who enrolls to provide verifiable documentation of their Arizona residency and reliable proof of their age; and

c) administer an English language proficiency assessment accepted by Arizona universities or community colleges. (Sec. 2)

4.   Details the identification that may be included as reliable proof of the adult learner's age. (Sec. 2)

5.   Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

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9.                     SB 1113

10.  Initials CH           Page 0 Transmitted

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