HB 2658
Initials CH Page 1 Education
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
HB 2658: community colleges; adult education
Sponsor: Representative Kaiser, LD 15
Committee on Education
Overview
Creates the Community College Adult Education Workforce Development Program (Program) to
provide adult learners with supports that lead to a high school diploma, or equivalent, and an
industry-recognized credential or community college degree.
History
Statute requires that every child between the ages of 6 and 16 attend a school and be provided
instruction in the subjects of reading, grammar, math, social studies and science. Furthermore,
public schools are required to admit individuals who are between the ages of 6 and 21 (A.R.S. §§
15-802, 15-821).
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) maintains a division of adult education that is under
the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education (SBE) (A.R.S. § 15-232). The division, Adult
Education Services, provides comprehensive services to students who are at least 16 years old
and who are not enrolled in a K-12 school. Adult Education Services offers educational programs
to assist students in earning a high school equivalency diploma, connecting to employment and
job training opportunities, transitioning to postsecondary education and becoming proficient in
English.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Program within ADE to provide adult learners with integrated education and
training programs and additional study and support services that lead to both a high school
diploma or high school equivalency diploma and an industry-recognized credential or
community college degree. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires a Program applicant to be a regionally accredited community college that is a
recognized high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma provider and that provides
education and workforce training that leads to industry-recognized credentials or community
college degrees. (Sec. 1)
3. Creates the Program Fund that consists of legislative appropriations and that is administered
by ADE. (Sec. 1)
4. States that Program Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing.
(Sec. 1)
5. Provides that a Program school may receive up to $3,000 per full-time student enrolled each
year. (Sec. 1)
6. Specifies that part-time students are to be funded in proportion to the number of enrolled
courses or hours of instruction. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2658
Initials CH Page 2 Education
7. Instructs ADE to distribute Program Fund monies to all Program schools that meet the
specified criteria in a proportional manner based on the number of adult learners each
Program school serves. (Sec. 1)
8. Allows ADE to retain up to 5% of Program Fund monies each fiscal year for administrative
costs. (Sec. 1)
9. Mandates a Program school use monies for adult learners to participate in a high school
diploma or high school equivalency diploma program that also offers an industry-recognized
credential or community college degree. (Sec. 1)
10. Permits a portion of monies to be used for additional support services to ensure the success
of adult learners in the Program. (Sec. 1)
11. Requires, by September 30th of each year that monies are appropriated to the Program Fund,
each Program school to submit a report regarding the Program to specified entities. (Sec. 1)
12. Outlines the information the annual report must contain. (Sec. 1)
13. Allows ADE to request information from any Program applicant or school to determine
Program eligibility and funding distributions. (Sec. 1)
14. Directs ADE, by July 1, 2024, to adopt performance expectations to evaluate Program
schools. (Sec. 1)
15. Details the measurements the performance expectations are to include. (Sec. 1)
16. Permits ADE to develop a process to bring a Program school into compliance or revoke the
Program school's authorization to participate in the Program. (Sec. 1)