pilot program; STEM teachers; districts

SB 1631 establishes a pilot program in Arizona for STEM and vocational teachers in qualifying high school districts. It provides eligible teachers with $6,000 summer stipends for three years (2025-2026 through 2027-2028) to participate in paid internships at local companies, professional development, and peer learning, all facilitated through nonprofit partnerships. The program targets districts meeting strict criteria: serving grades 9-12, having at least 25,000 students (75% eligible for free/reduced lunch and 80% Hispanic), operating 24+ sites in high-population counties, and offering bioscience/coding programs. Participating districts must submit detailed quarterly and annual reports on teacher retention, student performance, business partnerships, and program costs to the state education department.