The proposed bill would significantly update current statutes related to school funding in Arizona by introducing a new state student funding formula (SSF formula) for charter schools, which would replace the existing method that combines the base support level (BSL) and charter additional assistance (CAA). Specifically, the bill would establish the SSF formula to be calculated by adding a school district's or charter school's BSL to prescribed state additional assistance (SAA) amounts, with specific per-student amounts set for different educational levels. It would also remove the specified per-student CAA amounts and require charter school equalization assistance to be calculated according to the SSF formula. For school districts, the bill would allow districts to elect to use the SSF formula, which includes SAA instead of district additional assistance (DAA), and set specific support level ratios that must be exceeded in certain fiscal years to qualify for this formula. Additionally, the bill would remove the requirement for certain charter schools to reduce their BSL based on prior year funding and specify that districts using the SSF formula cannot receive DAA or apply for certain types of funding. It would also update definitions and provisions related to funding calculations, including the district support level and revenue control limit, to align with the new funding formula. The bill aims to streamline funding processes and provide clearer guidelines for both charter schools and school districts, while also establishing new eligibility criteria for districts opting into the SSF formula and modifying the calculation of funds for Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts. Overall, these changes are designed to enhance the clarity and efficiency of school finance in Arizona.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-185, 15-808, 15-901, 15-901.04, 15-924, 15-947, 15-971, 15-992, 15-2402, 41-1276, 15-943, 15-941, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 15-1042, 15-855, 15-973, 15-823, 15-308, 15-183, 15-512, 42-5029, 42-5029.02, 37-521, 15-792.02, 15-481, 15-482, 15-401, 15-402, 16-204, 15-910, 15-946, 15-949, 15-954, 15-995, 41-5741, 15-961, 15-391, 15-393, 15-701.01, 15-901.08, 15-447.01, 15-797, 15-495, 15-816.01, 15-761, 15-902.04, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 15-944, 15-765, 15-751, 15-752, 15-753, 15-501, 15-771, 15-945, 2021-2022, 15-943.01, 15-976, 15-825, 15-1204, 15-905, 15-825.01, 15-974, 15-910.01, 15-964, 15-447, 15-255, 15-904, 15-766, 15-767, 35-173, 15-972, 15-907, 42-16213, 42-17151, 15-2403, 15-2401, 15-505, 15-534.04, 28-9551, 15-802, 35-190, 2020-2021, 35-113, 15-2401.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-185, 15-808, 15-901, 15-901.04, 15-924, 15-947, 15-971, 15-992, 15-2402, 41-1276, 15-943, 15-941, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 15-1042, 15-855, 15-973, 15-823, 15-308, 15-183, 15-512, 42-5029, 42-5029.02, 37-521, 15-792.02, 15-481, 15-482, 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030, 15-401, 15-402, 16-204, 15-910, 15-946, 15-949, 15-954, 15-995, 41-5741, 15-961, 15-391, 15-393, 15-701.01, 15-901.08, 15-447.01, 15-797, 15-495, 15-816.01, 15-761, 15-902.04, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 15-944, 15-765, 15-751, 15-752, 15-753, 15-501, 15-771, 15-945, 2021-2022, 15-943.01, 15-976, 15-825, 15-1204, 15-905, 15-825.01, 15-974, 15-910.01, 15-964, 15-447, 15-255, 15-904, 15-766, 15-767, 35-173, 15-972, 15-907, 42-16213, 42-17151, 15-2403, 15-2401, 15-505, 15-534.04, 28-9551, 15-802, 35-190, 2020-2021, 35-113, 15-2401.01