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Daily In-Session Updates
April 29, 2010
Daily In-Session
The 2010 Legislative Session adjourned sine die at 11:08 p.m. on day 109.
In big news, HCR 2041 (funding ballot measures; reauthorization.) FAILED Senate Third Read on a 14-10 vote. This referendum would have put on the November 2010 General Election ballot the stipulation that every ballot measure, except Proposition 202 (Indian Gaming), is good for only eight years, at which time; it must be put back to the voters for reauthorization. This measure would apply retroactively with staggered elections; Proposition 301 would appear on the November 6, 2012 ballot for reauthorization. ASBA opposes.
SB 1286 (schools; achievement profiles; letter grades) passed Senate Final Read on a 20-8 vote. This bill would include school districts into the current AZ Learns labeling system and change the current labels from excelling to failing to meet academic standards to A through F. Further, the bill states that 50% of the school and district classification must be on academic performance measurements and 50% must be on all student academic gain and 50% on the measurement of the lowest 25% of students making academic gain. ASBA opposes the change of labels, as there is now some consistency in these labels with 50% of elementary schools changing their student report cards to coincide with the school labels. There is also concern of administrative costs associated with any changes. ASBA supports district accountability, exploring multiple measures, and a focus on academic gains rather than straight test scores. SB 1284 (school finance revisions) passed House Third Read on a 58-0 vote and Senate Final Read on a 26-0 vote. This bill requires ADE to apply any change to state law that occurs after the effective date and modifies or impacts the school finance formula so it applies to the entire fiscal year the change became effective. Further, the bill allows districts to use a two-year Prop. 301 phase-down with non-supplanting provisions included. ASBA supports.
SB 1187 (school facilities board; vacant land) passed Senate Final Read on a 28-0 vote. This bill would, prospectively, allow the SFB to require a school district to sell land that was previously purchased fully by the SFB for a new school and that school is no longer needed within the next 10 years. Further, the bill states that a district is prohibited from using land that is purchased fully or partially with SFB monies for anything other than a new school facility. ASBA supports. SB 1286 (schools; achievement profiles; letter grades) also passed Senate Final Read on a 20-8 vote. This bill would include school districts into the current AZ Learns labeling system and change the current labels from excelling to failing to meet academic standards to A through F. Further, the bill states that 50% of the school and district classification must be on academic performance measurements and 50% must be on all student academic gain and 50% on the measurement of the lowest 25% of students making academic gain. ASBA opposes the change of labels, as there is now some consistency in these labels with 50% of elementary schools changing their student report cards to coincide with the school labels. There is also concern of administrative costs associated with any changes. ASBA supports district accountability, exploring multiple measures, and a focus on academic gains rather than straight test scores.
HB 2504 (GPLET; lease records and reporting) passed Senate Third Read on a 26-1 vote and House Final Read on a 54-3 vote. This bill would set new rates and provide additional requirements for leases entered into beginning January 1, 2011 that are subject to the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), modifies the requirements to abate the GPLET, requires the Office of the Auditor General to complete a special audit of the GPLET, and establishes annual reporting requirements. ASBA supports. HB 2521 (NOW: schools; superintendent contracts; performance pay) passed Senate Final Read on a 22-4 vote and House Final Read on a 38-20 vote. This bill, after conference committee changes, requires 20% of a superintendent’s salary and benefits to be for performance pay and prescribes a mechanism for calculating performance pay that districts may implement - 25% of performance pay determined by student academic gain and 25% based on parental satisfaction surveys. ASBA supports.
HB 2281 (schools; prohibited courses; discipline) passed House Final Read on a 32-26 vote. This bill prohibits a school district or charter school from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people. ASBA opposes.
HB 2725 (education; omnibus) passed Senate Third Read on a 26-1 vote and House Final Read on a 53-3 vote. This bill makes numerous changes to various education items, including charter schools, teacher certification, school districts and their governing boards, school district bond proceeds, overexpenditures, and new school construction awards. Further, the bill requires impact aid districts to account for those monies in a separate account and allows those monies to be used as an offset for soft capital reductions, adds the Gun Safety Program legislation (SB 1172), and provides exemptions for teacher certification. ASBA supports; however, opposes the requirement to hold a meeting to determine if a district will mandate PE. HB 2733 (department of education; data collection) passed Senate Third Read on a 27-0 vote and House Final Read on a 57-0 vote. This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, subject to state funds or other monies being provided, to enter into contracts with public or private entities to evaluate the existing system of data collection, compilation, and reporting conducted by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) on or before August 1, 2010. It also permanently creates the Data Governance Commission in ADE and a session law Task Force on Data Systems to design the RFPs, which will repeal as of April 30, 2011. ASBA supports, as SAIS continues to flounder, while new data elements are critical to come online for our local districts to have the information necessary to make effective decisions.
SB 1187 (school facilities board; vacant land) passed Senate Final Read on a 28-0 vote. This bill would, prospectively, allow the SFB to require a school district to sell land that was previously purchased fully by the SFB for a new school and that school is no longer needed within the next 10 years. Further, the bill states that a district is prohibited from using land that is purchased fully or partially with SFB monies for anything other than a new school facility. ASBA supports. HB 2401 (teacher loan program; geographic shortages) passed Senate Third Read on a 23-4 vote. This bill would expand the subjects that teachers can teach in order to pay off their service commitment to allow a person to teach in a district with a teaching shortage in that area. ASBA supports.
SB 1184 (union high schools; additional grades) FAILED Senate Final Read on a 15-11 vote. This bill would allow a union high school district to offer grades seven and eight if a variety of stipulated items are met; district would not be eligible for additional School Facilities Board (SFB) monies. ASBA is neutral. Last, HB 2587 (school districts; unification assistance) passed Senate Third Read on a 23-4 vote; however, it was NOT House Final Read. This bill would allow a new unified school district to budget for transitional costs the first year of unification and increase its RCL by 3% for the 2nd and 3rd years, which can only be used to equalize teacher salaries. It also requires newly unified school districts that increase their RCL and DSL as authorized by the bill to seek voter approval to fund ½ have of the authorized increase through the secondary property tax rate, which is conditional to a district’s ability to budget for unification assistance upon the voters approving the increased secondary property tax rate. A delayed repeal date of June 30, 2014 is included. ASBA supports this effort to assist districts that voluntarily choose to unify.
Last, tentatively mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 25th for the AASBO/ ASBA Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar.
April 28, 2010
Daily In-Session
Bear with me today – it was a super-packed day of legislative action, while at the same time your GR team had a number of other items to address, including your action agenda item priorities for next week’s Legislative Committee meeting, evaluation task force updates, and advocacy trainings! The Legislature is still on track to sine die tomorrow!
First, Governor Brewer announced today that Arizona would apply for Phase II Race to the Top funds. Be on the lookout for our communications … the application is due June 1st!
In the Senate, HB 2281 (schools; prohibited courses; discipline) passed Senate Third Read on a 17-13 vote. This bill prohibits a school district or charter school from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people. ASBA opposes. HB 2385 (schools; ADM calculation) passed Senate Third Read on a 30-0 vote. This bill modifies the definition of average daily membership as the total enrollment of the fractional students and full-time students who are enrolled on the 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th days in session, divided by four. ASBA supports. HB 2731 (high schools; graduation; board examinations) passed Senate Third Read on a 22-8 vote. This bill is commonly referred to as the “move on when ready” bill and creates the Grand Canyon Diploma to enable high school students to choose different educational pathways. ASBA supported the concept while acknowledging work still needed to be done on the language in the bill. HB 2732 (Schools; third grade retention) passed Senate Third Read on a 21-9 vote. This is the "Move on When Reading" legislation and passed with several amendments regarding parental notification of school promotion policies; delays the application of the third grade promotion competency requirements until the 2013-2014 school year and adds a conditional enactment contingent upon Proposition 100 being approved by the voters in the May 18, 2010 special election.
Both HB 2663 and HB 2664 passed Senate Third Read on a 17-12 vote. HB 2663 (STOs; corporate tax credit requirements) makes a number of changes to the STOs that accept corporate income tax credits based on the recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee on Private School Tuition Tax Credit Review. ASBA opposes. HB 2664 (STOs; tax credit requirements) modifies requirements for STOs that accept individual income tax credits and no longer includes an increase to these credits except for an inflationary increase. ASBA opposes.
SB 1308 (NOW: schools; instruction; dating abuse) passed Senate Final Read on a 24-5 vote. This bill would allow the voluntary adoption of dating abuse policy and requires district governing boards to review and consider its adoption at a public meeting by June 30, 2011 and requires a domestic violence organization to be notified at least two weeks prior to the meeting. ASBA appreciates the sponsor’s change from a mandatory to a voluntary policy; however is still concerned about the required public hearing. SB 1040 (NOW: teacher and principal evaluations) passed Senate Final Read on a 30-0 vote. This bill would require the State Board of Education to establish and maintain a model framework for a teacher and principal evaluation instrument that uses quantitative data on student academic progress for at least 50% of the evaluation outcomes and requires districts and charter schools use this instrument to annually evaluate individual teachers and principals beginning in school year 2012-2013. ASBA has been working internally with ASA on teacher and principal evaluation best practices. ASBA supports the need for rigorous evaluation systems and was concerned that this bill only allows one option for districts, when current evaluation systems that are in place may be highly effective. ASBA has been a part of stakeholder meetings to address these issues.
In Senate Committee of the Whole, passed HB 2725 (education; omnibus) with two floor amendments. This bill makes numerous changes to various education items, including charter schools, teacher certification, school districts and their governing boards, school district bond proceeds, overexpenditures, and new school construction awards. The floor amendments requires impact aid districts to account for those monies in a separate account and allows those monies to be used as an offset for soft capital reductions, removes the Career Ladder local assessment option, adds the Gun Safety Program legislation (SB 1172), and provides exemptions for teacher certification. ASBA supports; however, opposes the requirement to hold a meeting to determine if a district will mandate PE. Further, HB 2733 (department of education; data collection) also passed with no floor amendments. This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to enter into contracts with public or private entities to evaluate the existing system of data collection, compilation, and reporting conducted by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) on or before August 1, 2010. ASBA supports, as SAIS continues to flounder, while new data elements are critical to come online for our local districts to have the information necessary to make effective decisions.
In the House, SB 1187 (school facilities board; vacant land) passed House Committee of the Whole. This bill would, prospectively, allow the SFB to require a school district to sell land that was previously purchased fully by the SFB for a new school and that school is no longer needed within the next 10 years. Further, the bill states that a district is prohibited from using land that is purchased fully or partially with SFB monies for anything other than a new school facility. ASBA supports. SB 1284 (school finance revisions) also passed House COW. This bill requires ADE to apply any change to state law that occurs after the effective date and modifies or impacts the school finance formula so it applies to the entire fiscal year the change became effective. A floor amendment was adopted to allow for districts to use a two-year Prop. 301 phase-down with non-supplanting provisions included as well. ASBA supports. SB 1286 (schools; achievement profiles; letter grades) passed House COW to include school districts into the current AZ Learns labeling system and change the current labels from excelling to failing to meet academic standards to A through F. Further, the bill states that 50% of the school and district classification must be on academic performance measurements and 50% must be on all student academic gain and 50% on the measurement of the lowest 25% of students making academic gain. ASBA opposes the change of labels, as there is now some consistency in these labels with 50% of elementary schools changing their student report cards to coincide with the school labels. There is also concern of administrative costs associated with any changes. ASBA supports district accountability, exploring multiple measures, and a focus on academic gains rather than straight test scores.
Finally, HB 2282 (NOW: political subdivisions; government transparency) passed after a conference committee amendment to clarify elected official items the Senate on a 27-3 vote and the House on a 32-27 vote. This bill would require school districts, along with other local governments, to establish and maintain an official website of receipts and expenditures over $5000 by January 1, 2013. ASBA opposes, but will continue to work in the ensuing years to correct the language.
April 27, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, both the House and Senate were busy with floor calendars. First, in Senate COW the following bills related to education passed:
HB 2385 (schools; ADM calculation) makes changes to the definition of average daily membership; ASBA supports
HB 2663 (STOs; corporate tax credit requirements) implements changes to Student Tuition Organizations recommended by the Committee on Private School Tuition Tax Credit Review; ASBA opposes
HB 2664 (STOs; tax credit requirements) makes changes for School Tuition Organizations who receive individual income tax credit contributions and establishes an annual inflation adjustment factor for the allowable tax credit amounts; ASBA opposes
HB 2731(high schools; graduation; board examinations) is the "Move on When Ready" legislation establishing the Grand Canyon Diploma and passed with an amendment to clarify the other courses a student must receive passing grades on board exams in order to receive a Grand Canyon Diploma (GCD) as core academic courses as determined by the State Board of Education including the arts, history and science; requires students to complete a course in economics in order to receive a GCD and exempts expenditures of revenue received from districts and charters by community colleges for GCD graduates from the community college district's expenditure limitation.
HB 2732 (Schools; third grade retention) is the "Move on When Reading" legislation and passed with several amendments regarding parental notification of school promotion policies; delays the application of the third grade promotion competency requirements until the 2013-2014 school year and adds a conditional enactment contingent upon Proposition 100 being approved by the voters in the May 18, 2010 special election.
In Senate Third Read, HB 2287 (Accommodation schools; levy limit recalculation) passed 26-4. This bill makes changes to specified accommodation school levy limits. HB 2722 (schools; funding; nonresidents) excludes nonresident pupils of public and charter schools when determining student counts and obtaining state funding and passed 30-0.
The Senate Final Read SB 1309 (Parents; rights) on a 16-14 vote. This bill outlines extensive parental rights related to healthcare, education, recordings, scans, genetic testing and the upbringing of a minor child.
In House Third Read, SB 1040 (teacher and principal evaluations) passed 53-4. This bill, as amended, would require the State Board of Education to establish and maintain a model framework for a teacher and principal evaluation instrument that uses quantitative data on student academic progress for between 33% and not more than 50% of the evaluation outcomes and best practices for professional development and evaluator training. The bill requires districts and charter schools use this instrument to annually evaluate individual teachers and principals beginning in school year 2012-2013. Last, the bill includes fixes to defective enactments to 15-536 and 15-538.01. ASBA supports. SB 1188 (school district monies; annual estimate) passed 46-12 and adds the Property Tax Oversight Commission to the list of those whom a county school superintendent must report the estimated amount of monies each school district needs for the upcoming year.
April 26, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, both the House and Senate had big calendars, especially as they relate to K-12 education. First, the House Third Read SB 1309 (Parents; rights) on a 33-24 vote. This bill outlines extensive parental rights related to healthcare, education, recordings, scans, genetic testing and the upbringing of a minor child. Further, the requirement that a school district governing board must provide brief descriptions and summaries of 19 outlined items related to parental involvement was removed during House COW. While the floor amendment makes significant strives forward; however, ASBA still opposes the portion that changes sex education from an opt-out to an opt-in program as this is contrary to the usual opt-out provisions we have in schools which could result in an additional administrative cost.
HB 2489 (bonding; net premiums) passed House Final Read on a 49-8 vote, which includes an emergency clause. This bill increases the cap for premium bonds from 2% to 5%. ASBA supports.
Last, the House put through Committee of the Whole SB 1040 (NOW: teacher and principal evaluations) with the House Education Amendment and a Rep. Crandall amendment. This bill, as amended, would require the State Board of Education to establish and maintain a model framework for a teacher and principal evaluation instrument that uses quantitative data on student academic progress for between 33% and not more than 50% of the evaluation outcomes and best practices for professional development and evaluator training. The bill requires districts and charter schools use this instrument to annually evaluate individual teachers and principals beginning in school year 2012-2013. Last, the bill includes fixes to defective enactments to 15-536 and 15-538.01. ASBA supports.
The Senate Third Read HB 2521 (NOW: schools; superintendent contracts; performance pay) on a 28-1 vote. This bill would require 20% of a superintendent and principals’ salary and benefits to be for performance pay beginning in school year 2011-2012. Further, it allows a district to adopt its own measure of performance pay or the following prescribed mechanism for calculating performance pay, in which 25% of the performance pay would be determined by student academic gain and 25% based on parental satisfaction surveys. Last, it does not require a district to increase total compensation for principals and superintendents. ASBA supports.
Further, HB 2282 (NOW: political subdivisions; government transparency) went to conference committee. This bill, as amended, would require school districts (except those under 600 students), along with other local governments, to establish and maintain an official website of receipts and expenditures over $5000 by January 1, 2013 and makes clarification to local elected officials. ASBA opposes and will work in the next Legislative Session to address our issues.
Last, Beth attended the State Board of Education, who voted to revisit and change the AIMS exam administrations back to previous years (i.e. no reductions as previously approved). ADE “found” money from previous years of Prop. 301 assessment funding to cover the $1.5 million reduction. Be on the lookout for the SBE summary this week!
April 22, 2010
Daily In-Session
The House had a short day of work today, completing one Committee of the Whole calendar that didn’t include any key education bills.
In the Senate, they completed two long caucus calendars, had a Committee of the Whole calendar, a Third Read calendar, and a Final Read calendar. Through all of that, no official action (COW, Third, or Final Read) was taken on education bills. The big education bills moved through caucus and we will see them make their way through COW and Third Read next week – the likely last week of Session!
I do need to clarify the summary put together on HB 2521 that went through Senate Committee of the Whole yesterday. HB 2521 (NOW: schools; superintendent contracts; performance pay) would require 20% of a superintendent and principals’ salary and benefits to be for performance pay beginning in school year 2011-2012. Further, it allows a district to adopt its own measure of performance pay or the following prescribed mechanism for calculating performance pay, in which 25% of the performance pay would be determined by student academic gain and 25% based on parental satisfaction surveys. Last, it does not require a district to increase total compensation for principals and superintendents. ASBA supports.
Last, be on the lookout for an action call from NSBA tomorrow to assist in the passage of the $23 billion “Keep Our Educators Working Act of 2010,” which would be patterned after the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.
April 21, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, the Senate put HB 2521 (NOW: schools; superintendent contracts; performance pay) through Committee of the Whole without any floor amendments. This bill requires 20% of a superintendent’s salary and benefits to be for performance pay. Further, it allows a district to adopt the following prescribed mechanism for calculating performance pay, in which 25% of the performance pay would be determined by student academic gain and 25% based on parental satisfaction surveys. ASBA supports.
Two bills now head to the Governor for action. HB 2129 (NOW: Arizona online instruction; reform) passed House Final Read on a 60-0 vote. This bill clarifies the definitions of full-time and part-time students in AOI. ASBA supports. HB 2386 (school district override elections) passed House Final Read on a 51-9 vote. This bill makes changes to current school district budget override statutes to complement the changes made during the 2009 Special Session, including a provision that would keep override levels for FY11 at the level prior to the cuts contained in HB 2008 and that elimination of the “K” weight would not apply to the budget limit for FY11 overrides if Prop. 100 does not pass. An emergency clause is also included. ASBA supports.
In the House, SB 1185 (common school districts; grade nine) passed House Third Read on a 38-22 vote. This bill would allow an elementary school district to offer grade nine if a variety of stipulated items are met; district would not be eligible for additional SFB monies. ASBA is neutral. SCR 1047 (state lands; military installation preservation) passed House Third Read on a 60-0 vote. This referendum would put on the 2010 General Election Ballot authorization to allow exchanges of state trust land in order to preserve and protect Arizona military installations from encroaching development. A companion statutory bill, SB 1410 also passed House Third Read on a 60-0 vote. ASBA supports.
Last, SB 1188 (school district monies; annual estimate) passed House Committee of the Whole with two floor amendments. This bill adds the Property Tax Oversight Commission to those a county school superintendent reports the estimated amount of monies each school requires for the upcoming year, equalization assistance and levy amounts. ASBA is neutral. SB 1309 (Parents; rights) also passed House Committee of the Whole with amendments. This bill outlines extensive parental rights related to healthcare, education, recordings, scans, genetic testing and the upbringing of a minor child. The Rep. Crandall floor amendment REMOVED the requirement that a school district governing board must provide brief descriptions and summaries of 19 outlined items related to parental involvement. The floor amendment makes significant strives forward; however, ASBA still opposes the portion that changes sex education from an opt-out to an opt-in program as this is contrary to the usual opt-out provisions we have in schools which could result in an additional administrative cost.
April 20, 2010
Daily In-Session
First and foremost, Governor Brewer signed HB 2227 (schools; teacher contracts; acceptance) this evening. This bill would require a teacher to return his/her contract within 15 business days upon receipt (now defined with the adopted amendment) rather than the current 30 days. Further, the bill also includes the school personnel changes included in HB 2011; along with a retroactivity clause to November 24th, 2009, when the legislation took effect; passed in the 2009 3rd Special Session to defend against any litigation that would overturn these provisions. ASBA supports and played an integral role in the passage of these provisions. This bill will become effective 90 days after sine die. We very much appreciate those that supported this legislation!!
The House Appropriations Committee held a special meeting to consider two bills. A strike-everything amendment was adopted to SCR 1060 (NOW: state debt) passed on an 8-5 vote. This amendment would put on the 2010 November General election ballot the modification of the current constitutional debt limitation and identifies what type of debt is included in the limitation (school district debt is not included). ASBA opposes; however, does very much understand the dire need for Arizona to engage in tax reform discussions to ensure a stable, successful future state.
The House Third Read SB 1274 (STOs; contribution date) on a 33-24 vote. This bill extends the deadline to April 15th (currently, it’s December 31st for the taxable year) for individual STO contributions to be claimed. ASBA opposes. SB 1308 (NOW: schools; instruction; dating abuse) also passed House Third Read on a 32-25 vote. This bill would allow the voluntary adoption of dating abuse policy and requires district governing boards to review and consider its adoption at a public meeting by June 30, 2011 and requires a domestic violence organization to be notified at least two weeks prior to the meeting. A district is also exempt from this provision if it adopts a dating abuse policy prior to this bills effective date. ASBA appreciates the sponsor’s change from a mandatory to a voluntary policy; however is still concerned about the required public hearing.
April 19, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, focus was on moving bills through the process. In the Senate, HB 2489 (bonding; net premiums) passed Committee of the Whole with a floor amendment to add an emergency clause. This bill increases the cap for premium bonds from 2% to 5%. ASBA supports.
There were four bills affecting K-12 education that were Third Read. HB 2129 (NOW: Arizona online instruction; reform) passed on a 28-0 vote. This bill clarifies the definitions of full-time and part-time students in AOI. ASBA supports. HB 2282 (NOW: political subdivisions; government transparency) passed on a 26-1 vote. This bill would require school districts, along with other local governments, to establish and maintain an official website of receipts and expenditures over $5000 by January 1, 2013. ASBA opposes. HB 2386 (school district override elections) passed on a 21-7 vote. This bill makes changes to current school district budget override statutes to complement the changes made during the 2009 Special Session, including a provision that would keep override levels for FY11 at the level prior to the cuts contained in HB 2008 and that elimination of the “K” weight would not apply to the budget limit for FY11 overrides if Prop. 100 does not pass. An emergency clause is also included. ASBA supports. Last, HB 2719 (school district boundaries; change) passed on a 28-0 vote. This bill allows qualified electors or property owners residing in the Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District to petition the Page Unified School District Governing Board to modify the school district boundaries. ASBA opposes.
Last, the Senate Final Read two bills that will now make their way to the Governor for action. SB 1070 (immigration; law enforcement; safe neighborhoods) passed on a 17-11 vote. This bill would require school districts, along with other political subdivisions, to comply with and assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. ASBA opposes. SB 1119 (task force; K-3 accountability; assessments) passed on a 28-0 vote. This bill establishes a Task Force to examine and evaluate best practices in accountability and assessment measures for schools providing instruction in grades K-3, as well as conduct trial examinations of students. ASBA supports.
In the House, SB 1274 (STOs; contribution date) passed Committee of the Whole. This bill extends the deadline to April 15th (currently, it’s December 31st for the taxable year) for individual STO contributions to be claimed. ASBA opposes. SB 1308 (NOW: schools; instruction; dating abuse) also passed House Committee of the Whole with a floor amendment. This bill would allow the voluntary adoption of dating abuse policy and requires district governing boards to review and consider its adoption at a public meeting by June 30, 2011 and requires a domestic violence organization to be notified at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The floor amendment exempts a district from this provision if it adopts a dating abuse policy prior to this bills effective date. ASBA appreciates the sponsor’s change from a mandatory to a voluntary policy; however is still concerned about the required public hearing.
April 15, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, both the Senate and House were busy with COW calendars. In the Senate, HB 2129 (NOW: Arizona online instruction; reform) clarifies the definitions of full-time and part-time students in AOI. ASBA supports and the bill passed COW. HB 2282 (NOW: political subdivisions; government transparency) would require school districts, along with other local governments, to establish and maintain an official website of receipts and expenditures over $5000 by January 1, 2013. ASBA opposes and the bill passed. HB 2386 (school district override elections) makes changes to current school district budget override statutes to complement the changes made during the 2009 Special Session. An amendment was adopted in the Senate Education Accountability and Reform that would keep override levels for FY11 at the level prior to the cuts contained in HB 2008 and that elimination of the "K" weight would not apply to the budget limit for FY11 overrides. ASBA supports as amended and the bill passed Senate COW.
Over in the House, SB 1410 (trust land exchanges; military preservation) revises the process to review and evaluate proposed state trust land exchanges and contains a conditional enactment clause. The bill passed House COW. SCR 1047 (state lands; military installation preservation) would put on the 2010 General Election Ballot authorization to allow exchanges of state trust land in order to preserve and protect Arizona military installations from encroaching development. A companion statutory bill, SB 1410, is also moving through the process. ASBA supports and the bill passed in COW.
April 14, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, focus was on the passage of HB2227 (schools; teacher contracts; acceptance). This bill would require a teacher to return his/her contract within 15 business days upon receipt (now defined with the adopted amendment) rather than the current 30 days. Further, an amendment was adopted in Senate Committee of the Whole to include the school personnel changes included in HB 2011 passed in the 2009 3rd Special Session to defend against any litigation that would overturn these provisions. After Senate COW passage, it passed Senate Third Read on a 17-13 vote. It was then transmitted to the House for concurrence and House Final Read where it passed on a 34-20 vote. The bill now heads to the Governor for action. ASBA supported and very much appreciates legislators’ efforts to mitigate school districts’ liability who acted in good faith under the current law.
In House Committee of the Whole, SB 1184 (union high schools; additional grades) passed and is ready for House Third Read. This bill would allow a union high school district to offer grades seven and eight if a variety of stipulated items are met; district would not be eligible for additional School Facilities Board (SFB) monies. ASBA is neutral. This bill is ready for the House Rules Committee. SB 1185 (common school districts; grade nine) also passed and is ready for House Third Read. This bill would allow an elementary school district to offer grade nine if a variety of stipulated items are met; district would not be eligible for additional SFB monies. ASBA is neutral on both bills.
Last, SB 1039 (NOW: AOI; charter schools; processing fees) passed House Third Read on a 43-12 vote, with the emergency clause. This bill would require the State Board for Charter Schools to establish and administer the Charter Arizona Online Instruction Processing Fund for the processing of contract amendments for charter schools participating in Arizona Online Instruction.
April 13, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, the House put through Committee of the Whole and Third Read SB 1070 (NOW: safe neighborhoods; immigration; law enforcement). This bill would require school districts, along with other political subdivisions, to comply with and assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. ASBA opposes. This bill passed House Third Read on a 35-21 vote and is ready for Senate concur/refuse.
Last, the House moved SB 1039 (NOW: AOI; charter schools; processing fees) through House Committee of the Whole with an amendment to include an emergency clause. This bill would require the State Board for Charter Schools to establish and administer the Charter Arizona Online Instruction Processing Fund for the processing of contract amendments for charter schools participating in Arizona Online Instruction.
April 12, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, the Senate Finance Committee passed a same subject, strike-everything amendment on HB 2250 (Arizona’s job recovery act). This bill would: 1) establish a new Arizona Job Training Program; 2) establish the Arizona Quality Jobs Program and the Arizona Opportunity Fund; 3) restructures Enterprise Zones into a statewide Arizona Enterprise Development Program; 4) reduces the Class 1 business property secondary assessment ratio from 20% to 16% beginning with voter-approved bonds and overrides if the election is held after January 1, 2012; 5) phases down the state equalization property tax over four years; 6) decreases the corporate income tax rate from 7% to 5% over five years beginning in tax year 2011; and 7) other outlined provisions. The fiscal note estimates a $60.3 million decrease to the General Fund in FY12, decreasing to a $647.8 million General Fund loss in FY18. ASBA opposes; however is eager to engage in structural tax and revenue discussions to ensure state competitiveness in both business and education.
SCR 1005 (NOW: exemptions; punitive damages; schools; teachers) passed House Committee of the Whole. This bill would put on the November 2010 General Election ballot to state that public school teachers and schools are not subject to punitive damages. ASBA supports.
Last, the Governor's P-20 Coordination Council's Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Task Force met this afternoon. Of note, Arizona submitted its Phase II State Fiscal Stabilization Funds application and has received those monies. Don Houde from ADE stated that he was not sure of Arizona's probability in receiving the State Longitudinal Data Systems grant, which will be announced the first week of May. Last, Mr. Houde provided an update on the implementation of the remaining data elements, in which the teacher identifier is being piloted in two districts (Osborn and Douglas), will be piloting in a total of 15 districts by the summer, and EduID will be fully implemented next fall to all districts. This system will run parallels to SAIS. Mr. Houde also stated that if HB 2733 is successful, the implementation schedule seen above will be put on hold.
April 8, 2010
Daily In-Session
Today, the House Final Read two bills affecting K-12 education that will now go to the Governor for action. HB 2298 (NOW: preparation programs; teacher certification) passed on a 34-21 vote. This bill requires the State Board of Education to allow a variety of teacher, and administrator with the adoption of the amendment, preparation program providers to offer a variety of preparation models and courses of study for alternative certification. ASBA supports. HB 2389 (ASRS; plan design; refunds) passed on a 48-7 vote. This bill makes numerous changes to the Arizona State Retirement System for those persons hired after July 1, 2011.
In House Committee of the Whole, SB 1119 (task force; K-3 accountability; assessments) passed with the Education Committee. This bill establishes a Task Force to examine and evaluate best practices in accountability and assessment measures for schools providing instruction in grades K-3, as well as conduct trial examinations of students. ASBA supports.
As we mentioned yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee ran very late. HB 2287 (accommodation schools; levy limit recalculation) passed unamended on a 7-0 vote. This bill prohibits an accommodation school to levy primary or secondary property taxes, any property tax levied by a county to support an accommodation school must count towards the county's primary levy, and grandfathers Pinal County. ASBA is neutral, as this has been agreed to by all parties. HB 2489 (bonding; net premiums) passed amended on a 7-1 vote. This bill increases the cap for premium bonds from 2% to 5%. ASBA supports. HB 2504 (GPLET; lease records and reporting) passed on a 6-2 vote. This bill would set new rates and provide additional requirements for leases entered into beginning January 1, 2011 that are subject to the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), modifies the requirements to abate the GPLET, requires the Office of the Auditor General to complete a special audit of the GPLET, and establishes annual reporting requirements. ASBA supports. HB 2509 (property tax liens; redemption; foreclosure) was held. This bill had a strike-everything amendment posted on "corporate taxes; property taxes; reform," which included language to phase down the primary property tax of Class 1 and 6 properties from 20% to 15%. ASBA opposes.
April 7, 2010
Daily In-Session
This afternoon, the Senate Committee on Education Accountability and Reform met for a VERY long hearing. HB 2731 (high schools; graduation; board examinations) passed 5-2. This is the "Move on When Ready" bill from Rep. Crandall and creates the Grand Canyon Diploma to enable high school students to choose different educational pathways. ASBA supports the concept while acknowledging work still needed to be done on the language in the bill. HB 2733 (department of education; data collection) requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to enter into contracts with public or private entities to evaluate the existing system of data collection, compilation, and reporting conducted by the Arizona Department of Education on or before August 1, 2010. ASBA supports and the bill passed 5-2. HB 2281 (NOW: prohibited courses; discipline) prohibits a school district or charter school from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people. ASBA opposes and the bill passed 4-3. HB 2521 (NOW: schools; superintendent contracts; performance pay) requires 20% of a superintendent'
In Senate Finance Committee, several bills were heard relating to education but Committee was running late - we will update tomorrow!
In House Appropriations, SCR 1031 (public revenue expenditures; ballot measures) would put on the 2010 General Election ballot a change to the Arizona Constitution to extend the requirement that an initiative or referendum provide for a revenue source for expenditures required of a political subdivision. ASBA supports and the bill passed 10-0. SB 1104 (NOW: state revenue expenditures; limit) outlines limits on the expenditure of state revenues beginning in FY 2011-12. ASBA opposes and the bill passed 6-3.
April 6, 2010
Daily In-Session
This afternoon, both the Senate Appropriations and House Government Committees met with bills that impact public schools.
In Senate Appropriations, HCR 2039 (temporary suspension; voter-protected funding) passed on a 5-4 vote. This referendum would put on the November 2010 General Election ballot a temporary suspension of voter-protected funds. From Fiscal Years 2011 through 2014, up to 50% of voter-protected funding can be diverted to similar purposes as those authorized by the ballot measures (i.e. Prop. 301 monies would be diverted for education purposes). ASBA testified in opposition. HB 2386 (school district override elections) was calendared; however, was withdrawn from the committee and now is ready for the Senate Rules Committee. I had to leave for the House Government Committee before HCR 2041 (funding ballot measures; reauthorization.
The House Government Committee passed SB 1309 (Parents; rights) on a 5-4 vote. This bill outlines extensive parental rights related to healthcare, education, recordings, scans, genetic testing and the upbringing of a minor child. In addition, the bill prescribes additional procedures a school district governing board must develop, including brief descriptions and summaries of 19 outlined items, related to parental involvement. ASBA opposed.
April 5, 2010
Daily In-Session
The House Education Committee held its last committee meeting for this Session. A strike-everything amendment was adopted on SB 1040 (NOW: teacher and principal evaluations) and passed on a 9-1 vote. This amendment would require the State Board of Education to establish and maintain a model framework for a teacher and principal evaluation instrument that uses quantitative data on student academic progress for 50% of the evaluation outcomes and requires districts and charter schools use this instrument to annually evaluate individual teachers and principals beginning in school year 2012-2013. ASBA has been working internally with ASA on teacher and principal evaluation best practices. ASBA has been assured that an amendment will be offered to allow an appeals process at the SBE for districts that have a current evaluation system that is in place that is highly effective. SB 1188 (school district monies; annual estimate) passed on a 10-0 vote. This bill adds the Property Tax Oversight Commission to those a county school superintendent reports the estimated amount of monies each school requires for the upcoming year, equalization assistance and levy amounts. ASBA is neutral. SB 1284 (school finance revisions) passed on a 10-0 vote. This bill requires ADE to apply any change to state law that occurs after the effective date and modifies or impacts the school finance formula so it applies to the entire fiscal year the change became effective. ASBA is neutral. A strike everything amendment was adopted on SB 1404 (NOW: eighth grade; citizenship exam) and passed on a 6-4 vote. This amendment would requires districts and charter schools to test 8th grade students with at least 20 questions from the civics portion of the naturalization test provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services until the student obtains a passing score. ASBA opposes this unfunded mandate.
In the House Ways and Means Committee, SB 1274 (STOs; contribution date) passed on a 5-3 vote. This bill extends the deadline to April 15th (currently, it's December 31st for the taxable year) for individual STO contributions to be claimed. ASBA opposes.
Last, the Senate Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Public Debt Committee passed HCR 2007 (state trust lands; veterans' cemeteries) on a 6-0 vote. This referendum would put on the November 2010 General Election ballot the allowance for trust lands to be disposed for veterans' cemeteries with numerous constraints, including not affecting the K-12 beneficiaries. There is a companion statutory bill, HB 2188, which has a similar strike-everything amendment posted. ASBA supports the strike-everything amendments.
April 1, 2010
Daily In-Session
It's no April Fool's joke – I forgot to update what actually happened yesterday in the Senate Education Accountability and Reform Committee! Lasting until 8 p.m., HB 2732 (schools; third grade retention) passed on a 4-3 vote. This bill establishes the Task Force on Reading Assessment to report by January 15th, 2011; requires that a student not be promoted from the 3rd grade if the student obtains a score on the reading portion of the AIMS test, or a successor test, that demonstrates that the student is reading far below the 3rd grade level; requires the State Board of Education to develop intervention and remedial strategies; and requires school districts to offer at least three of the intervention and remedial strategies developed by the SBE chosen by the parent or guardian of a student who is not promoted from the 3rd grade. ASBA has previously signed in as neutral to work with the sponsor; however, signed in opposed in this committee as there are fewer and fewer opportunities to make needed changes. We are still absolutely committed to working with the sponsor and, with a delayed implementation date to allow adequate time to implement these requirements, including resources for intervention models, ASBA will be supportive. HB 2129 (NOW: Arizona online instruction; reform) passed on a 7-0 vote. This bill clarifies the definitions of full-time and part-time students in AOI. ASBA supports. HB 2385 (schools; ADM calculation) also passed on a 7-0 vote. This bill modifies the definition of average daily membership as the total enrollment of the fractional students and full-time students who are enrolled on the 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th days in session, divided by four. ASBA supports. HB 2720 (NOW: digital curriculum institute) passed on a 7-0 vote with a significant amendment. This bill would require ADE and ASU, subject to funding as amended, to establish a digital curriculum institute to evaluate online courses and curricula commercially available and not provided by a school district and to publish the evaluation results on a website. ASBA is neutral. HB 2663 (STOs; corporate tax credit requirements) would make a number of changes to the STOs that accept corporate income tax credits based on the recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee on Private School Tuition Tax Credit Review. HB 2664 (STOs; tax credit requirements) would only modify the requirements for the STOs that accept individual income tax credits and no longer includes an increase to these credits. ASBA opposes both HB 2663 and HB 2664. Both passed on a 4-3 vote with the same amendment attached to require the names, job titles, and annual salaries of the three employees who have the highest annual salaries at the STO.
Now, onto today! The Arizona Free Enterprise Club launched an anti-Prop. 100 YouTube ad, which may or may not make it onto TV -- http://azfec.org/ We share it because it will give you a good indication as to the messaging that will be used to try and defeat the May 18th Prop. 100 election.
We received bad news this morning when we were made aware of a strike-everything amendment offered in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. We let our other education association and bond houses know that the striker to SB 1110 (NOW: free speech; municipal elections) , which would require all elections, including school district elections, to only be held on even years beginning January 1, 2011. It passed on a 4-2 vote.
In the House, HB 2235 (school personnel; employment information; investigations) passed House Third Read on a 36-18 vote. This bill requires ADE to maintain a confidential database of information on certificated persons who are under investigation for alleged immoral or unprofessional conduct to be made available to schools and school districts and requires schools and districts to access the database prior to offering an employment offer. ASBA supports. HB 2401 (teacher loan program; geographic shortages) passed House Third Read on a 50-4 vote. This bill would expand the subjects that teachers can teach in order to pay off their service commitment to allow a person to teach in a district with a teaching shortage in that area. ASBA supports. HB 2504 (GPLET; lease records and reporting) would set new rates and provides additional requirements for leases entered into beginning January 1, 2011 that are subject to the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), modifies the requirements to abate the GPLET, requires the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to complete a special audit of the GPLET, and establishes annual reporting requirements. It passed House Third Read on a 50-4 vote.
The Senate passed two bills through Committee of the Whole. HB 2298 (NOW: preparation programs; teacher certification) requires the State Board of Education to allow a variety of teacher, and administrator with the adoption of the amendment, preparation program providers to offer a variety of preparation models and courses of study for alternative certification. ASBA supports. HB 2389 (ASRS; plan design; refunds) makes numerous changes to the Arizona State Retirement System for those persons hired after July 1, 2011. SCR 1060 (NOW: state debt) passed with a significant floor amendment. This would submit to voters on the 2010 November General Election ballot: 1) remove the current $350,000 limit on state debt; 2) allow the state to contract for debt to meet expenses if the aggregate amount doesn’t exceed 5% of the net assessed property value in the state, regardless of when the debt was issued or incurred, or contracted at different periods of time; and requires the Legislature, beginning January 1, 2012, to provide for a revenue source, other than the state GF, to pay for all costs of the debt incurred after that date.
Last, HB 2760 (SFB; preventative maintenance guidelines) passed Senate Third Read on a 26-1 vote. This bill requires a school district’s routine preventative maintenance guidelines include plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, special equipment, and roofing systems. ASBA supports.
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