Before the House Education Committee began on Monday, Feb. 10, people shared what brought them there – concerns about services and support for low-income students, how ACES – adverse childhood experiences – impact students and the Project Rocket pilot expansion to help students in low performing schools.

At the meeting, House Education Committee members discussed 13 bills that would affect students, teachers and staff in Arizona’s elementary through high schools.

Video by Morgan Willis/ AZEdNews: #LegislativeLegit: ACES and Project Rocket 2/10/2020

The House Education Committee gave a due pass recommendation on Monday on House Bill 2360 on evaluations for vocational and technical education with 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present and 3 absent; HB 2443 on projects funding career and technical education with 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present and 2 absent; HB 2762 with two amendments on appropriations for the Project Rocket pilot program with 9 ayes, 2 nays, 1 present and 1 absent, which Arizona School Boards Association supports; and HB 2387 on a continuing high school program with 11 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present and 1 absent.

For more information on Project Rocket, click here.

The House Education Committee also approved 10-0 HB 2019 on agreements between career and technical education districts, which ASBA supports; nonprofits and postsecondary institutions; HB 2105 on schools and reduced child care fees with a vote of 10-0, which ASBA supports; and HB 2678 on elections for career and technical education districts’ governing boards, on which ASBA is neutral.

The House Ed Committee also gave a due pass recommendation to HB 2741 as amended on career and technical education districts’ fourth year funding with a 12-0 vote, which ASBA supports; HB 2106 on audits of school financial records and budgets, on which ASBA is neutral; HB 2222 on funding for career and technical education districts’ internships by a 13-0 vote, which ASBA supports; HB 2381 on excluding career and technical education districts from letter grades with a vote of 11-0, which ASBA supports; HB 2484 on career information and the Department of Education with a vote of 10-0, ASBA is monitoring this bill; and HB 2639 on a public service scholarship fund with a vote of 10-1-1, ASBA is monitoring this bill.

In addition, in floor action in the House of Representatives, HB 2013 on student promotions, sponsored by Rep. John Fillmore, (R-LD 16) failed with a vote of 29-31, ASBA is opposed to this bill.

The House Education Committee held HB 2206 on school dress codes for graduation ceremonies and HB 2296 on an increase in Arizona health education centers for another meeting.

What’s happened in the Senate Education Committee

The Senate Education Committee met at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 with seven bills on their agenda.

The Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 1023 which passed as a strike-everything amendment 9 to 0, ASBA is neutral on this bill; SB 1356 on a passing score on the civics test by a 9 to 0 vote, ASBA is neutral on this bill; SB 1393 on appropriations for education programs in county jails with a 9 to 0 vote, which ASBA supports; SB 1444 excused absences for mental health on a 9 to 0 vote, which ASBA is neutral on; SB 1445 on suicide training for school employees on a vote of 9 to 0, which ASBA is neutral on; SB 1454 on a dual enrollment incentive program on a vote of 9 to 0, which ASBA supports; SB 1491 on appropriations for dyslexia and literacy screening on a vote of 9 to 0, which ASBA supports.

The Senate Education Committee held SB 1169 appropriation for a school health program, SB 1448 on a required posting of abuse hotline information, and SB 1503 on electronic communications between pupils and school employees.

More information about bills

Information about education bills moving through the Arizona House and Senate is courtesy of Arizona School Boards Association‘s Governmental Relations team.

You can click here to sign up here for their Daily In Session Update email.

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