HB 2218
Initials CH Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: ED DP 10-0-0-0
HB 2218: public schools; student discipline; absenteeism
Sponsor: Representative Terech, LD 4
House Engrossed
Overview
Prohibits a charter school or school district from suspending a student for absenteeism.
History
A school district governing board (governing board), in consultation with teachers and
parents, must prescribe rules for the discipline, suspension and expulsion of students that
are consistent with a student's constitutional rights. These rules must include: 1) penalties
for excessive absenteeism (including failure in a subject, failure to pass a grade, suspension
or expulsion); 2) a notice and hearing procedure for suspensions exceeding 10 days; 3)
procedures and conditions for readmitting a student who has been suspended or expelled for
more than 10 days; and 4) procedures to appeal the suspension of a student exceeding 10
days if the suspension decision was not made by the governing board. All cases of suspension
must be for good cause and reported to the governing board within five days (A.R.S. § 15-
843).
It is unlawful for any child between the ages of 6 and 16 to fail to attend school during school
hours unless the child meets outlined statutory criteria. Absences may be considered
excessive when the number of absent days (including excused and unexcused absences)
exceeds 10% of the number of required attendance days (A.R.S. §§ 15-802, 15-803). Arizona
Department of Education (ADE) guidelines note that excused absences due to out-of-school
suspensions must not exceed 10% of the instructional days scheduled for the school year
(ADE School Finance Manual).
Provisions
1. Prohibits a charter school from including suspension as a penalty for a student's
unexcused absence or absences. (Sec. 1)
2. Prohibits a governing board from including suspension as a penalty for excessive student
absenteeism and specifies suspension may not be solely based on a student's absenteeism.
(Sec. 2)
3. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note