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REFERENCE TITLE: competency‑based innovation pilot programs |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015
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SB 1244 |
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Introduced by Senator Dial
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AN ACT
AMENDING Title 15, chapter 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 8; relating to COMPETENCY-BASED INNOVATION PILOT PROGRAMS.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 8, to read:
ARTICLE 8. COMPETENCY‑BASED INNOVATION PILOT PROGRAMS
15-799. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Competency-based education" means a system that has sufficient flexibility to provide personalized instruction and flexible pacing for students and in which Students progress and credit is awarded when competency is demonstrated.
2. "Innovation pilot program" means a voluntary pilot program to improve student achievement through competency‑based education that is conducted by a school district or charter school that is approved by the state board of education.
15-799.01. Competency‑based innovation pilot programs; annual report
A. The state board of education may approve competency‑based Innovation pilot programs for the purposes of improving students' educational performance. Innovation pilot programs shall be provided flexibility from selected state and local laws, rules, policies and ordinances as permitted under this article in order to create a competency‑based system to meet the diverse needs of students. The state board of education shall adopt rules to prescribe the conditions and procedures to be used by school districts and charter schools for approval as an innovation pilot program and to provide general oversight of the innovation pilot programs, including the following:
1. The application, plan review, approval and amendment processes for a school district or charter school.
2. The rules that may be disregarded or modified for innovation pilot programs if approved by the state board of education.
3. Documentation of parental, community, educator and business support and the capacity of the school district or charter school.
4. Financial information relating to the budgets of applicants that demonstrate evidence of sound fiscal management practices and the ability to conduct the innovation pilot program.
5. Timelines for initial approval as an innovation pilot program, the renewal process and evaluative procedures required of a school district or charter school that conducts an innovation pilot program.
6. The revocation process for an innovation pilot program if the state board of education determines that the school district or charter school has not met the requirements of this article before the expiration of the pilot program.
B. The state board of education may select and enter into a five-year agreement with a private organization to operate and administer the competency-based innovation pilot program. The private organization may solicit monies from all lawful private and public sources to offset the costs of implementation and technical assistance. The private organization shall submit an annual report to the state board of education that summarizes the results of innovation pilot programs.
C. School districts and charter schools that are selected to participate in the innovation pilot program shall be initially approved to conduct a pilot program for three years. The state board of education may renew a previously approved pilot program for intervals of up to five additional years each.
15-799.02. Application requirements
A. School districts and charter schools that wish to participate in the innovation pilot program shall submit an application that demonstrates to the state board of education the manner in which the school district or charter school will transition to a competency-based system of teaching and learning with enough flexibility to provide all students the time, feedback and support to demonstrate competency in the state academic standards. An application to participate in the innovation pilot program shall include all of the following:
1. A description of the manner in which the school district or charter school will develop competencies that are aligned with the state standards and learning objectives, targets and progressions that allow students and parents to easily determine how individual students are progressing.
2. A description of the manner in which student progression through content, courses and performance levels will be determined by demonstrating that students have mastered the content.
3. A description of the method by which students will demonstrate mastery of the content, including the ability to apply content knowledge and skills before progressing to the next level of learning.
4. A description of a competency-based system of student formative and interim assessments that can be used to make decisions concerning student progression and credit awarded.
5. An acknowledgement that assessments must be aligned to the state standards and be accessible to all students.
6. An acknowledgment that participating school districts and charter schools must submit an assessment inventory to ensure that time and resources are maximized by not duplicating or adding any more assessments than necessary.
7. A description of a strategy and a plan for leveraging technology and using digital learning and blended learning technologies to enhance student learning and facilitate a competency-based system.
8. A description of a strategy and a plan to incorporate extended learning opportunities, including the awarding of credit for outside academic opportunities.
9. A List of goals, performance targets and performance measurements for the innovation pilot program that include increasing the number of students who are college and career-ready. Performance measurements may include student achievement, student growth, closing achievement gaps and graduation rates, as measured by a statewide assessment.
10. For school districts, a list of schools that will participate in the innovation pilot program.
11. Detailed information regarding the rationale and the anticipated benefits for requests for flexibility and exemptions from selected state and local laws, rules, policies and ordinances.
12. Documentation of the fiscal and human resources that the school district or charter school will provide during the innovation pilot program.
13. Any other information the state board of education requires.
B. School districts and charter schools that participate in the innovation pilot program shall follow all health, safety, civil rights and disability rights requirements prescribed by law.
15-799.03. Exemption and flexibility requests
A. In order to implement the requirements of the innovation pilot program, a participating school district or charter school may request from the state board of education an exemption from or flexibility in selected state and local laws, rules, policies and ordinances as prescribed in this section.
B. To allow for more personalized pathways and flexible schedules to meet the needs of individual students, a participating school district or charter school may request an exemption from any time-based requirements, including:
1. Requirements that require a prescribed amount of seat-time to earn credit or progress through school.
2. Time-based attendance reporting requirements, annual calendars and fixed amounts of instructional minutes each day.
C. A participating school district or charter school may request an exemption from any state or local specific requirements for formative and interim assessments that are not necessary or appropriate for a competency‑based system. State assessments shall continue to be used to benchmark and validate program implementation and the participation of the pilot program participants in the state accountability system.
D. A participating school district or charter school may request scheduling flexibility in state testing schedules and other assessment policies.
E. The state board of education may provide an exemption from grade‑based and subject-based certification and highly qualified requirements to a participating school district or charter school to facilitate innovative models of course delivery and instruction.
F. A participating school district or charter school may design more flexible or interdisciplinary classes and groupings of students, which may necessitate proposals of alternative definitions for a teacher of record as well as alternative sources of performance data to be used for educator evaluations.
G. Personnel contracts for a participating school district or charter school may be reevaluated to ensure that innovation is not inhibited through prescriptive assignment requirements or maximum instructional time mandates.
H. A participating school district or charter school may request alternative textbook and curriculum adoption processes and selections.
I. A participating school district or charter school may request alternative procurement procedures.
J. The state board of education shall provide an opportunity for school districts and charter schools to request flexibility for any other existing policy barriers and shall establish a process for participating school districts and charter schools to seek amendments to a previously approved application for the innovation pilot program.
K. This state shall facilitate the recognition of the innovation pilot program by universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents and community colleges under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board in this state and ensure that these postsecondary educational institutions recognize diplomas and credits for students who participate in the innovation pilot program.