ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
charter schools; dropouts
Allows the State Board of Education to sponsor
charter schools for high school dropouts that emphasize obtaining a general equivalency
diploma (GED) for pupils. Requires the
course curriculum to be classroom based and comparable to the curriculum
offered at other public high schools in Arizona.
In 1994, charter
schools were authorized in Arizona.
Charter schools are public schools created by contract between a sponsor
and a public or private organization or individual. Charter schools may obtain sponsorship from the State Board of
Education State Board for Charter Schools, or a local school district governing
board. The contract, or charter,
between the sponsor and the charter school must include specific information
regarding the charter school’s operations and must ensure its compliance with
all relevant federal, state and local laws. The sponsoring entity has oversight
and administrative responsibility for the charter schools it sponsors.
State law requires a charter school to provide for a comprehensive program of instruction for at least a kindergarten program or any grade between grades one and twelve, except that a charter school may offer this curriculum with an emphasis on a specific learning philosophy or style or certain subject areas such as mathematics, science, fine arts, performance arts or foreign language (A.R.S. 14-183). S.B. 1311 allows the State Board of Education to sponsor charter schools for high school dropouts that emphasize obtaining a GED for pupils who are enrolled at these charter high schools.
There is no discernible fiscal impact to the
state general fund associated with this legislation.
1. Allows the State Board of Education to sponsor
charter schools for high school dropouts that emphasize obtaining a GED for
pupils who are enrolled at these charter schools.
2. Requires the course curriculum at these charter
schools to be classroom based and comparable to the curriculum offered at other
public high schools in Arizona.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 11, 2002