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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
schools; enrollment preference; armed forces
Purpose
Authorizes a school district or charter school to give enrollment preference to the children of a U.S. Armed Forces member who is on active duty or was killed in the line of duty.
Background
A school district governing board must implement an open enrollment policy for the enrollment of resident, resident transfer and nonresident students. A school district must give enrollment preference to and reserve capacity for: 1) resident students; 2) students returning to the school from the prior year; and 3) siblings of enrolled students. A school district may give enrollment preference to and reserve capacity for: 1) students who are children of school district employees; 2) resident transfer students and their siblings; and 3) students who meet additional criteria established and published by the school district governing board. A school district may give enrollment preference to children who: 1) are in foster care; 2) meet the definition of unaccompanied youth; or 3) attend a school that is closing (A.R.S. §§ 15-816 and 15-816.01).
A charter school must enroll all eligible students who submit a timely application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building. A charter school must give enrollment preference to students who are returning to the charter school or are the siblings of students who are already enrolled in the charter school and may give enrollment preference to children who are in foster care or meet the definition of unaccompanied youth. A charter school may give enrollment preference and reserve capacity for: 1) students who are the children, grandchildren or legal wards of outlined charter school personnel; and 2) students or the siblings of students who attended another charter school, if the previously attended and enrolling charter schools have the identical charter holder and charter school governing body, or are managed by the same educational management organization, charter management organization or educational service provider (A.R.S. § 15-184).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
2. Allows a charter school to give enrollment preference to and reserve capacity for children of a U.S. Armed Forces member who is on active duty or was killed in the line of duty.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/23/24 DP 9-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/1/24 55-0-1-0-4
Prepared by Senate Research
February 26, 2024
MH/LB/slp