HB 2026
Initials CH Page 1 Transmitted
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: ED DPA/SE 9-1-0-0 | 3rd Read 46-13-1-0
Senate: ED DP 7-0-1-0 | 3rd Read 26-1-3-0
HB 2026: literacy endorsement; noncertificated teachers
NOW: early literacy; reading plans
Sponsor: Representative Udall, LD 25
Transmitted to the Governor
Overview
Instructs an A or B letter grade school district or charter school (school) to annually submit an
updated K-3 reading program plan. Specifies promotion and retention procedures for a 3rd grade
student who does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills.
History
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) administers the K-3 reading program to improve the
reading proficiency of students in kindergarten programs and the 1st-3rd grades. Statute requires
each school to submit an initial K-3 reading plan that includes baseline data on the reading
proficiency of the school's students. Currently, C, D and F letter grade schools must annually
submit an updated K-3 reading program plan to ADE by October 1st. A and B letter grade schools
must submit an updated K-3 reading program plan in odd-numbered years (A.R.S. § 15-211).
The State Board of Education is required to prescribe competency requirements for the promotion
of students from the 3rd grade. A 3rd grade student may not be promoted if the student obtains a
score on the reading portion of the statewide assessment that does not demonstrate sufficient
reading skills. However, statute establishes a mechanism for these students to be promoted if the
student is an English learner or a limited English proficient student and has had fewer than two
years of English language instruction (A.R.S. § 15-701).
Provisions
1. Requires each school, regardless of letter grade designation, to annually submit an updated
K-3 reading program plan to ADE. (Sec. 1)
2. States a 3rd grade student who obtains a score on the reading portion of the statewide
assessment that does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills may not be retained more than
once for obtaining a score that does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills. (Sec. 3)
3. Allows a 3rd grade student who does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills to be promoted
if the student is an English learner or limited English proficient student and has had fewer than
three years, rather than two years, of English language instruction. (Sec. 3)
4. Specifies the required literacy endorsement for certificated teachers must show the teacher is
capable of effectively teaching phonological awareness, rather than phonemic awareness.
(Sec. 2)
5. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note