SB 1502 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

literacy endorsement; curricula; special education

SB 1502 requires Arizona teachers providing literacy instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade - including those in special education programs for students with mild or moderate disabilities - to earn a literacy endorsement by 2025 (for new teachers) or 2028 (for current teachers). The endorsement mandates evidence-based science of reading training and a passing assessment covering foundational skills, materials, and interventions for reading deficiencies. Teachers may bypass formal coursework by demonstrating proficiency through classroom observations and student data verified by their school district. The bill also requires educator preparation programs in elementary, early childhood, and special education to include literacy endorsement coursework starting in 2022.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Signed May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Engrossed Version → Chaptered Version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was finalized as Chapter 141, adding new requirements for teacher certification and reading instruction in Arizona. It establishes a literacy endorsement for teachers in K-5, mandates dyslexia screening for all students, and expands exemptions for subject-matter expert teachers. The changes strengthen evidence-based reading instruction standards and create new pathways for alternative teacher certification.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from teacher certification requirements to include mandatory dyslexia screening, curriculum evaluation, and new exemptions for subject-matter expert teachers in grades 6-12.

REQUIREMENT

Added a literacy endorsement requirement for all certificated teachers providing literacy instruction in kindergarten through grade five, effective August 1, 2025, with existing teachers needing the endorsement by August 1, 2028.

Added mandatory dyslexia screening for all students in kindergarten and grades one through three within 45 days of enrollment, including specific assessment components like phonological awareness and rapid naming skills.

Modified teacher certification requirements to allow certificates to be renewed for up to 12 years with a maximum of 15 continuing education credits annually, reducing previous renewal frequency.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate for persons with expertise in content areas, exempting them from subject knowledge proficiency requirements with a two-year grace period.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for school districts to verify teacher reading knowledge through classroom observations and student achievement data as an alternative to completing literacy endorsement coursework.

TIMELINE

Added specific implementation dates: literacy endorsement effective August 1, 2025; dyslexia screening requirements effective August 1, 2022; and curriculum evaluation requirements effective August 1, 2022.

Introduced Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 8 edits · Mar 5, 2025

MODERATE

This bill establishes a new literacy endorsement requirement for teachers instructing in kindergarten through fifth grade, mandates dyslexia screening protocols, and expands special education teacher training requirements. The changes aim to improve reading instruction quality by ensuring teachers have specific evidence-based training in the science of reading.

Scope change

The bill now applies literacy endorsement requirements specifically to teachers providing instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade, with a phase-in timeline starting August 1, 2025.

REQUIREMENT

New literacy endorsement requirement for teachers instructing in kindergarten through fifth grade, requiring completion of evidence-based science of reading training and passing a literacy instruction assessment.

New requirement for all approved educator preparation programs in elementary education and special education to include courses necessary to obtain the literacy endorsement.

Mandatory dyslexia screening for all students in kindergarten and first grade within 45 days of school year start or enrollment.

Schools must develop and adopt evidence-based reading curricula including essential components of reading instruction for kindergarten through third grade.

New provision allowing local education agencies to verify teacher literacy knowledge through classroom observations and student achievement data, exempting verified teachers from coursework requirements.

Requirement for dyslexia screening plan to include specific assessments: phonological awareness, rapid naming, sound-letter correspondence, nonsense word fluency, and sound symbol recognition.

TIMELINE

Teachers receiving certificates after August 1, 2025 must obtain literacy endorsement within three years; those with existing certificates must obtain it by August 1, 2028.

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'evidence-based reading research' with specific criteria for statistical significance and study design requirements.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2025 · House Apr 30, 2025

How they voted

29–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 30

Mar 5, 2025

D Democratic13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

R Republican17

17 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 7, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor

executive

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors