This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts. It removes the stipulation that the scholarship account must be allocated according to a quarterly transfer schedule, allowing for monthly transfers instead. Additionally, it modifies the requirement for students to withdraw from their current school before enrolling in the scholarship program, clarifying that any school district or charter school withdrawal is necessary. The bill also introduces new provisions that require qualified schools to notify parents about the educational services provided to prospective students and mandates that schools report their graduation rates and excessive absences to the department.

Furthermore, the bill enhances accountability by ensuring that individuals providing tutoring or teaching services are not subject to disciplinary action by the state board of education. It also establishes that if a qualified student has an individualized education program or a section 504 plan, the school must provide the necessary accommodations unless waived by the parent or student. Lastly, it specifies that if a county school superintendent fails to provide a list of approved independent third parties, parents can obtain evaluations from qualified examiners, with costs covered by the scholarship account or the local school district if necessary.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2402, 15-2403, 15-766, 15-2401, 15-505, 15-534.04, 28-9551, 15-802, 15-185, 15-943, 35-190, 2020-2021, 35-113, 15-2401.01, 15-2404, 15-241