Chris Thomas, Director of Legal & Policy Services/General Counsel Arizona School Boards Association

Topics to Cover Today School Funding School Personnel School Vouchers & Privatization School Operations & Accountability Charters The “Out in Left Field” Bills Elections & Politics

School Funding Budget Talks $600 million one-time surplus Senate looking at $50 million for soft capital; House $37 total use for anything Cave Creek Unified School District v. Ducey Prop. 301 Inflation factor challenged Argued before Arizona Court of Appeals March 14 HB2826 (consolidated election dates; political subdivisions) Requires all political subdivisions to hold elections in November in even-numbered years: school districts have been removed from bill

School Funding HCR2005 Would require initiatives and referenda be reapproved by voters every 6 years; Prop. 301 would be up for vote in 2014 HCR2043 Would require 60% passage rate for bonds, overrides SCR1025 Limits increase in assessed value for property taxes to cash value or 5% higher than previous year Alternative to Prop. 13 Arizona Initiative All of these are waiting for coordinated approval

School Personnel Retirement Barnes v. ASRS HB2264 (ASRS; employee; employer contributions; rate) Paycheck Deductions UFCW v. Brewer (SB1365 from 2011)

School Personnel HB2497 (school teachers; multiyear contracts) Anderson v. Valley Union High School District No Court of Appeals jurisdiction for teachers looking to appeal

School Personnel Teacher and Principal Evaluations State Board of Education Teacher and Principal Evaluation Framework Response to 2010 legislation that requires all teacher and principal evaluations to contain at least 33%, and up to 50% of quantifiable data and implement it in the school year HB2823 (schools; teachers; principals; evaluation systems)

School Vouchers and Privatization Niehaus v. Huppenthal SB1553 from 2011; “Arizona Empowerment Accounts” Maricopa Superior Court found constitutional; appeal coming HB2626 (empowerment scholarship accounts; expansion) Allows any of the following to get an empowerment scholarship: a)Attends a school or school district that has been assigned a letter grade of “D” or “F” by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). b) Previously received an Arizona Scholarship for Pupils with Disabilities. c) Is the child or legal ward of a member of the United States Armed Forces. d) Has been identified as a gifted pupil. e) Previously attended a public school and was determined to be eligible to receive a scholarship from an STO. SB1047 (tax credit; student tuition organizations)

School Operations & Accountability Changes to 2010 Education Policy Measures Move On When Reading SB 1258 (third grade promotions; requirements; exceptions) School Labels (A-F) HB2622 (school rankings; display; time period) Flexibility v. Mandates

School Operations & Accountability Auditor General Dollars in Classroom Report Mandated by law to do every year Does not apply to charters Dollars not in the classroom inaccurately labeled administration

School Operations & Accountability SB1061 (national school lunch program; optional) Medical Marijuana Implementation HB2349 (medical marijuana; cardholder; campuses; prohibition) ELL Reform SB1033 (schools; ELL instruction; hourly requirements)

School Operations & Accountability Parent Trigger/School Reorganization SB 1204 (NOW: schools; parental options) which allows parents in a school that has been assigned a “D” or “F” to submit to the school district governing board a petition from at least 50% of parents, who must do one of the following: 1) close the school 2) convert it into a charter 3) fire the principal and bring in new leadership, with flexibility provided for staffing, calendars, budgeting, etc.

School Operations & Accountability School District Unification HB2075 (schools; consolidation; unification) Bullying New ASBA Policy SB1462 (schools; bullying policies; definition) U.S. Supreme Court denies hearing cases on issue of school authority to discipline students for online, off- campus activity

Charters Craven and Hobday lawsuits

Elections/Politics Friends of ASBA New Redistricting Maps Quality Education and Jobs Act Initiative led by Arizona Education Network, parents- group out of Tucson Continuance of 1 cent sales tax Would put $725 million into K-12 education Endorsed/supported by Friends of ASBA