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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session |
Senate: ED DP 6-0-1-0 | APPROP DP 10-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 25-2-3-0 |
SB 1084: adult education programs; revisions; appropriation
Sponsor: Senator Dunn, LD 25
Committee on Education
Overview
An emergency measure that repeals the July 1, 2025 termination date for the Continuing High School and Workforce Training Program (High School Program), Adult Workforce Diploma Program (Diploma Program) and Community College Adult Education Workforce Development Program (Community College Program). Modifies these adult education programs and appropriates a total of $18,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2026 for adult education.
History
Laws 2022, Chapter 317 requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to establish, and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to administer, the High School Program, the Diploma Program and the Community College Program. SBE and ADE must adopt performance measures to evaluate the performance of these programs that include specified data, such as adult learner progress towards earning a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma or industry-recognized credential, postsecondary matriculation and employment acquisition (A.R.S. § 15-217). Laws 2024, Chapter 218 repeals all three programs and the adult education performance measures on July 1, 2025.
The High School Program provides adult learners with alternative study services that lead to a high school diploma and industry-recognized credentials. Eligible service providers may establish a High School Program school in partnership with a school district or charter school. Laws 2024, Chapter 218 capped FY 2025 total projected enrollment at 520; total projected full-time enrollment thereafter is capped at 1,400 (A.R.S. § 15-217.01).
The Diploma Program assists individuals who are at least 21 years old in earning a high school diploma and developing critical employability and career technical skills. The Diploma Program may be delivered in a campus-based, online or blended modality. ADE administers the Diploma Program Fund to pay approved providers prescribed amounts for high school credits, industry-recognized or stackable credits and high school diplomas earned (A.R.S. § 15-217.02).
The Community College Program provides adult learners with integrated education and training and additional study and support services, including: 1) academic instruction aligned with adult education and literacy activities, including instruction that leads to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; and 2) an industry-recognized credential or community college certificate or degree. A Community College Program school must be a community college district that provides high school diplomas or high school equivalency diplomas and workforce training that leads to industry-recognized credentials or workforce or degree programs. A Community College Program school may receive monies from the Community College Program Fund for each adult learner who: 1) enrolls in a community college adult education program; 2) participates in integrated education and training; and 3) pursues academic skills development related to adult education and literacy activities. Community College Program Fund monies must be used to supplement and not supplant current adult education offerings and for adult learners to participate in a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma program that also offers an industry-recognized credential or community college certificate or degree (A.R.S. § 15-217.03).
Provisions
Adult Education Programs Continuation and Appropriations
1. Repeals the July 1, 2025 termination date for the:
a) High School Program;
b) Diploma Program and Diploma Program Fund;
c) Community College Program and the Community College Program Fund; and
d) requirement that SBE and ADE adopt performance measures to evaluate adult education and workforce programs. (Sec. 4)
2. Appropriates, from the state General Fund in FY 2026, $6,000,000 each to:
a) ADE for the High School Program;
b) the Diploma Program Fund; and
c) the Community College Program Fund. (Sec. 5)
3. Exempts the $6,000,000 appropriation for the High School Program from lapsing. (Sec. 5)
High School Program (Sec. 1)
4. Caps the total projected full-time enrollment of High School Program schools at 780, rather than 1,400.
Diploma Program (Sec. 2)
5. Requires approved Diploma Program providers to report, in the monthly invoices submitted to ADE, the number of currently enrolled students for whom invoices have been or have not been submitted.
6. Adds, to the monthly written update ADE must provide to approved Diploma Program providers, the aggregate number of currently enrolled students in Arizona for whom an invoice has been or has not been submitted.
Community College Program (Sec. 3)
7. Specifies the Community College Program must provide adult learners with preparation for and access to integrated education and training and additional study and support services.
8. Replaces the requirement that to be eligible, a Community College Program school must provide workforce training that leads to industry-recognized credentials or workforce or degree programs with the requirement that an eligible Community College Program school must provide adult education and literacy activities that prepare adult learners for, or provide adult learners with access to, integrated education and training models.
9. Mandates ADE and SBE accept Community College Program applications between July 1 and June 30 annually and determine whether each applicant meets the eligibility requirements within six weeks after receiving a completed application.
10. Deletes the requirement that an adult learner participate in integrated education and training for a Community College Program school to receive Community College Program Fund monies.
11. Allows a Community College Program school to receive up to $5,000, rather than $3,000, per full-time student each fiscal year.
12. Instructs ADE to distribute Community College Program Fund monies to Community College Program schools each quarter.
13. Caps the total amount distributed from the Community College Program Fund in any quarter at the sum of:
a) 1/4 of the total amount allocated for Community College Program schools in the fiscal year; and
b) any unspent monies that were allocated for Community College Program schools in previous quarters.
14. Requires a Community College Program school to use monies to increase its capacity to provide adult education and literacy activities that prepare adult learners for, or provide adult learners access to, integrated education and training models, rather than to supplement and not supplant current Community College Program offerings.
Miscellaneous
15. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 6)
16. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)
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20. SB 1084
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