REVISED

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

LAUREN BRAZELE

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

 

MASON HOLLER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

 

 

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

                        EDUCATION COMMITTEE

DATE:            March 14, 2024

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2373, relating to instructional time model; posting requirement

 

Purpose

Allows a Community College Adult Education Workforce Development Program (Program) school to receive Community College Adult Education Workforce Development Program Fund (Fund) monies for each adult learner who meets specified requirements. Expands the Program's additional study and support services requirements and modifies permissible uses for Fund monies.

Background

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) administers the Program to provide adult learners with integrated education and training programs and additional study and support services that lead to the issuance of high school diplomas and industry-recognized credentials or community college degrees. Arizona community college districts that provide such programs and services may participate in the Program. A Program school may receive up to $3,000 per full-time student for each fiscal year, with part-time students being funded in proportion to the number of enrolled courses or hours of instruction. ADE must distribute Fund monies to all eligible Program schools in a proportional manner based on the number of adult learners served by each Program school. A Program school must use Fund monies: 1) to supplement and not supplant current Program offerings; and 2) for adult learners to participate in a high school diploma or equivalency diploma program that also offers an industry-recognized credential or community college degree (A.R.S. § 15-217.03).

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provides workforce investment activities, through statewide and local workforce development systems, to increase the employment, retention, earnings and attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials by participants. Adult education means academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual's ability to: 1) read, write and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities for the attainment of a high school diploma; 2) transition to postsecondary education and training; and 3) obtain employment. Adult education and literacy activities means programs, activities and services that include: 1) adult education; 2) literacy;
3) workplace adult education and literacy activities; 4) family literacy activities; 5) integrated English literacy and civics education; 6) workforce preparation activities; or 7) integrated education and training. Integrated education and training means a service approach that provides adult education and literacy activities concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities and workforce training for a specific occupation for the purpose of educational and career advancement (29 U.S.C. §§ 3101 and 3272).

            The Joint Legislative Budget Committee fiscal note estimates that there would not be a direct impact to the state General Fund as the Program is not governed by a statutory funding formula  (JLBC fiscal note).

Provisions

1.   Allows a Program school to receive Fund monies for each adult learner who is a student in the Program, regardless of whether the adult learner has a high school diploma or an equivalency diploma, if the adult learner;

a)   enrolls in a Program school;

b)   participates in integrated education and training; and

c)   pursues academic skills development related to adult education and literacy activities.

2.   Expands the Program's additional study and support services requirements by including:

a)   academic instruction that is aligned with adult education and literacy activities, including instruction that leads to the issuance of a high school diploma or equivalency diploma; and

b)   an industry-recognized credential, community college certificate or community college degree, rather than an industry-recognized credential or community college degree.

3.   Specifies that a Program school must use Fund monies:

a)   to enhance or expand existing adult education programs and services, rather than to supplement and not supplant current Program offerings; and

b)   for adult learners to participate in an adult education program, rather than a high school diploma or equivalency diploma program, that offers academic instruction and
industry-recognized credential, a community college certificate or a community college degree, rather than offers an industry-recognized credential or a community college degree.

4.   Adds, to the Program annual report, a requirement to include the number of community college certificates earned by adult learners enrolled in a Program school.

5.   Makes technical and conforming changes.

6.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Revisions

· Updates the fiscal impact statement.