Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/543920
8 Summer 2015 | AEA Advocate AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL AT THE CAPIToL Continues on p. 26. SB1191 graduation; passing test score; moratorium (sponsor: Sen. Ward) A student is not required to obtain a passing score on a standardized test during the 2014- 2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 or the 2017-2018 school years in order to graduate from high school. This impacts students in high school who needed to retake the AIMS exam in order to pass all three content areas to graduate. There is an exemption that will continue to require students to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test (see HB2064) starting in the 2016-2017 school year. Passed the Senate by a vote of 26 ayes – 2 nays (voted "no": Kavanagh and Lesko). Passed the House by a vote of 55 ayes – 0 nays. Signed by Governor Ducey on February 20, 2015. HB2577 schools; teacher certifi cation (sponsor: Rep. Boyer) Provides fl exibility for teacher certifi cation requirements by extending the STEM teaching certifi cate to sixth grade (the certifi cate is currently 7-12, and this change will make it 6-12). For teachers applying for a reciprocal teaching certifi cate, the bill permits the State Board to grant for up to 3 years a basic or standard teaching certifi cate for a teacher who has not yet passed the AEPA (professional knowledge and subject knowledge) or taken the SEI training. Current law only permits a teaching certifi cate to be granted for the fi rst year only. This bill has an emergency clause on it which means it takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature. Passed the Senate by a vote of 27 ayes – 2 nays (voted "no": S. Allen and Lesko). Passed the House by a vote of 56 ayes – 0 nays. The bill was signed by Governor Ducey on April 13. HB2516 teachers; abuse prevention; continuing education (sponsor: Rep. Weninger) Allows awareness and prevention training for child abuse and the sexual abuse of children to count as continuing education credits for certifi cated teachers and administrators. Passed the House by a vote of 59 ayes – 0 nays. Passed the Senate by a vote of 29 ayes - 0 nays. The bill was signed by Governor Ducey on April 10. HB2567 school district budget errors; repayment (sponsor: Rep. Mitchell) Lowers from 10% to 5% the annual repayment amount that Saddle Mountain Unifi ed must pay back funds that the district overexpended in FYs 2004, 2005 and 2006. Passed the House by a vote of 54 ayes – 5 nays (voted "no": Bowers, Cobb, Farnsworth, Olson and Peterson). Passed the Senate by a vote of 24 ayes – 5 nays (voted "no": Biggs, Burges, D. Farnsworth and Yarbrough). The bill was signed by Governor Ducey on April 13. THE GOOD: Bills We Passed, cont. PASSED PASSED PASSED PASSED Rep. Eric Meyer speaks with members visiting the Arizona Legislature during spring break about the importance of having an educator presence at the Capitol.