K-5 literacy endorsement; requirements; enforcement

HB2479 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
K-5 literacy endorsement; requirements; enforcement

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2479

Introduced by

Representative
Gress

AN
ACT

amending sections 15-211 and 15-501.01,
Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to school employees.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-211, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
15-211.

K-3 reading program; dyslexia specialist; dyslexia training;
receipt and use of monies; additional funding; annual report

A. The department of education shall administer a K-3
reading program to improve the reading proficiency of pupils in kindergarten
programs and grades one, two and three in the public schools of this state.

B. The department of education shall designate a
dyslexia specialist for the department to provide school districts and charter
schools with support and resources that are necessary to assist students with
dyslexia.

C.
On or before July 1, 2022,

Each school district and charter school shall ensure that at least one
kindergarten through third grade teacher, literacy coach or literacy specialist
in each school has received training related to dyslexia that complies with the
requirements prescribed in section 15-219.

D. Each school district and charter school shall
submit to the department of education a plan for improving the reading
proficiency of the school district's or the charter school's pupils in
kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three. The plan
shall

must
include baseline data on the
reading proficiency of the school district's or the charter school's pupils in
kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three and a budget for spending
monies from both the K-3 support level weight and the K-3 reading
support level weight established in section 15-943.�
If
the school district or charter school employs a certificated teacher to provide
literacy instruction in a kindergarten program or any of grades one through
five and the certificated teacher has not obtained a literacy endorsement
pursuant to section 15-501.01, subsection C, paragraph 3, the K-3
reading program plan and budget submitted pursuant to this subsection must
include provisions to support the certificated teacher in obtaining a literacy endorsement.
Each
school district and charter school shall annually submit to the department of
education on or before October 1 an updated K-3 reading program plan that
includes data on program expenditures and results.

E. School districts and charter schools shall use
monies generated by the K-3 reading support level weight established in
section 15-943 only on instructional purposes based on the plan submitted
pursuant to subsection D of this section intended to improve reading
proficiency for pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three
with particular emphasis on pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one and
two.
� Expenses incurred to support a certificated teacher in
obtaining a literacy endorsement pursuant to section 15-501.01,
subsection C, paragraph 3 are an instructional purpose for the purposes of this
subsection.

F. Each school district and charter school that is
assigned a letter grade of C, D or F pursuant to section 15-241 or that
has more than ten percent of its pupils in grade three who do not demonstrate
sufficient reading skills as established by the state board of education
according to the reading portion of the statewide assessment shall receive
monies generated by the K-3 reading support level weight established in
section 15-943 only after the K-3 reading program plan of the
school district or charter school has been submitted, reviewed and recommended
for approval by the department of education and approved by the state
board. The state board must give approval to a school district or
charter school before any portion of the monies generated by the K-3
reading support level weight may be distributed to the school district or
charter school pursuant to this subsection.

G. Pupils in a charter school that is in its first
year of operation and that is sponsored by the state board of education, the
state board for charter schools, a university under the jurisdiction of the
Arizona board of regents, a community college district or a group of community
college districts are eligible for the K-3 reading support level weight.

H. The department of education shall solicit gifts,
grants and donations from any lawful public or private source
in
order
to provide additional funding for the K-3 reading program.

I. The state board of education may establish rules
and policies for the K-3 reading program, including:

1. The proper use of monies in accordance with
subsection E of this section.

2. The distribution of monies by the department of
education in accordance with subsection D of this section.

3. The compliance of reading proficiency plans
submitted pursuant to subsection D of this section with section 15-704.

J. Pursuant to subsection I of this section, the
department of education shall develop program implementation guidance for
school districts and charter schools to assist schools in administering an
effective K-3 evidence-based reading program plan. This
guidance shall include identifying and recommending appropriate program
expenditures, providing technical oversight and assistance for annually
updating reading program plans, selecting and adopting evidence-based reading
curricula and providing and promoting teacher professional development that is
based on evidence-based reading research.� The department shall
prioritize supports and interventions, including enrollment in reading
trainings and professional development, for school districts and charter
schools that have the highest percentage of pupils who do not demonstrate
sufficient reading skills as established by the state board of
education. The department shall deposit any monies received for
offering reading trainings or professional development, including coaching, in
the department of education professional development revolving fund established
by section 15-237.01.

K. On or before December 15, the department of
education shall submit an annual report on the K-3 reading program to the
governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives and shall provide a copy of this annual report to the secretary
of state, the state board of education and the chairpersons of the education committees
of the senate and the house of representatives. The report
shall

must
contain all of the following:

1. Information on the improvement of K-3
reading in this state, including achievement data statewide and achievement
data at the school district and charter school level. The
information pursuant to this paragraph
shall

must
include data and information on continued proficiency on
the statewide assessment in subsequent grades.

2. A description of the activities of the department
to support school districts and charter schools in improving K-3 reading.

3. Specific findings on methods by which the
department may continue to improve support and assistance for school districts
and charter schools in the administration of K-3 reading program plans.

4. Information and data on K-3 reading program
plans throughout this state and the expenditure of K-3 reading monies by
school districts and charter schools.

5. Data reported pursuant to section 15-701,
subsection A, paragraph 2, subdivision (d).
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 15-501.01, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
15-501.01.

Requirements for teachers; teaching certificates; rules;
reporting requirements; reciprocity; placement; posting

A. Notwithstanding any other law, all teachers who
are certificated pursuant to this section must have a baccalaureate degree and
a valid fingerprint clearance card.

B. The state board of education shall adopt rules
for the issuance of the following types of certificates for teachers:

1. Standard teaching certificate.

2. Alternative teaching certificate for persons who
obtain training pursuant to subsection C, paragraph 1 of this section.

3. Subject-matter expert standard teaching
certificate for persons who obtain training pursuant to subsection C, paragraph
8 of this section.

4. Classroom-based standard teaching
certificate for individuals who obtain training from a school district or
charter school.

5. Career and technical education teaching
certificate.

C. The state board of education shall adopt rules to
carry out the purposes of this section.� The rules:

1. Shall provide for a variety of alternative
teacher and administrator preparation programs that allow for variations in
program sequence and design to apply for program approval.� The state board
shall adopt rules pursuant to this paragraph designed to allow for a variety of
formats and shall not require a prescribed answer or design from the program
provider in order to obtain approval from the state board. Any rules
adopted by the state board pursuant to this paragraph shall be substantially
different from the rules adopted for the approval of traditional preparation
programs and may not unnecessarily restrict a variety of alternative
preparation programs from operating and providing instruction in this
state. The state board shall evaluate each program provider based on
the program's ability to prepare teachers and administrators and to recruit
teachers and administrators with a variety of experiences and
talents. The state board shall allow universities under the
jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, community colleges in this state,
private postsecondary institutions licensed by this state, school districts,
charter schools, professional organizations, nonprofit organizations and
private entities to apply for program approval and shall create application
procedures and certification criteria that are substantially less restrictive
than those for traditional preparation programs. At the completion
of an alternative preparation program, graduates shall:

(a) Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited
postsecondary education institution.

(b) If applicable, demonstrate professional
knowledge and subject knowledge proficiency pursuant to section 15-533.

(c) Obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card
pursuant to section 15-534.

(d) If applicable, complete training in structured
English immersion as prescribed by the state board pursuant to section 15-756.09.

(e) If applicable, complete training in research-based
systematic phonics instruction as prescribed in paragraph 2 of this subsection.

(f) Demonstrate the required proficiency in the
Constitutions of the United States and Arizona as prescribed in section 15-532.

2. Shall require that, within three years after a
certificate for elementary education or early childhood education is issued,
the certificate holder complete, from a public or private provider, at least
forty-five classroom hours or three college-level credit hours, or
the equivalent, in both research-based:

(a) Science of reading instruction, including
systematic phonics instruction.

(b) Reading
instruction, including training on assessments, instructional practices and
interventions to improve student reading proficiency. Instruction
provided pursuant to this subdivision must meet the requirements for dyslexia
training prescribed in section 15-219.

3.
Beginning August 1, 2025,

Shall establish a literacy endorsement as a requirement for all certificated
teachers who provide literacy instruction in kindergarten programs or in any of
grades one through five as determined by the board. The
rules

board
shall require
that

a certificated teacher
who receives a certificate after August 1,
2025 and who provides literacy instruction in
kindergarten
programs or in any of grades one through five must obtain a literacy
endorsement within three years after the teacher's certificate is
issued. The rules shall require that a certificated teacher who
received a certificate before August 1, 2025 and
who provides literacy
instruction in kindergarten programs or in any of grades one through five
must

to
obtain a literacy endorsement on
or before August 1, 2028
or not later than eighteen months after
the certificated teacher begins providing literacy instruction in a
kindergarten program or any of grades one through five, whichever occurs later
.
after August 1, 2028, if the board determines that a school district
or charter school is employing a certificated teacher to provide literacy
instruction in a kindergarten program or any of grades one through five and the
certificated teacher is not in compliance with the requirements prescribed in
this paragraph, the superintendent of public instruction shall direct the
school district or charter school to use an amount that is equal to at least
one percent but not more than ten percent of the portion of state monies that
the school district or charter school is entitled to receive each month only
for instruction purposes based on the plan submitted pursuant to section 15-211,
subsection D, including costs incurred for the certificated teacher to obtain a
literacy endorsement pursuant to this paragraph.�
The literacy
endorsement shall require the teacher to complete evidence-based science
of reading training or coursework as determined by the board and to pass a
literacy instruction assessment to show that the teacher is capable of doing
all of the following:

(a) Effectively teaching foundational reading
skills, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

(b) Implementing reading instruction using
high-quality instructional materials.

(c) Providing effective instruction and
interventions for students with reading deficiencies, including students with
characteristics of dyslexia.

4. Shall require all approved educator preparation
programs in elementary education, early childhood education and mild-moderate
special education, as defined by the state board of education, to require the
courses

that are necessary to obtain a literacy
endorsement pursuant to paragraph 3 of this subsection.

5. Shall establish a process to allow a local
education agency, at the request of a teacher, to verify to the department of
education that the teacher possesses the instructional knowledge and skills
prescribed in paragraph 3 of this subsection, demonstrated through classroom
observations and student achievement data across subgroups using evidence-based
measures. A certificated teacher who has had a local education
agency verify the teacher's knowledge and skills in the science of reading
pursuant to this paragraph is not required to complete the coursework, training
or assessment requirements prescribed in paragraph 3 of this subsection to
obtain the literacy endorsement.

6. Shall not require a teacher to obtain a master's
degree or to take any additional graduate courses as a condition of
certification or recertification.

7. Shall allow but shall not require the
superintendent of a school district to obtain certification from the state
board of education.

8. Shall provide for the issuance of a subject-matter
expert standard teaching certificate to persons who have expertise in a content
area or a subject matter. Persons who are certified pursuant to this
paragraph shall complete training, if applicable, in structured English
immersion as prescribed by the state board pursuant to section 15-756.09.�
Persons who are certified pursuant to this paragraph are exempt from the
subject knowledge proficiency requirements prescribed in section 15-533
and from the proficiency requirements prescribed in section 15-532 on the
Constitutions of the United States and Arizona. Persons who are
subject to subdivision (a) of this paragraph are also exempt from the
professional knowledge proficiency requirements pursuant to section 15-533.�
A person who obtains a subject-matter expert standard teaching
certificate pursuant to this paragraph may provide instruction in the person's
field of expertise in grades six through twelve at any public school in this
state. Issuance of the subject-matter expert standard teaching
certificate may not be conditioned on the person's employment with a local
education agency. A person who meets the requirements of this
paragraph shall be issued a subject-matter expert standard teaching
certificate without having to demonstrate professional knowledge proficiency
pursuant to section 15-533, except that the person shall have at least
two years to demonstrate professional knowledge proficiency pursuant to section
15-533. School districts shall evaluate and provide support pursuant to
section 15-537 to teachers who are certified pursuant to this
paragraph. If a person fails to meet the professional knowledge
requirements of this section within two years, the department of education or
state board of education may temporarily suspend the subject-matter
expert standard teaching certificate. A certificate that is
temporarily suspended pursuant to this paragraph is not considered a
disciplinary action, and a person shall be allowed to correct the deficiency
within the remaining time of the subject-matter expert standard teaching
certification. This paragraph does not require a person who has
obtained another type of teaching certificate from the state board to obtain a
subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate pursuant to this
paragraph in order to provide instruction in grades six through
twelve. Persons who are certificated pursuant to this paragraph
shall review and attest to reviewing the best practices for social media and
cellular telephone use between students and school personnel adopted by the
state board of education pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A,
paragraph 44 before receiving a certificate and, within two years after
receiving a certificate, complete training in professionalism and ethics from a
public or private provider approved by the state board of education, which may
include a no-cost option to the person provided by the state
board. A person is eligible for a subject-matter expert
standard teaching certificate pursuant to this paragraph if the person has a
baccalaureate degree and meets any of the following requirements:

(a) Has taught courses relevant to a content area or
subject matter for the last two consecutive years and for a total of at least
three years at one or more regionally or nationally accredited public or
private postsecondary institutions. A person demonstrates compliance
with this requirement by providing the state board with written proof of
employment for specific durations from one or more qualifying postsecondary
institutions.

(b) Has either a baccalaureate degree, a master's
degree or a doctoral degree in a specific subject area that is relevant to a
content area or subject matter taught in public schools.

(c) Demonstrates expertise through relevant work
experience of at least five years in a field that is relevant to a content area
or subject matter taught in public schools. A person demonstrates
compliance with this requirement by providing the state board with written
proof of employment.

9. Notwithstanding section 15-533, shall
exempt persons applying for a secondary education certificate from the subject
knowledge portion of the proficiency examination if the state board determines
that the person has work experience in science, technology, engineering or
mathematics and can demonstrate adequate knowledge of a particular subject
through a postsecondary education degree or twenty-four credit hours of
relevant coursework.

10. Shall allow for a certificate issued to a person
pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 1, 3, 4 or 5 of this section or section 15-203
or 15-782.01, as applicable, to be both issued and renewed for at least
twelve years and may not require more than fifteen hours of continuing
education credits each year in order to renew that certificate pursuant to this
paragraph.

11. Shall allow for a certificate issued to a person
pursuant to subsection B of this section or section 15-132, 15-203
or 15-782.01, as applicable, and any endorsement or approved area related
to that certificate, to be renewed at least two years but not more than ten
years after that certificate expires without any other requirements adopted by
the state board of education or the department of education if the person is in
good standing and possesses a valid fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant
to section 15-534. A certificate renewed pursuant to this
paragraph shall be identical to the expired certificate.

D. The rules for certification reciprocity shall
include a requirement that the applicant possess a comparable valid
certification from another state and be in good standing with that other
state. An applicant who possesses a valid certification from another
state and a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to section 15-534 and who
is in good standing with that other state shall be issued a comparable standard
certificate or a comparable certificate issued pursuant to section 15-132,
15-203 or 15-782.01, as applicable, without any other requirements
from the state board of education or the department of education. A
person who is issued a certificate pursuant to this subsection is not required
to meet any requirement prescribed in section 15-533.

E. Placement decisions of teaching intern
certificate holders issued pursuant to subsection C, paragraph 1 of this
section and section 15-552 shall be based on agreements between the
teacher preparation provider, the provider's partner organizations and the
local education agency. The practices of the department of education
and the rules and policies of the state board of education may not restrict
placement of teaching intern certification holders based on local education
agency instructional models and may only consider the academic quality of the
school, the effectiveness of the teaching intern certification holder's on-site
mentor and the opportunity for a wide variety of schools and school models to
access teaching intern certification holders.

F. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, the
following persons are not required to have a baccalaureate degree:

1. A teacher who is otherwise exempt by law from
obtaining a baccalaureate degree and who provides instruction in STEM or career
and technical education pursuant to section 15-782.01.

2. A person who obtains any of the following:

(a) A Native American language certificate.

(b) A student teaching intern certificate.

(c) A junior reserve officer training corps
certificate.

(d) An athletic coaching certificate.

(e) An emergency substitute certificate.

G. On or before November 15 of each year, the department
of education shall report and post on its website all of the following:

1. The total number of teaching certificates issued
in the previous calendar year disaggregated by the type of teaching certificate
and demographics.

2. The total number of currently issued teaching
certificates in this state disaggregated by the type of teaching certificate
and demographics.

3. Any other historical data or trends regarding
certificated individuals in this state.

h. Each school district and charter
school shall report all of the following to the department of education in a
form and manner prescribed by the department:

1. The number of certificated
teachers who provide literacy instruction to students in a kindergarten program
or any of grades one through five.

2. The number of certificated
teachers described in paragraph 1 of this subsection who have obtained a
literacy endorsement.

3. A list of certificated teachers
described in paragraph 1 of this subsection who are in the process of obtaining
a literacy endorsement and the following information about each certificated
teacher on the list:

(
a
) The date on
which the school district or charter school first assigned the certificated
teacher to provide literacy instruction to students in a kindergarten program
or any of grades one through five.

(
b
) Whether the
certificated teacher is enrolled in the coursework or training that is required
to obtain the literacy endorsement.

(
c
) Whether the
certificated teacher has applied for the literacy endorsement.
END_STATUTE