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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
appropriation; dual enrollment training; scholarships
Purpose
Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2025 to the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to administer a dual enrollment instructor scholarship program. Requires ABOR to award scholarships to eligible teachers that seek to become dual enrollment instructors.
Background
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR to act as the governing body of Arizona's public university system. ABOR governs the three state institutions and is legally, fiscally and strategically responsible for the state universities (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5).
A dual enrollment course is a college-level course that is: 1) conducted on the campus of a high school or a career technical education district; 2) applicable to an established community college academic degree or certificate program; and 3) transferable to an Arizona public university (A.R.S. § 15-101).
SB 1728 appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2025 to ABOR.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $500,000 from the state GF in FY 2025 to ABOR to administer a dual enrollment instructor scholarship program.
2. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing until July 1, 2027, when all unexpended and unencumbered monies revert to the state GF.
3. Requires ABOR, in FYs 2025, 2026 and 2027, to use the monies to award scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis to provide scholarships to eligible teachers that seek to become dual enrollment instructors.
4. Allows ABOR to award a scholarship to an eligible teacher for up to the actual costs of an educational or training program that satisfies the requirements adopted by a higher learning commission for dual enrollment instructors.
5. Prohibits the amount of scholarship monies awarded from exceeding the teacher's actual costs minus other financial gifts, aid or grants received by the teacher.
6. Requires ABOR, by ______, 2024 and each year after, to submit a report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor and provide a copy to the Secretary of State on the previous school year that includes the:
a) statewide number of applicants for dual enrollment instructor scholarships;
b) names of each school district and charter school that employs eligible teachers that received or applied for dual enrollment instructor scholarships; and
c) average amount of scholarship monies awarded.
7. Repeals this act on December 31, 2028.
8. Defines eligible teacher as a certificated teacher that is currently employed by a school district or charter school in Arizona if both of the following apply:
a) the school district or charter school that employs the teacher does not offer dual enrollment courses on or before the date on which the teacher enrolls in the educational or training program; and
b) at least 75 percent of the students that are enrolled in the school district or charter school that employs the teacher are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
9.
Defines higher learning commission as a higher learning
commission that accredits
degree-granting postsecondary education institutions in the north central
region, including Arizona.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 12, 2024
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