Assigned to ED AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1502
literacy endorsement; curricula; special education
Purpose
Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to require all approved educator preparation
programs in mild-moderate special education to require the necessary courses to obtain the literacy
endorsement. Specifies that curriculum, for the purposes of a K-3 literacy plan, includes any
curriculum that is used to provide reading instruction to children with disabilities or English
language learners.
Background
Beginning August 1, 2025, the (SBE) must establish a literacy endorsement as a
requirement for all certificated teachers who provide literacy instruction in kindergarten programs
or grades one through five. The literacy endorsement must require a teacher to complete evidence-
based science of reading training or coursework, as determined by the SBE, and pass a literacy
instruction assessment to show that the teacher is capable of: 1) effectively teaching foundational
reading skills, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension; 2)
implementing reading instruction using high-quality instructional materials; and 3) providing
effective instruction and interventions for students with reading deficiencies, including students
with characteristics of dyslexia. The SBE must require all approved educator preparation programs
in elementary education and early childhood education to require the necessary courses to obtain
the literacy endorsement (A.R.S. § 15-501.01).
A school district or charter school that provides instruction to students in kindergarten
programs or grades one through three must implement a K-3 literacy plan. Components of a K-3
literacy plan include: 1) selecting and administering outlined reading assessments to monitor
student progress; 2) conducting a curriculum evaluation and adopting an evidence-based reading
curriculum that includes the essential components of reading instruction; and 3) devoting
reasonable amounts of time to explicit, evidence-based instruction and independent reading
(A.R.S. § 15-704).
Mild intellectual disability means performance on standard measures of intellectual and
adaptive behavior between two and three standard deviations below the mean for children of the
same age. Moderate intellectual disability means performance on standard measurers of
intellectual and adaptive behavior between three and four standard deviation below the mean for
children of the same age (A.R.S. § 15-761).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1502
Page 2
Provisions
1. Directs the SBE to require all approved educator preparation programs in mild-moderate
special education to require the courses that are necessary to obtain the literacy endorsement
for certificated teachers who provide literacy instruction to students in kindergarten programs
and grades one through five.
2. Specifies that curriculum, for the purposes of a K-3 literacy plan, includes any curriculum that
is used to provide reading instruction to children with disabilities or English language learners.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Directs the SBE to require approved educator preparation programs in mild-moderate special
education to require the necessary courses to obtain the literacy endorsement.
2. Removes the requirement for certificated teachers who provide literacy instruction in a
qualifying grade level to obtain the literacy endorsement.
3. Removes the definition of qualifying grade level.
4. Makes technical changes.
Senate Action
ED 2/19/25 DPA 7-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 24, 2025
MH/ci