ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
FINAL REVISED
Requires
Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center to administer the character
education matching grant program and requires the Arizona Department of
Education and the Arizona K-12 Center to evaluate all character education
programs. Prohibits schools from using
resources obtained from a character education grant as matching monies to obtain
a second character education grant.
Background
Legislation
adopted in 2000 established the character education matching grant program and
appropriated $200,000 annually to administer and maintain the program (Laws
2000, 44th Legislature, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 1). Any public or charter school that teaches a
character education curriculum is eligible to receive a state matching grant of
up to $1,500 each year. The Department
of Education is responsible for administering the program, including applying
for federal grants related to character education, and distributing the grants.
The
Arizona K-12 Center was created in 1999 by the Governor’s office. Legislation adopted in 2000 allocated money
from the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) block grant to the
Arizona K-12 Center to provide character education training through contracted
providers for persons less than 19 years of age and who are eligible for
receiving TANF or Arizona Works assistance (Laws 2000, 44th
Legislature, Second Regular Session, Chapter 393).
Currently, the Arizona K-12
Center is responsible for administering the TANF block grant money for
character education training, and the Arizona Department of Education is
responsible for administering the character education matching grant program,
including applying for federal character education grants and distributing that
money.
Provisions
1. Prohibits schools from using resources obtained from a character education grant as
matching monies to obtain a
second character education grant.
2. Requires the Department of Education to contract with and distribute monies for the character education matching grant program to Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center.
3. Requires Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center to administer the character education matching grant program and distribute the state matching grant monies.
4. Stipulates that character education programs must demonstrate proven and effective curriculum and training in order for schools to receive matching grant funds from the state.
5. Requires the Department of Education to work with Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center to evaluate the effectiveness of all character education programs funded by state and federal dollars.
6. Makes technical and clarifying changes.
7. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Requires the Department of Education to contract with and distribute monies for the character education matching grant program to Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center.
2. Requires Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center to administer the character education matching grant program and distribute the state matching grant monies.
3. Requires the Department of Education to work with Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center to evaluate the effectiveness of all character education programs funded by state and federal dollars.
Amendments
Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Removes the requirement that the Arizona K-12 Center at Northern Arizona University apply for all applicable character education grants from the federal government.
2. Stipulates that character education programs must demonstrate proven and effective curriculum and training in order for schools to receive matching grant funds from the state.
3. Makes clarifying changes.
Senate Action House Action
ED 1/25/01 DPA 8-0-0-0 ED 3/12/01 DP 10-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/7/01 23-7-0-0 3rd Read 4/9/01 47-11-2-0
Signed by the Governor 4/21/01
Chapter 174
Prepared by Senate Staff
May 1, 2001