SB 1583
Initials CH/RP Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-12-2-0
House: ED DPA 6-4-0-0
SB 1583: school admission; annual parental disclosure
Sponsor: Senator Wadsack, LD 17
House Engrossed
Overview
Requires public schools to annually provide parents with a document that contains specified
disclosures relating to school choice, educational options and parents' rights. Instructs a
public school to assist a parent or guardian who chooses a charter school or to participate in
the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program.
History
A child between 6 and 16 years old must attend a school and be instructed in at least reading,
grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. The child's guardian must choose a public,
private or charter school, a homeschool or sign a contract to participate in the ESA Program
(A.R.S. § 15-802).
The State Board of Education (SBE) is required to annually design a public awareness effort
to distribute materials to the public that: 1) communicate the ability to choose any public
school; 2) include resources to learn about school choice options; and 3) provide instruction
on how to request enrollment. (A.R.S. § 15-816.01).
The Parents' Bill of Rights asserts that: 1) a parent has the fundamental right to direct their
child's upbringing, education, health care and mental health; and 2) a governmental entity
may not infringe on parents' rights without demonstrating a compelling governmental
interest. The Parents' Bill of Rights declares that parents have inalienable rights that are
more comprehensive than the rights listed in statute (A.R.S. §§ 1-601, 1-602).
ADE must develop and post on its website a statutory parental rights handbook for parents
of children enrolled in school districts and parents of children enrolled in charter schools.
Each school district and charter school must post a link to the respective handbook on a
publicly accessible portion of its website (A.R.S. § 15-249.16).
Provisions
1. Directs each public school to annually provide the parent or guardian of each enrolled
student a document that discloses:
a) the school's letter grade;
b) a list of charter schools located within a reasonable distance from the school;
c) an overview of the ESA Program, including the award amount available and approved
expenses; and
d) a written notice that includes prescribed statements relating to:
i. school choice in Arizona;
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ii. available educational options, including a school district, charter school, private
school, private educational services provider, private vendor, homeschool, the ESA
Program and tuition scholarships or grants from a school tuition organization; and
iii. the Parents' Bill of Rights.
2. Details content, formatting and style requirements for the written notice in the disclosure
document.
3. Requires the disclosure document to include:
a) an area for the parent or guardian to initial after each prescribed disclosure; and
b) a phone number for ADE.
4. Instructs the public school to annually file the initialed and signed disclosure document
in the student's permanent file and provide the parent or guardian with a copy.
5. Stipulates a public school must, after receiving the required disclosure document, assist
any parent or guardian who chooses to pursue admission to a charter school or to
participate in the ESA Program.
6. Requires ADE to create a form for the disclosure document that public schools may use.