Assigned to JUD                                                                                                                AS PASSED BY COW

 

 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session

 

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1303

 

ABOR; high school honors endorsements

Purpose

Requires the Arizona Board of Regent's (ABOR's) program for awarding honors endorsements affixed to high school diplomas to be made available for school district charter school students.

Background

ABOR is responsible for maintaining Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. The universities must have colleges, schools and departments and give courses of study and academic degrees as ABOR approves. ABOR must have and exercise the powers necessary for the effective governance and administration of the institutions under its control and may adopt, and authorize each university to adopt such regulations, policies, rules or measures as are deemed necessary (A.R.S. §§ 15-1601 and 15-1626).

ABOR, in consultation with the Arizona State Board of Education and other education groups, must develop and implement a program to award honors endorsements to be affixed to the high school diplomas of qualifying high school pupils and to be included in the transcripts of pupils who are awarded endorsements. ABOR must develop application procedures and testing criteria and adopt testing instruments and procedures to administer the program. In order to receive an honors endorsement, a pupil must demonstrate an extraordinary level of knowledge, skill and competency as measured by the testing instruments adopted by ABOR in mathematics, English, science and social studies. The program is voluntary for pupils (A.R.S. § 15-1626).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Requires ABOR's program for awarding honors endorsements affixed to high school diplomas to be made available for school district charter school students.

2.   Makes technical changes.

3.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole

 

· Requires the Arizona Board of Regents program for awarding honors endorsements affixed to high school diplomas to be made available only for school district or charter school students and not private school students.

Senate Action

MAPS             1/29/24      DP                14-0-0-0

3rd Read           2/26/24                           56-0-3-0-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 11, 2024

ZD/SB/cs