Education (Special Education)

introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1704: ESAs; children with disabilities; requirements

SB 1704 expands Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to specifically allow funds to cover education-related expenses for children with disabilities meeting certain criteria. It directly affects qualifying students with disabilities by permitting ESA funds to pay for services like licensed educational therapies, paraprofessionals, assistive technology, vocational training, and specialized evaluations. Key provisions include defining eligible expenses (such as therapy costs, assistive devices, and vocational education) and requiring annual education plans for students nearing age 22 to continue receiving funds. The bill does not change general ESA rules but adds targeted support for disability-related educational needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands ESA program to cover disability-related educational services, increasing access and funding for students with disabilities.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill permits ESA funds to cover licensed educational therapies and specialized evaluations (healthcare services), expanding access to healthcare for children with disabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education School Choice Special Education

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passed both · Arizona · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 1754: ADE; special education; parent complaints

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies complaint process for special education, enhancing accountability and access for students with disabilities, supporting educational quality and service delivery.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1698: ESAs; children with disabilities; evaluations

SB 1698 expands Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to cover specific educational services for students with disabilities. It allows ESA funds to pay for educational therapies, psychological evaluations, assistive technology, and vocational training when a student meets disability criteria under the law. The bill also requires annual education plans for students aged 21-22 to continue receiving funds, with reviews conducted by independent evaluation teams. This directly affects students with disabilities enrolled in the ESA program who qualify under the specified criteria. The policy change modifies allowable expenses under the existing ESA framework to include these disability-related services and extends eligibility through age 22.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded ESA program for disability services, increasing budget allocation for educational support under fiscal management92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands ESA funding to cover therapies, evaluations, and assistive tech for students with disabilities, increasing educational access and support for a specific student group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education School Choice Special Education Tags People with Disabilities

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introduced · Arizona · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 4048: military children; special education; enrollment

HB 4048 simplifies school enrollment for military-connected children with disabilities in Arizona when their parent is on active duty and relocating within the state. It allows schools to accept electronic applications and use military housing (like temporary on-base housing or leased homes) as proof of residency, eliminating standard residency barriers. Schools must immediately provide comparable special education services using the child's previous individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan, and develop a new IEP within 30 days of enrollment. This directly affects military families moving due to official orders, ensuring continuity of support without enrollment delays.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves residency barriers for military children with disabilities, ensures immediate special education continuity via previous IEP/504, expanding educational access for a vulnerable student group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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introduced · Arizona · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 4023: ethnic studies; academic standards; commission

HB 4023 requires Arizona's state board of education to include ethnic studies in social studies academic standards for all public schools. The bill primarily focuses on third-grade reading retention, mandating that students not meet state reading benchmarks cannot advance to fourth grade unless specific exemptions apply (e.g., English learners, special education needs, or demonstrated progress via approved assessments). It also requires schools to provide evidence-based reading interventions, offer parents multiple intervention options, and submit annual reports on retention and support strategies. While the bill references ethnic studies as part of social studies standards, its main provisions center on reading assessment, retention policies, and intervention requirements for K-3 students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires ethnic studies inclusion in social studies standards, directly enhancing curriculum diversity and educational access per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Special Education Testing & Assessment

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signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2621: public schools; special education; access

HB 2621 ensures students in unorganized territories (areas without established school districts) and homeschoolers with disabilities can access special education services. It requires school districts contacted by parents to conduct screenings, evaluations, and provide a free public education if a child qualifies under federal law. The bill mandates that tribal early intervention programs notify school superintendents when children turn 30 months to begin transition planning, and assigns the closest school district to evaluate children by their third birthday. Homeschoolers with disabilities retain federal rights to evaluations and equitable services, while the state education department must investigate violations and publish annual reports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands access to special education services for unorganized territories and homeschoolers with disabilities, mandating screenings, evaluations, and transition planning per federal law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2032: statewide assessment; testing window; revisions

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires 3rd graders to meet reading proficiency for promotion with evidence-based interventions, reinforcing academic standards for K-12 student advancement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Testing & Assessment

failed · Arizona · Senate Jun 11, 2026

SB 1009: high school students; AED training

SB 1009 requires Arizona high schools to provide all students with mandatory training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use during high school. The training must be age-appropriate, based on current national guidelines, and include hands-on practice (except for online students). Schools may accept donations for materials and must allow exemptions for students with parental consent, prior certification, or individualized education program accommodations. This policy directly affects all Arizona public high school students and mandates training through certified providers like EMTs, Red Cross representatives, or school staff.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mandatory CPR/AED training in high school curriculum, enhancing student health education programs and safety preparedness within K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates CPR/AED training in high schools as a public health initiative to improve emergency response and save lives, directly advancing healthcare preparedness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education

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