The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to special education services for children with disabilities. It would allow an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine that a student may continue to receive special education and related services until the end of the school year in which they turn 22 years old. Additionally, it prohibits school district governing boards or county school superintendents from requiring students to graduate before the graduation date set by their IEP team. The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) would also be restricted from penalizing schools or withholding funds for providing special education services to high school students beyond the traditional four-year period if their IEP extends their graduation timeline.

Furthermore, the bill would ensure that students who graduate in their fifth, sixth, or seventh year are counted equally in school performance metrics as those who graduate in four years. It also makes technical corrections and updates to the language regarding the accountability system for schools, ensuring that the methodology used for determining school performance is research-based. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the support and educational opportunities for students with disabilities while ensuring that schools are not financially penalized for accommodating these students' needs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-241, 15-764, 15-977, 15-741, 15-741.02, 15-756, 15-756.05, 15-761, 15-746, 15-808, 42-5029, 42-5029.02