 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
community colleges; dual enrollment; funding
Purpose
Prohibits the amount of state aid a community college is entitled to receive for a dual enrollment student from being reduced. Appropriates specified amounts in FY 2025 from the state General Fund (state GF) to Arizona community college districts (CCDs) to fully fund dual enrollment students.
Background
A CCD governing board may enter into a contract or agreement with a school district governing board to offer dual enrollment college courses at a high school during the school day that count toward both high school and college graduation requirements. The agreement or contract must specify student tuition and financial aid policies, including whether scholarships or grants are awarded to dual enrollment students from the community college (A.R.S. § 15-1821.01).
Statute directs the Legislature to determine a CCD's state aid each fiscal year according to prescribed formulas and adjustments based on the CCD's full-time equivalent student (FTSE) count. The FTSE used to determine state aid is equal to the total of a CCD's basic actual, additional short-term and open entry, open exit and skill center FTSE count. For a student who takes a dual enrollment course taught on a high school campus during normal school operating hours by a high school employee, the amount of state aid that the community college would otherwise receive for the student must be reduced by 50 percent (A.R.S. § 15-1466.01).
S.B. 1695 appropriates a total of $1,062,300 in FY 2025 from the state GF to Arizona CCDs as outlined.
Provisions
1. Determines that, for a student who takes a dual enrollment course taught on a high school campus during normal school operating hours by a high school employee, the amount of state aid that a community college receives for the student may not be reduced, rather than must be reduced by 50 percent.
2. Appropriates the following amounts in FY 2025 from the state GF to the following CCDs to fully fund dual enrollment students:
a) $5,700 to Cochise County CCD;
b) $19,600 to Coconino County CCD;
c) $7,500 to Gila County CCD;
d) $9,300 to Graham County CCD;
e) $852,800 to Maricopa County CCD;
f) $25,900 to Mohave County CCD;
g) $31,000 to Navajo County CCD;
h) $58,900 to Pima County CCD;
i) $7,100 to Pinal County CCD;
j) $31,600 to Yavapai County CCD; and
k) $12,900 to Yuma/La Paz County CCD.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 12, 2024
MH/mg