Assigned to ED & APPROP FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2658
community colleges; adult education
Purpose
Establishes the Community College Adult Education Workforce Development Program
(Program) to, through community colleges, provide adult learners with education, training and
support services leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (diploma)
and an industry-recognized credential or community college degree. Establishes the Program Fund
and outlines requirements for Program school eligibility, performance expectations, funding and
administration.
Background
Schools must admit children who are between the ages of 6 and 21, who reside in the school
district and who meet the requirements for enrollment in one of the grades or programs offered in
the school (A.R.S. § 15-821). An adult may obtain a high school equivalency (HSE) diploma by:
1) passing the graduation equivalency diploma test; 2) participating in the College Credit Pathway
to complete 25 college credits in specified subject areas; or 3) participating in the HSE PLUS
Career Readiness Pathway offered exclusively by adult education providers under the federal
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (ADE).
The Arizona Department of Education's (ADE's) Adult Education Services authorizes adult
education providers to provide educational services and training for adults who are at least 16 years
old to continue their basic education and pass an HSE diploma test approved by the State Board
of Education (SBE). An adult education provider is a school district, community college district,
correctional facility or community-based organization, an institution serving educationally
disadvantaged adults or any other institution that receives public funds to provide adult education
services (A.R.S. §§ 15-232 and 15-234).
If directing funding to Program schools in specified amounts per student in FYs 2023 and
2024 and, beginning in FY 2025, according to an SBE-adopted funding model results in increased
costs to the state General Fund, there may be a fiscal impact.
Provisions
Program Administration
1. Establishes the Program, within the State Board of Education (SBE) and operated in
cooperation with ADE, to provide adult learners with integrated education and training
programs and additional study and support services that lead to the issuance of:
a) a diploma; and
b) an industry-recognized credential or community college degree. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2658
Page 2
2. Requires a Program applicant to be a regionally-accredited community college that is a
recognized diploma provider and provides education and workforce training that leads to
industry-recognized credentials or community college degrees.
3. Allows the SBE, in cooperation with ADE, to develop a process to bring a Program school into
compliance or revoke the Program school's authorization to participate in the Program at the
SBE's and ADE's discretion.
4. Allows the SBE, in cooperation with ADE, to request information from any program applicant
or school to determine Program eligibility and funding distributions.
Program Fund and Performance Expectations
5. Establishes the Program Fund, administered by ADE, consisting of legislative appropriations
and any other monies.
6. Requires, by July 1, 2024, SBE, in consultation with ADE, to adopt:
a) performance expectations to evaluate Program schools; and
b) an adult education and workforce performance funding model (Program funding model).
7. Requires the SBE-adopted performance expectations to include:
a) measurements of adult learner progress toward earning a diploma;
b) the graduation rates of adult learners earning at least one academic credit;
c) the number of industry-recognized credentials earned;
d) the number of adult learners who have newly-acquired proficiency in the English language;
e) the number of adult learners or graduates who have matriculated at an institution of higher
learning or a postsecondary educational institution;
f) the number of adult learners or graduates who have newly-acquired employment at a wage
that is at least 150 percent of the state minimum wage; and
g) other relevant measures.
8. Funds a Program school as follows:
a) for FYs 2023 and 2024, up to $3,000 per full-time student each fiscal year and, for part-
time students, funding in proportion to the number of enrolled courses or hours of
instruction; and
b) beginning in FY 2025 and subject to legislative appropriation, funding determined by the
SBE-adopted Program funding model.
9. Requires a Program school to use Program monies for adult learners to participate in a diploma
program that also offers an industry-recognized credential for community college degrees.
10. Requires, for the Program funding model:
a) Program school funding to be based on the average performance of the community college
in the prior two fiscal years; and
b) the SBE to consider all adopted performance expectations, except enrollment.
11. Requires a Program school to use Program monies to supplement and not supplant current
program offerings. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2658
Page 3
12. Allows a portion of the Program monies to be used for additional support services to ensure
the success of adult learners, including:
a) transportation assistance for adult learners with a demonstrated need;
b) childcare services for dependents while the adult learner is on site;
c) college and career counseling; and
d) job placement assistance.
13. Allows ADE to:
a) retain up to five percent of the Program Fund monies received each fiscal year for
administrative costs associated with the Program; and
b) accept and spend federal monies and private grants, gifts, contributions and devises for
Program purposes.
14. Specifies that Program Fund monies are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing.
Miscellaneous
15. Requires, by September 30 of each year in which the Legislature appropriates monies to the
Fund, each Program school to submit a report regarding the Program to the Governor,
Legislature and Secretary of State that includes at least:
a) the number of adult learners enrolled;
b) the completion rate of diplomas earned by adult learners;
c) the average progress of adult learners toward meeting completion criteria;
d) the number and type of industry-recognized credentials, community college degree credits
and community college degrees earned by adult learners;
e) a descriptive summary of the program offered;
f) the number of adult learners who have newly-acquired proficiency in the English language;
g) the number of adult learners or graduates who have matriculated at an institution of higher
learning or postsecondary educational institution; and
h) the number of adult learners or graduates who have newly-acquired employment at a wage
that is at least 150 percent of the state minimum wage.
16. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 2/8/22 DPA 8-2-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/23/22 44-15-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 4, 2022
LB/MS/slp