Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/543920
AEA Advocate | Summer 2015 7 AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly Here is a summary of education bills AEA members and staff worked to pass and defeat and the ones that got past us this legislative session. SB1289 schools; letter classifi cation; transition process (sponsor: Sen. Ward) Establishes a transition process, which prohibits the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) from assigning schools and school districts letter grade classifi cations during the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years (transition period). In addition, the bill permits school district governing boards to adopt alternative policies for performance based funding, dismissal and nonrenewal during the transition period. A student's score on the AZMerit assessment cannot be used as a factor in determining their letter grade in any particular course during this transition time (2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years). Lastly, this bill requires the SBE, by December 15, 2015, to submit a report to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate that includes proposed legislation to implement the revised accountability system for schools and school districts. Passed the Senate by a vote of 28 ayes – 2 nays (voted "no": Ableser and Dial). Passed the House by a vote of 55 ayes – 0 nays. Signed by Governor Ducey on March 26, 2015. HB2479 schools; fi nancial revisions (sponsor: Rep. Boyer) This bill was important because it provided the funding the ADE needed to administer the $40 million K-3 reading money to schools. Makes numerous school fi nance related changes including the following: Permits the Arizona Department of Education to use up to $500,000 of the amount appropriated for K-3 reading for technical assistance and state level administration of the K-3 Reading Program in FY 2016. Requires school district Class B bond indebtedness limits to be based on the value of the taxable property within the district rather than the taxable property used for secondary property tax purposes. Permits county school superintendents to make electronic transfers and allows student activities and auxiliary operation fund monies to be deposited with the county treasurer. Fixed an issue for the Casa Grande Soccer Club. Passed the Senate by a vote of 27 ayes – 3 nays (voted "no": Burges, D. Farnsworth and Lesko). Passed the House by a vote of 56 ayes – 0 nays. The bill was signed by Governor Ducey on April 10. SB1461 dyslexic pupils; schools; reading assistance (sponsor: Sen. Ward) Creates an exemption for "Move on When Reading" competency requirements for students who are in the process of a special education referral or evaluation for placement in special education or for students who have been diagnosed as having a signifi cant reading impairment (including dyslexia). Requires the State Board to adopt rules permitting teachers and administrators to count towards continuing education credits any training regarding screening, intervention, accommodation, use of technology and advocacy for students with reading impairments. Passed the House by a vote of 54 ayes – 1 nay (voted "no": J. Allen). Passed the Senate on fi nal pass by a vote of 28 ayes – 0 nays. Signed by Governor Ducey on March 26, 2015. PASSED PASSED THE GOOD: Bills We Passed PASSED