ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
alternative
education programs; attendance hours
Allows school districts that operate alternative schools and charter schools operating under approved alternative calendars to count students attending 20 hours of instruction per week as full-time students.
Current statute allows school districts and charter schools to operate on an approved alternative calendar. Under this system, the school district governing board may enter into contracts to provide alternative education programs. With the approval of a student’s parent or guardian, a school district superintendent may recommend a student to be placed in an alternative education program. These programs include a modified course of study, teaching methods, materials and techniques that are intended to provide an education to students in grades six through 12 who are unable to profit from a regular course of study. Funding for alternative programs is based upon student attendance and is formula driven.
In 2001, legislation was adopted to address the five year phase-in of additional school days and modified the definition of “full-time instructional program.” The legislation defined such a program as at least four subjects meeting a minimum of 120 hours per year. For FYs 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, each subject is required to meet at least 122 hours. In FY 2003-2004 and each following fiscal year, each subject is required to meet at least 123 hours. For grades nine, ten and eleven, a “full-time instructional program” is required to meet at least 885 hours in FY 2002-2003, 890 hours in FY 2003-2004 and 895 hours in FY 2004-2005. In FY 2005-2006 and each fiscal year thereafter, a high school program is required to meet at for least 900 hours.
H.B. 2484 allows school districts and charter schools operating on an approved alternative calendar to count pupils as full-time if the pupil attended at least 20 hours of instruction per week. Additionally, this measure requires alternative schools and charter schools to meet the required annual hours of instruction and revises the definition of a full-time instructional program.
According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee fiscal note, there is a negative fiscal impact to the state general fund of up to $31.2 million relative to current law for FY 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. There would be no fiscal impact relative to current budget projections for FY 2002-2003 and FY 2003-2004 because those projections already assume that alternative education students count as full-time students if they receive at least 20 hours of instruction per week.
1. Allows school districts operating alternative schools and charter schools operating on approved alternative calendars to count students as full time for and week the student attended 20 hours of instruction.
2. Requires school districts operating alternative schools and charter schools operating on approved alternative calendars to comply with the annual instructional hour requirement for a full-time instructional program.
3. Repeals the current definition of a “full-time instructional program.”
4. Defines, through FY 2000-2001, a “full-time instructional program” as one including at least four subjects, each of which, if taught for the minimum number of days, would meet at least 120 hours or one or more subjects taught at 20 hours per week.
5. Establishes, for FY 2001-2002 through FY 2005-2006, the required total program hours and the individual subject hour requirement for a “full-time instructional program.” Stipulates a “full-time instructional program” may include one or more subjects taught for at least 20 hours per week. See table below.
Fiscal Year |
Total Hours |
Subject Hours |
|
2001-2002 |
704 |
122 |
|
2002-2003 |
708 |
122 |
|
2003-2004 |
712 |
123 |
|
2004-2005 |
716 |
123 |
|
2005-2006 |
720 |
123 |
6. Provides for a general effective date.
ED 2/11/02 DP 8-0-0-2-0
APPROP 4/02/02 DPA 14-0-0-2-0
3rd Read 4/08/02 50-0-10-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
April 16, 2002