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 of calculating equalization assistance through base support level (BSL) and charter additional assistance (CAA). Specifically, the bill mandates that charter school equalization assistance be calculated using the SSF formula, which combines BSL with state additional assistance (SAA) amounts, while eliminating the previous per-student CAA amounts. Additionally, it removes the requirement for certain charter schools to reduce their BSL based on prior funding received from traditional public schools.

For school districts, the bill allows those that choose to adopt the SSF formula to include SAA instead of district additional assistance (DAA) in their equalization assistance, setting specific support level ratio thresholds for qualification. It outlines a process for districts to elect the SSF formula, including voter approval in certain cases, and prohibits districts using the SSF formula from receiving DAA or applying for certain funding types. The bill also modifies definitions related to district support levels and revenue control limits, clarifies tax rate calculations, and updates provisions regarding the Arizona empowerment scholarship account, ultimately aiming to streamline funding processes and enhance equity in educational funding.

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