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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
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HB 2677: middle school students; CTE courses
Sponsor: Representative Aguilar, LD 26
Committee on Education
Overview
Permits a public school to offer career and technical education (CTE) courses to middle school students that count towards 8th grade promotion and high school graduation. Requires public schools to accept credits earned by middle school students in CTE courses.
History
A career technical education district (CTED) provides CTE courses and programs that meet statutorily prescribed requirements to students. A person may enroll in a CTED, regardless of their age or high school graduation status, though the CTED may not include in its student count a student who: 1) is in kindergarten or the 1st-8th grades; 2) has graduated from high school or received a general equivalency diploma, unless otherwise permitted; or 3) is older than 21 years old. A CTED governing board may enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) or other written contract with another CTED, a school district, a charter school or a community college district to provide CTE instruction (A.R.S. §§ 15-391 and 15-393).
The State Board of Education (SBE) must authorize a school district to maintain a department consisting of CTE and vocational education programs and program improvement services for students in the 7th-12th grades if the school: 1) has satisfactory facilities and equipment; 2) has qualified trained instructors; and 3) teaches the CTE and vocational education program in accordance with SBE rules (A.R.S. § 15-782).
Provisions
1. Allows, during the 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years, any school operated by a school district (district school) or charter school that instructs middle school students to offer CTE courses that may be counted for the:
a) promotion of students from the 8th grade; and
b) graduation of students from high school. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires each public school to accept credits earned by a middle school student in CTE courses, except credits that were not earned because the student did not complete the course or earn a passing grade. (Sec. 1)
3. Instructs a school district or charter school that operates a school that offers CTE courses to middle school students to enter into an IGA or contract with a:
a) CTED;
b) school approved by SBE to provide CTE and vocational education; or
c) community college district that provides CTE courses approved by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) in accordance with federal law. (Sec. 1)
4. Directs each school district or charter school that operates a school that offered CTE courses to middle school students during the previous school year to report to ADE, by July 1st annually and for the previous school year, the number of:
a) CTE courses offered by each district school or charter school; and
b) students in each district school or charter school who successfully completed a CTE course. (Sec. 1)
5. Requires ADE, by December 31, 2028, to compile the reports, prepare a summary of the reports and submit the reports and summary to specified individuals. (Sec. 1)
6. Repeals the authorization and requirement relating to CTE courses for middle school students on January 1, 2037. (Sec. 1)
7. Defines middle school student as a student in the 6th, 7th or 8th grades. (Sec. 1)
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HB 2677
Initials CH Page 0 Education
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