Chris Thomas, Director of Legal & Policy Services/General Counsel

Arizona School Boards Association

Topics to Cover TodaySchool Funding

School Personnel

School Vouchers & Privatization

School Operations & Accountability

ChartersThe “Out in Left Field” Bills

Elections & Politics

School FundingBudget Talks

$600 million one-time surplusSenate looking at $50 million for soft capital; House

$37 total use for anythingCave Creek Unified School District v. Ducey

Prop. 301 Inflation factor challengedArgued 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 FundingHCR2005

Would require initiatives and referenda be reapproved by voters every 6 years; Prop. 301 would be up for vote in 2014

HCR2043Would require 60% passage rate for bonds,

overridesSCR1025

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 PersonnelRetirement

Barnes v. ASRSHB2264 (ASRS; employee; employer

contributions; rate)Paycheck Deductions

UFCW v. Brewer (SB1365 from 2011)

School PersonnelHB2497 (school teachers; multiyear

contracts)Anderson v. Valley Union High School

DistrictNo Court of Appeals jurisdiction for teachers

looking to appeal

School PersonnelTeacher 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 2012-2013 school year

HB2823 (schools; teachers; principals; evaluation systems)

School Vouchers and PrivatizationNiehaus 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 & AccountabilityChanges 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 ReportMandated by law to do every yearDoes not apply to chartersDollars not in the classroom inaccurately

labeled administration

School Operations & AccountabilitySB1061 (national school lunch program;

optional)Medical Marijuana Implementation

HB2349 (medical marijuana; cardholder; campuses; prohibition)

ELL ReformSB1033 (schools; ELL instruction; hourly

requirements)

School Operations & AccountabilityParent 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 & AccountabilitySchool District Unification

HB2075 (schools; consolidation; unification)Bullying

New ASBA PolicySB1462 (schools; bullying policies; definition)U.S. Supreme Court denies hearing cases on

issue of school authority to discipline students for online, off-campus activity

ChartersCraven and Hobday lawsuits

Elections/PoliticsFriends of ASBANew Redistricting MapsQuality Education and Jobs Act

Initiative led by Arizona Education Network, parents-group out of Tucson

Continuance of 1 cent sales taxWould put $725 million into K-12 educationEndorsed/supported by Friends of ASBA