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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
teacher retention; study; report
Purpose
Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to complete an annual study to determine the retention rate of Arizona public school teachers and outlines study requirements. Adds the number of current year full-time equivalent teachers to a public school's budget information.
Background
The SBE exercises general supervision over and regulates the conduct of the public school system. Statute outlines the SBE's powers and duties, including requirements to: 1) supervise and control the certification of persons engaged in instructional work; 2) prepare, publish and distribute reports concerning the educational welfare of Arizona; and 3) recommend to the Legislature changes or additions to the statutes pertaining to schools (A.R.S. § 15-203).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Teacher Retention Study
1. Requires the SBE to conduct and complete a comprehensive study to determine the retention rate of teachers in Arizona school districts and charter schools.
2. Specifies that the study must include:
a) the total number of teachers, retention rate and turnover rate for:
i. certificated teachers, by each type of teaching certificate;
ii. noncertificated teachers;
iii. teaching assignment, including subject area taught and grade level taught;
iv. location, including by school site, school district or charter school, city or town and county;
v. the number of years of experience of each teacher;
vi. the number of teachers who, within their first three years of teaching, received formal mentorship from an individual with five or more years of teaching experience; and
vii. any other category identified by the SBE;
b) the number of vacant teaching positions, including the average time to fill a vacancy, for:
i. teaching assignment, including subject area taught and grade level taught;
ii. location, including by school site, school district or charter school, city or town and county; and
iii. any other category identified by the SBE; and
c) an analysis of data for each SBE-approved teacher preparation program, including:
i. data relating to program completion;
ii. program emphasis, if any, including subject area and grade level; and
iii. the number of years that individuals spend working as Arizona teachers after completing the program.
3. Specifies that grade level data includes teachers who are assigned to kindergarten programs.
4. Requires the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools to collect and provide any data or information requested by the SBE for the study.
5. Requires the SBE, by December 31, 2024, and each year after, to annually submit the study results and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State.
Miscellaneous
6. Adds, to the information contained in a school district or charter school budget, the number of full-time equivalent teachers that the school included in the budget for the current year, including the number of teachers included in the budget for each school site, if applicable, disaggregated by subject area and grade level.
7. Makes conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/23/24 DP 9-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/6/24 45-10-2-0-3
Prepared by Senate Research
February 26, 2024
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