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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
teacher retention; study; report
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to complete an annual study to determine the retention rate of Arizona school district and charter school teachers. Appropriates $500,000 from the Teacher Certification Fund in FY 2026 to ADE to conduct the annual study. Outlines study and reporting requirements.
Background
The State Bord of Education (SBE) must adopt rules for the issuance of a: 1) standard teaching certificate; 2) alternative teaching certificate; 3) subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate; 4) classroom-based standard teaching certificate; and 5) career and technical education teaching certificate. Statute directs the SBE to adopt rules for the issuance of teaching certificates as outlined, including rules for teachers to obtain certification via reciprocity (A.R.S. § 15-501.01).
The Teacher Certification Fund is administered by ADE and consists of legislative appropriations and fees collected from teachers and other school personnel for: 1) the issuance and evaluation of any SBE-issued certificate; 2) the renewal and evaluation of any SBE-issued certificate; and 3) the administration and evaluation of specified examinations for applicants for teaching certificates. Statute directs the SBE to fix the fee amounts and allows ADE, in collecting the fees, to impose a convenience fee for transactions that use a credit card, debit card or other electronic payment. ADE must use Teacher Certification Fund monies for expenses incurred in administering teacher certification (A.R.S. §§ 15-248.02 and 15-531).
H.B. 2020 appropriates $500,000 from the Teacher Certification Fund in FY 2026 to ADE to conduct the annual study.
Provisions
1. Requires ADE to conduct and complete an annual comprehensive study to determine the retention rate of teachers in Arizona school districts and charter schools.
2. Appropriates $100,000 from the teacher certification fund in FY 2026 to ADE for the annual study.
3. Requires the study to include:
a) a summary of the total number of teachers, the retention rate and turnover rate for:
i. certificated teachers, by each type of teaching certificate;
ii. teachers to whom a certificate was issued during the past year, disaggregated by the type of teaching certificate and whether the applicant was certified via reciprocity;
iii. noncertificated charter school teachers;
iv. teaching assignment, including the subject area and grade level taught;
v. location, including by school site, school district or charter school, city or town and county;
vi. the number of years of experience of each teacher;
vii. 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;
viii. the number of teachers in each demographic segment in Arizona and each school district; and
ix. the number of teachers who failed to renew the teacher's certificate or endorsement during the past year and the renewal requirements that the teacher failed to satisfy;
b) a summary of the number of vacant teaching position, including the average time to fill a vacancy, for each:
i. teaching assignment, including subject area and grade level taught.
ii. location, including by school site, school district or charter school, city or town and county; and
iii. the manner by which the vacancy is filled, if applicable, including whether the vacancy is unfilled or temporarily filled by a long-term substitute teacher or certificated teacher whose regular teaching assignment is in a different subject area or grade level; 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;
iii. enrollment, disaggregated by endorsement; and
iv. the number of years that individuals spend working as teachers in Arizona after completing the program.
4. Specifies that grade level data includes data for teachers who are assigned to kindergarten programs.
5. Requires the SBE and the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools to collect and provide any data or information requested by ADE for the study.
6. Directs ADE to analyze public job postings by school districts and charter schools to compile information on teacher retention, turnover rates and vacant teaching positions.
7. Requires ADE to allow the SBE to access any data and information ADE collects for the study.
8. Requires ADE, by December 31, 2025, and each year after, to annually submit the study results and recommendations to the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to provide a copy to the Secretary of State.
9. Requires ADE to develop and maintain a publicly accessible, interactive dashboard on ADE's website that contains the study results and recommendations and the data and information compiled for the study.
10. 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.
11. Makes conforming changes.
12. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/21/25 DPA 10-0-0-2
APPROP 1/22/25 DPA 11-5-1-1
3rd Read 2/25/25 45-13-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 10, 2025
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