high schools; elective credits; CTE

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify an exact calendar date for when this law takes effect, only referring to 'the effective date' generally.

HB4053: High School Career and Technical Education Electives

This law requires Arizona high schools to offer at least two career-focused elective courses each year.

What This Bill Does

• Requires school districts and charter schools with grades nine through twelve to offer at least two career and technical education or vocational education courses as electives every school year.
• States that these courses should, if possible, count toward a community college degree or certificate program.
• Notes that the courses offered should be transferable to universities under the Arizona Board of Regents when practicable.
• Clarifies that schools do not need to create new programs if they already offer at least two CTE or vocational education courses on the law's effective date.

Who It Names or Affects

• School districts in Arizona
• Charter schools in Arizona
• Students in grades nine through twelve

Terms To Know

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Courses that teach skills for specific jobs or careers, also known as vocational education.

Elective courses

Classes that students can choose to take instead of required subjects like math or science.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not require schools to create new courses if they already offer two qualifying classes.
• The requirement for courses to be transferable applies only 'if practicable,' meaning it is not mandatory in every situation.
• The specific effective date of the law is not listed in the provided text.

Official Summary Text

HB4053 - high schools; elective credits; CTE

Current Bill Text

HB4053 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
high schools; elective credits; CTE

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 4053

Introduced by

Representative
Carter P

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-720.01; relating to
instruction.

(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 15-720.01, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-720.01.

Career and technical education and vocational education; high
schools; elective courses; definition

A. Each school district and charter
school that provides instruction to students in any of grades nine through
twelve shall offer at least two career and technical education and vocational
education courses as elective courses each school year.� If practicable, the
courses offered pursuant to this section must be courses for which credits are
applicable to an established community college academic degree or certificate
program and are transferable to a university under the jurisdiction of the
Arizona board of regents.

B. This section does not require a
school district or charter school to offer a new course or program if the
school district offers at least two career and technical education and
vocational education courses on the effective date of this section.

C. For the purposes of this section,
"career and technical education and vocational education" has the
same meaning prescribed in section 15-781.
END_STATUTE