Native American language; instruction; certification

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Native American Language Proficiency for High School Graduation

This bill allows students to meet high school graduation requirements by showing they can speak a Native American language instead of taking a world language class.

What This Bill Does

• Allows students to satisfy the requirement of learning a world language for high school graduation if they show proficiency in a Native American language.
• Does not require schools or charter schools to offer classes in Native American languages.
• Gives the State Board of Education permission to set rules for testing how well students can speak Native American languages.

Who It Names or Affects

• High school students who need to meet world language requirements for graduation.
• School districts and charter schools that have world language requirements in their curriculum.

Terms To Know

Native American Language

A language spoken by Native American tribes, such as Navajo or Apache.

World Language

Any foreign language taught in schools, like Spanish or French.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how proficiency in a Native American language will be measured.
• It is unclear if this change will affect college admission requirements for second languages.

Official Summary Text

HB2895 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
ED��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2895

Native American
language; instruction; certification

Purpose

Stipulates that, if the State Board of Education (SBE), a school district
or a charter school includes a requirement that students receive instruction in
a world language for high school graduation, the SBE, school district or
charter school must allow students to satisfy the requirement by demonstrating
proficiency in a Native American language. Specifies that a school district or
charter school is not required to offer a Native American language course.

Background

The SBE must prescribe a minimum course of study and competency
requirements for high school graduation that incorporate the SBE-adopted
academic standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies.
The SBE establishes 22 credits as the minimum number of credits necessary for
high school graduation, which include: 1) 4 credits of English or English as a second
language; 2) 3 credits in social studies; 3) 4 credits of mathematics; 5) 3
credits of science; 6) 1 credit of the arts or career and technical education
and vocational education; and

7) 7 credits of additional courses prescribed by the school district governing
board (governing board) or charter school. A governing board may prescribe
course of study and competency requirements for high school graduation that are
in addition to, or higher than, the course of study and competency requirements
that the SBE prescribes (
A.R.S.
� 15-701.1
;
A.A.C. R7-2-302
).

The Arizona Board of Regents' (ABOR's) policies require, in the minimum
admission requirements for admission to a public university, that an applicant
demonstrates competency in a second language by completing two high school
credits in the same second language (
ABOR
).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund
associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Stipulates
that, if the SBE, a school district or a charter school includes a requirement
in the minimum course of study for high school graduation that students receive
instruction in a world language, the SBE, school district or charter school
must allow students to satisfy the instruction requirement by demonstrating
proficiency in a Native American language.

2.

Specifies
that a school district or charter school is not required to offer a Native
American language course.

3.

Allows
the SBE to establish criteria for evaluating the Native American language
proficiency of students.

4.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Amendments
Adopted by Committee

1.

Specifies
that a school district or charter school is not required to offer a Native
American language course.

2.

Allows
the SBE to establish criteria for evaluating the Native American language
proficiency of students.

House Action
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Senate
Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 26, 2026

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Current Bill Text

HB2895 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed
House Bill

Native American
language; instruction; certification

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2895

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-701.05; relating to public
education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-701.05, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-701.05.

Native American language courses; high school graduation
requirement

A. If the state board of education or
a school district or charter school includes in the minimum course of study for
the graduation of students from high school prescribed pursuant to section 15-701.01
a requirement that students receive instruction in a
world
language, the state board of education, school district or charter school shall
allow students to satisfy the requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a
Native American language.

B. This section does not require a
school district or charter school to offer a native American language course.

C. The state board of education may
establish criteria for evaluating the Native American LANGUAGE proficiency of
students.
END_STATUTE