Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024
A. The State Board of Education shall select
board examination systems that may be used by traditional public schools and
charter schools in accordance with the requirements of this Section. Board
examination systems selected by the State Board of Education shall:
1. Be approved by an interstate compact on
board examination systems,
2. Be
periodically modified to reflect core standards selected by an interstate
compact on board examination systems,
3. Be aligned to State Board of Education
approved academic standards,
4.
Have common passing scores that are prescribed by an interstate compact on
board examination systems that are set to the level of literacy required to
succeed in college-level courses offered by community colleges in this state
that count toward a degree or certificate without taking remedial or
developmental coursework.
B. The State Board of Education shall
contract with a private organization to act as primary administrator of
approved board examination systems. The private organization shall:
1. Identify, select and contract with a
national organization that is devoted to issues concerning education and the
economy and that is selected by the State Board of Education to provide
technical services to develop and maintain an interstate system of approved
board examination systems.
2.
Provide data and other information to a national organization that is devoted
to issues concerning education and the economy and that is selected by the
State Board of Education to provide technical services the national
organization deems necessary to set appropriate performance standards for
students in this state. The Department of Education shall provide data and
other information to the private organization, as necessary.
3. Conduct technical studies required by the
State Board of Education to compare the scores on approved board examinations
by the students in this state to scores on the Arizona Instrument to Measure
Standards Test and other measures deemed necessary to ensure the efficacy of
the approved board examinations. The private organization may contract with
other entities that are selected by the State Board of Education for the
purpose of conducting technical studies.
4. In cooperation with the Superintendent of
Public Instruction and the State Board of Education, solicit monies from all
lawful private and public sources, including federal monies, to offset the
costs of instruction provided to students pursuant to this Section.
5. Exercise general supervision over the
implementation of the approved board examination systems in this
state.
6. Prepare an annual report
for the State Board of Education, which shall forward it to the legislature and
the governor, on the progress made toward the goals established in A.R.S. Title
15, Chapter 7, Article 6. Participating schools and the Department of Education
shall provide data to the private organization as needed in order to complete
the annual report.
7. Identify,
select and represent this state on the national governing body of an interstate
compact on board examination systems, as approved by the State Board of
Education.
8. Select this state's
representatives in an interstate compact on board examination systems in
accordance with the policies prescribed by that interstate compact.
9. Develop the Grand Canyon Diploma to be
approved and adopted by the State Board of Education.
C. The Department of Education shall develop
a system, subject to State Board of Education approval, to track the academic
progress of pupils who participate in board examination systems.
D. School districts or charter schools
wishing to implement an approved board examination in one or more schools
shall:
1. Send written notice to the private
organization described in this Section indicating that school district's or
charter school's interest in implementing an approved board examination
system,
2. Submit an implementation
plan to the private organization described in this Section that includes at
least the following elements:
a. The specific
approved board examination system the school district wishes to
implement;
b. A proposed timeline
for the implementation of an approved board examination system;
c. A description of the funding model that
will be employed to ensure the sustainability of the approved board examination
system offering;
d. A communication
plan for students and parents that provides an overview of the selected
approved board examination system, potential course offerings, a description of
student support systems, and contact information for students and parents to
obtain more detailed information regarding board examination systems and the
Grand Canyon Diploma option, as defined in R7-2-315.01.
E. Upon receipt of an
implementation plan described in this Section the private organization shall
work cooperatively with the applicable school district or charter school to
ensure that the plan is feasible and to modify any elements of the plan deemed
necessary for successful implementation of the approved board examination
system.
