Assigned to ED                                                                                       FOR CAUCUS & FLOOR ACTION

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1172

 

schools; character education

 

Purpose

 

            Directs 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.      Directs Northern Arizona University’s Arizona K-12 Center to administer the character education matching grant program and distribute the state matching grant monies.

 

4.      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.

 

5.      Makes technical changes.

 

6.      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.      Directs 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.

 

Senate Action

 

ED                   1/25/01            DPA    8-0-0-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 30, 2001