The proposed bill seeks to amend current statutes related to adult education programs in Arizona by eliminating the scheduled repeal date of June 30, 2025, thereby removing the July 1, 2025, repeal date for the Continuing High School Program, the Adult Diploma Program, and the Community College Program and allowing these programs to continue indefinitely. It also aims to increase the enrollment cap for the Continuing High School Program from 500 to 780 students and appropriates $6 million each for the Continuing High School Program, the Adult Diploma Program, and the Community College Program from the state General Fund for FY 2026. Additionally, the bill enhances reporting requirements for the Adult Diploma Program by mandating that providers report the number of enrolled students for whom monthly milestone invoices have been submitted or not submitted. It removes the requirement for an adult learner to participate in integrated education and training and specifies that Community College Program Fund monies must be used to increase the school's capacity to provide adult education and literacy. The bill also modifies the maximum projected full-time enrollment for program schools, adjusts funding mechanisms, and increases the funding per full-time student from $3,000 to $5,000, with funds distributed quarterly based on the number of adult learners served. Overall, these updates aim to strengthen and secure funding for adult education initiatives while enhancing oversight and support.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-217.01, 15-217.02, 15-217.03, 15-701.01, 15-756, 15-756.05, 15-802, 15-827, 15-828, 15-241, 15-945, 15-808, 15-943, 15-217, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 35-190
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-217.01, 15-217.02, 15-217.03, 15-701.01, 15-756, 15-756.05, 15-802, 15-827, 15-828, 15-241, 15-945, 15-808, 15-943, 15-217, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 35-190