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HB2478 - 572R - H Ver
House Engrossed
Arizona commission on
student outcomes
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HOUSE BILL 2478
AN
ACT
establishing the arizona commission on
student outcomes; appropriating monies.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1.
Arizona
commission on student outcomes; members; duties; reporting requirements;
delayed repeal
A. The Arizona commission
on student outcomes is established to analyze, review and recommend
improvements to the current K-12 education system in this state.
B. The commission is
composed of the following members:
1. Three members who are
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than two of
whom are members of the same political party.� The speaker of the house of
representatives shall designate one of the members to serve as cochairperson of
the commission.
2. Three members who are
appointed by the president of the senate, not more than two of whom are members
of the same political party.� The president of the senate shall designate one
of the members to serve as cochairperson of the commission.
3. One member who is
appointed by the governor.
4. The superintendent of
public instruction, or the superintendent's designee.
5. One member who
represents a nonprofit organization that produces research on economic and
educational policies and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives.
6. One person who
represents a statewide taxpayer organization and who is appointed by the
president of the senate.
7. One person who
represents an organization that represents school district governing boards and
who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
8. One person who
represents an organization that represents charter schools and who is appointed
by the president of the senate.
9. One member who
represents an organization that represents school district administrators in
this state and who is appointed by the minority leader of the house of
representatives.
10. One member who is a
teacher in a public school in this state and who is appointed by the minority
leader of the senate.
C. Commission members are
not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of
expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
D. Meetings of the
commission are subject to the requirements of title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1,
Arizona Revised Statutes.
E. The commission shall
appoint an executive director who serves at the pleasure of the commission.�
The executive director is eligible to receive compensation pursuant to section
38-611, Arizona Revised Statutes.
F. The commission shall:
1. Analyze school district
expenditures of local, state and federal monies to determine how resources are
aligned with the core instructional priorities identified by the commission.
2. Review and analyze the
adequacy of early childhood education programs and services that are offered in
this state.
3. Identify state laws,
rules that are adopted by the state board of education and policies that are
adopted by school district governing boards or charter school governing bodies
that might not direct resources toward positive instructional outcomes.
4. Examine barriers and
challenges to teacher compensation and workforce readiness.
5. Assess whether the
oversight and accountability programs and systems enacted by this state are
aligned with improving student outcomes rather than compliance with federal
laws or regulations.
6. Identify barriers to
academic innovation that otherwise prevent school districts from adopting
effective teaching or instructional models.
7. Develop recommendations
for the legislature to improve academic standards, statewide assessments, high
school graduation requirements, school accountability and the public school
finance formula.
8. Conduct a comprehensive
study to determine the feasibility of a trade pathways diploma program for high
school students who seek to enter a construction, electrical, plumbing,
mechanical, utility-infrastructure or other in-demand trade.� The
commission shall:
(a) Identify any barriers
to developing and implementing a trade pathways diploma program described in
this paragraph and recommend how to address each barrier.
(b) Recommend minimum
course of study and competency requirements for a trade pathways diploma
program described in this paragraph, including requirements that align the
program with industry demand and high-demand career fields.
9. If sufficient monies are
available, contract with third-party service providers as necessary to
discharge the commission's duties.
G. On or before December 1,
2027 and each year thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the
senate, the chairperson of the education committee of the house of
representatives, or its successor committee, and the chairperson of the
education committee of the senate, or its successor committee, and shall
provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state, that contains the
following:
1. The status of the
commission's work.
2. Recommendations for
statutory, regulatory and fiscal reforms that the commission believes will
support teachers, maximize student resources and improve student outcomes.
H. On or before December 1,
2032, the commission shall submit a final report to the governor, the speaker
of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the chairperson
of the education committee of the house of representatives, or its successor
committee, and the chairperson of the education committee of the senate, or its
successor committee, and shall provide a copy of the final report to the
secretary of state, that contains the following:
1. All studies, data and
information that the commission gathered and that relate to the K-12 education
system in this state.
2. Recommendations for
statutory, regulatory or fiscal reforms that the commission believes will
improve the K-12 education system in this state.
I. The state board of
education and department of education shall collect and provide any data or
information requested by the commission for the purposes of this section.
J. This section is repealed
from and after June 30, 2033.
Sec. 2.
Appropriation; Arizona
commission on student outcomes; exemption
A. The sum of $1,000,000 is
appropriated from the classroom site fund established by section 15-977,
Arizona Revised Statutes, in
each of fiscal
years 2026-2027
, 2027-2028,
2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031 to the Arizona commission
on student outcomes. The commission may use up to $500,000
per year on employee-related expenses.
B. The appropriation made
in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190,
Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations, except that
any unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining on June 30, 2033 revert to the
classroom site fund.
Sec. 3.
Intent
The legislature intends that:
1. The Arizona commission
on student outcomes conduct a comprehensive and objective review of this
state's K-12 education system to identify opportunities to improve
student achievement and to strengthen accountability.
2. The review by the
Arizona commission on student outcomes guide future decisions and long-term
structural improvements to this state's public education system.