HB 2675
Initials CH Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: ED DP 6-3-1-0
HB 2675: school report cards; letter grades
Sponsor: Representative Pingerelli, LD 28
House Engrossed
Overview
Replaces the A-F letter grade system with performance classifications adopted by the State
Board of Education (SBE). Modifies requirements relating to school report cards and
notification procedures.
History
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE), subject to final adoption by SBE, must develop
an annual achievement profile for every public school and local education agency (LEA) based
on an A-F letter grade system adopted by SBE. The annual achievement profile is required
to reflect the achievement for each public school and LEA on the prescribed academic and
educational performance indicators. Furthermore, statute mandates the A-F letter grade
system: 1) be applied to each performance indicator; and 2) indicate expected performance
standards for all schools. SBE must assign an overall letter grade for a public school or LEA
(A.R.S. § 15-241).
Currently, each school must distribute an annual report card that contains specified
information, including: 1) student results and progress on assessments; 2) graduation rates;
3) expenditure data; and 4) average class sizes (A.R.S. § 15-746). A school report card must
also include the classification on each performance indicator of the annual achievement
profile for each school (A.R.S. § 15-241). Schools must distribute report cards to parents of
enrolled students by the last day of school of each fiscal year, as well as present a summary
of the report card's contents at an annual public meeting.
Provisions
Performance Classifications
1. Requires the annual achievement profile to use performance classifications based on a
system adopted by SBE, rather than an A-F letter grade system adopted by SBE. (Sec. 3)
2. Applies the performance classifications, instead of the A-F letter grade system, to each
performance indicator of the annual achievement profile. (Sec. 3)
3. Directs SBE to assign an overall performance classification, rather than letter grade, for
a public school or LEA. (Sec. 3)
4. Transfers the statutory requirements for the A-F letter grade system to the performance
classifications adopted by SBE. (Sec. 3)
5. Replaces references to the A-F letter grade system with the performance classifications
adopted by SBE in statutes relating to:
a) K-3 reading program requirements;
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2675
Initials CH Page 2 House Engrossed
b) the petition process for regulatory exemptions for school districts or charter schools;
c) alternative operation plans;
d) school improvement plans;
e) the exemption of a career technical education district from receiving a letter grade;
f) the consolidation of school districts;
g) teacher evaluation policies;
h) menu of achievement assessments;
i) the definition of qualified student as it relates to an empowerment scholarship
account; and
j) achievement district schools. (Sec. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
School Report Cards
6. Requires the school report card to also explain whether the assigned performance
classification indicates that the school:
a) meets the expected standards;
b) fails to meet the expected standards; or
c) exceeds the expected standards. (Sec. 3)
7. Requires, within 60 days after receiving notification that a charter school or district school
has been assigned a failing performance classification, the charter school governing body
or school district governing board to provide to the parents of each student:
a) notification that the school has been assigned a failing performance classification; and
b) the school's report card. (Sec. 5)
8. Allows a school to provide a web address for or hyperlink to the school's report card. (Sec.
5)
9. Authorizes a school district or charter school to electronically deliver the notification if
the school district or charter school electronically communicates with parents in the
ordinary course of business. (Sec. 5)
10. Requires any electronic communications sent to contain hyperlinks to websites that
provide further information. (Sec. 5)
11. Replaces the requirement that ADE publish a list of F letter grade schools in a newspaper
in each county at least twice a year with the requirement that ADE post a list of schools
assigned the lowest performance classification in a conspicuous location on its website
and all official communication channels. (Sec. 5)
12. Instructs ADE to publish the annual report that contains each school's report card on its
website. (Sec. 10)
13. Specifies the requirement for a school to distribute school report cards to parents may be
satisfied by electronic communications if the school district or charter school
electronically communicates with parents in the ordinary course of business. (Sec. 10)
14. Stipulates any electronic communications sent to satisfy the required distribution of
school report cards must contain hyperlinks to websites that provide further information.
(Sec. 10)
15. Mandates each school district and charter school prominently post the report cards for
each school on the school district's or charter school's website and, if available, the school's
website. (Sec. 10)
Miscellaneous
16. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)