HB 2764 establishes a voluntary Arizona state seal to recognize high school students who demonstrate computer science proficiency upon graduation. Participating public school districts or charter schools will add this seal to diplomas and note it on transcripts for students meeting state-set minimum requirements. The superintendent of public instruction will create the seal and collaborate with the state board of education to define the proficiency standards. This program affects only students in schools that choose to join, with no mandatory participation for districts or schools.
HB 2032 requires Arizona third graders to demonstrate sufficient reading skills on the statewide assessment to advance to fourth grade. If a student does not meet this standard, they may be retained, but only if test data is available and they haven't been retained before. The bill allows exceptions for English learners, students with special education needs (including dyslexia), or those showing progress through approved assessments. Schools must offer multiple evidence-based reading interventions, provide detailed parent notifications about reading deficiencies, and report retention and intervention data to the state education department. This bill directly affects third graders, Arizona public schools, and their parents.
SB 1754 clarifies Arizona's process for handling parent complaints about school districts' special education services. It requires the state education department to post complaint investigation reports online within 60 days (after redacting personal information), excluding them from "student level data" rules. The bill defines when complaints are "does-not-qualify" (e.g., if the student isn't a child with a disability or allegations don't violate special education laws). It also mandates that department policies for complaint handling include public comment periods starting December 2026. This directly affects parents filing complaints, school districts responding to them, and the state education department managing the process.
HB 2033 requires Arizona's state board of education to implement uniform statewide assessments in reading, writing, and math for at least four grades annually, while prohibiting assessments that promote sectarian or partisan views. It mandates collecting specific nontest data (like graduation/dropout rates by ethnicity) through surveys of school staff, with strict privacy protections under FERPA. The bill allows students to opt out of district assessments if they provide scores from nationally recognized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT) before testing begins. Additionally, it permits written tests for students with IEPs/504 plans, religious accommodations, or parent requests. This directly affects public schools, students, and educators by standardizing testing requirements and data collection.
HB 2370 amends Arizona's charter school laws to strengthen background checks for school staff. It requires all charter school applicants and personnel with student contact (including teachers, administrators, and governing board members) to undergo fingerprint-based criminal background checks before employment. The bill mandates that charter schools verify applicants have valid fingerprint clearance cards issued under Arizona law, and schools must report arrests for certain offenses involving staff with clearance cards. This directly affects charter school applicants, staff, and sponsors by adding specific screening requirements before charter approval and hiring. (Note: The bill title mentions "weapons detection systems," but the actual text focuses solely on background checks, not security technology.)
HB 2378 establishes a School Facilities Oversight Board to review and oversee public school construction and renovation projects in Arizona. The board, composed of 10 appointed members including taxpayer representatives, architects, engineers, construction company owners, and business community members, must maintain geographic and public-private balance. The bill requires the state division to set policies for expediting change order approvals (within two business days), annually notifying school districts about available funding through a public website, and maintaining a list of facilities management contacts at each district.
This bill allows Arizona to participate in a federal tax credit program, enabling individuals to claim a credit for contributions to qualified scholarship organizations. Starting in 2027, certified Arizona scholarship groups can provide funds for elementary and secondary education expenses, such as tuition or materials, under federal law. The state’s Department of Education must certify these organizations, maintain a public list of them, and submit annual reports to the federal government to maintain eligibility. The bill does not create new scholarships but aligns Arizona with existing federal tax incentives for education-related donations.
HB 2117 redirects $17 of the $25 annual fee for Arizona's environmental special license plates into a dedicated fund. The state natural resource conservation board will distribute $5,000 to $10,000 annually to each natural resource conservation district with an established education center. These funds must support environmental education programs that are scientifically based and address economic and social implications. The bill specifies that funds are exclusively for conservation education programs at local districts, without changing the plate fee structure.
HB 2575 prohibits public schools, teachers, and administrators in Arizona from teaching, promoting, or requiring students to advocate for antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct that creates a hostile school environment. The bill bans using public funds for curriculum, training, or materials promoting antisemitism, and protects staff who refuse to teach such material from adverse employment actions. Violations can be reported to school officials, with investigations leading to corrective actions within 30 days, and repeated violations by educators may result in formal reprimands, certificate suspensions, or revocation. The law directly affects public school staff, curriculum decisions, and funding allocations related to classroom instruction.
SB 1430, the "Tax Corrections Act of 2026," amends Arizona's retail tax code to clarify and correct exemptions from the sales tax. It adds 25 specific exemptions, including sales of medical equipment (like prosthetics, hearing aids, and durable medical devices), prescription drugs, food, textbooks, and nonprofit sales. This directly affects businesses selling these items by ensuring they are exempt from the tax, resolving prior ambiguities in the code. The bill is a technical correction to the tax code, not a change in tax rates or policy.