The proposed bill would update current statutes related to K-12 education funding and program administration in Arizona by increasing the base level for basic state aid from $5,013.00 to $5,113.26 for FY 2026, and adjusting charter additional assistance amounts. It would also modify the transportation support level formula and establish new eligibility criteria for small school adjustments targeting districts in counties with populations between 200,000 and 210,000. Additionally, oversight of the Adult Workforce Diploma Program and the Community College Adult Education Workforce Development Program would be transferred from the State Board of Education to the Office of Economic Opportunity, along with the introduction of new performance measures and the requirement for public high schools to provide automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Moreover, the bill would establish a minimum grant amount of $150 per enrolled or projected grade nine student, with a cap of 22,650 funded students for FY 2026, and no funding for grants starting in FY 2027. It would delay the repeal of the Early Education and Career Exploration Program and Fund to June 30, 2026, extend ADE's reporting deadline, and authorize the use of the Failing Schools Tutoring Fund for school improvements. The bill also emphasizes the need for school districts to supplement existing programs with grant funds, introduces new provisions for adult education and workforce development, and mandates annual reporting from community colleges on relevant metrics. Overall, these updates aim to enhance educational opportunities, safety, and accountability within Arizona's educational system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-120.07, 15-185, 15-217, 15-249.08, 15-901, 15-945, 41-1276, 36-2261, 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, 41-5421, 41-5422, 2025-2026, 2026-2027, 35-190, 15-901.08, 15-808, 15-447.01, 15-797, 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, 15-971, 15-946, 15-881, 15-925, 42-17151, 15-447