Assigned to ED & APPROP FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2018
private universities; Arizona teachers academy
Purpose
Authorizes an Arizona degree-granting private postsecondary educational institution
(degree-granting private institution) that offers postbaccalaureate teacher preparation programs
that lead to teacher certification to participate in the Arizona Teachers Academy (Teachers
Academy), subject to a specified cap on an individual scholarship. Appropriates $10,000,000 from
the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2026 to the Teachers Academy Fund (Fund).
Background
The Teachers Academy incentivizes students to enter the teaching profession and to
commit to teach in Arizona public schools by providing enrolled students an annual scholarship
award, up to the amount of the following, reduced by all other financial aid: 1) tuition and fees for
undergraduate, graduate and community college students as outlined; 2) a National Board
Certification (NBC) or renewal; and 3) a teaching certificate. For each academic year that a student
receives a scholarship for tuition and fees, the student must teach for one school year in an Arizona
public school. For teachers seeking an NBC, the teaching commitment is one additional year after
completing the NBC requirements.
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) administers the Fund and distributes Fund monies
to eligible postsecondary institutions for scholarship reimbursements and specified Teachers
Academy costs. If a scholarship does not cover tuition and fees after all other financial aid, the
institution may not charge students for the remaining amount.
An eligible postsecondary institution means: 1) a university under ABOR's jurisdiction;
2) a community college that offers postbaccalaureate programs that lead to teacher certification
and that has entered an agreement with ABOR relative to these postbaccalaureate programs; or
3) a college that is owned, operated or chartered by a qualifying Indian tribe on its own Indian
reservation that offers postbaccalaureate teacher education programs and opts to participate in the
Teachers Academy (A.R.S. ยง 15-1655).
H.B. 2018 appropriates $10,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2026 to the Fund.
Provisions
1. Allows an Arizona degree-granting private institution that offers postbaccalaureate teacher
preparation programs that lead to teacher certification to participate in the Teachers Academy
and receive Fund monies.
2. Appropriates $10,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2026 to the Fund. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2018
Page 2
3. Caps a Teachers Academy scholarship that a degree-granting private institution provides to
students at the remainder of the average in-state tuition and fees charged by Arizona public
universities, minus all other financial aid.
4. Expands the definition of eligible postsecondary institution to include an Arizona degree-
granting private institution that opts to participate in the Teachers Academy.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
ED 1/21/25 DP 7-3-0-2
APPROP 1/22/25 DP 10-7-0-1
3
rd
Read 2/11/25 33-25-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2025
MH/KK/ci