ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-12-2-0 House: ED DP 5-4-0-1

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SB 1369: public schools; safety; reporting requirements

Sponsor: Senator Bolick, LD 2

House Engrossed

Overview

Establishes posting, survey and reporting requirements relating to the civil rights, school safety and school learning conditions of public schools and local education agencies (LEAs) for the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).

History

The United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) administers the biennial Civil Rights Data Collection Survey (CRDC) to public LEAs and schools that receive federal financial assistance. The CRDC collects information about student access to educational programs, activities and staff and school climate factors, such as student discipline and harassment or bullying incidents (OCR, CRDC).

Both school district governing boards (governing boards) and charter school governing bodies are required to prescribe policies for school personnel to report: 1) any suspected crime against a person or property that is a serious offense, involves a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or serious physical injury; and 2) any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to a person on school property (A.R.S. § 15-153).

Additionally, governing boards must enforce policies that prohibit students from harassing, intimidating and bullying other students on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored activities and through the use of school technology. These policies must include requirements for the reporting, documenting and investigating of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, as well as disciplinary procedures for students (A.R.S. § 15-341).

Provisions

Civil Rights Data

1. Requires ADE to post in a publicly accessible format the most recent information that each public school and LEA reported to the OCR for the CRDC. (Sec. 1)

2. States ADE is not authorized to publish data protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1976 and must redact the information that is posted to ensure compliance. (Sec. 1)

School Safety Report and School Learning Conditions Report

3. Directs ADE, by January 31 annually, to submit a school safety report and a school learning conditions report to specified individuals. (Sec. 2)

4. Requires ADE to administer a survey of all school districts and charter schools for an annual school safety report that contains the number of incidents reported at each school site relating to:

a) bullying;

b) fighting;

c) sexual assault;

d) threatening;

e) intimidation;

f) harassment;

g) suicide;

h) hazing ;and

i) any other form of physical attack. (Sec. 2)

5. Instructs ADE to administer a survey of students, parents and employees of each school district and charter school for an annual school learning conditions report that includes:

a) school safety;

b) school climate;

c) barriers to engagement;

d) character education;

e) student behavior management support;

f) appropriate content in school curricula; and

g) respecting people as individuals. (Sec. 2)

6. Directs ADE to post the annual school safety report and annual school learning conditions report in a publicly accessible format to promote transparency and best practices for school improvement. (Sec. 2)

7. Prohibits a school district or charter school from disclosing personally identifiable student data in a survey that is administered for the school safety report or school learning conditions report. (Sec. 2)

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                        SB 1369

Initials CH/RP          Page 0 House Engrossed

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