Bill Text: AZ SB1700 | 2023 | Fifty-sixth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Schools; school libraries; books; prohibition
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-03-22 - House read second time [SB1700 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2023-SB1700-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: schools; school libraries; books; prohibition |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session 2023
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SB 1700 |
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Introduced by Senator Wadsack: Representatives Jones, McGarr
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An Act
amending sections 15-102, 15-113 and 15-189.07, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-249.01; amending sections 15-341, 15-362, 15-721 and 15-722, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to public schools.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 15-102, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-102. Parental involvement in the school; definition
A. Each school district governing board, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents and guardians of children enrolled in the schools within the school district, including:
1. A plan for parent participation in the schools that is designed to improve parent and teacher cooperation in such areas as homework, attendance and discipline. The plan shall provide for the administration of a parent-teacher satisfaction survey.
2. Procedures by which parents may learn about the course of study for their children and review learning materials, including the source of any supplemental educational materials.
3. Beginning January 1, 2023, procedures by which parents have access to the school's library collection of available books and materials and parents may receive a list of books and materials borrowed from the library by their children. The policy must provide that the following are exempt from the procedures prescribed pursuant to this paragraph:
(a) Schools without a full-time library media specialist or an equivalent position.
(b) School district libraries that have agreements with county free library districts, municipal libraries or other entities pursuant to section 15-362, subsection D.
4. Procedures by which parents who object to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful may withdraw their children from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used. Objection to a learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful includes objection to the material or activity because it questions beliefs or practices in sex, morality or religion.
5. If a school district offers any sex education curricula pursuant to section 15-711 or 15-716 or pursuant to any rules adopted by the state board of education, procedures to prohibit the school district from providing sex education instruction to a pupil student unless the pupil's student's parent provides written permission for the child student to participate in the sex education curricula.
6. Procedures by which parents will be notified in advance of and given the opportunity to opt their children in to any instruction, learning materials or presentations regarding sexuality, in courses other than formal sex education curricula.
7. Procedures by which parents may learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and activities that are part of the school curriculum, extracurricular clubs and activities that have been approved by the school.
8. Procedures by which parents may learn about parental rights and responsibilities under the laws of this state, including the following:
(a) The right to opt in to a sex education curriculum if one is provided by the school district.
(b) Open enrollment rights pursuant to section 15-816.01.
(c) The right to opt out of assignments pursuant to this section.
(d) The right to opt out of immunizations pursuant to section 15-873.
(e) The promotion requirements prescribed in section 15-701.
(f) The minimum course of study and competency requirements for graduation from high school prescribed in section 15-701.01.
(g) The right to opt out of instruction on acquired immune deficiency syndrome pursuant to section 15-716.
(h) The right to review test results pursuant to section 15-743.
(i) The right to participate in gifted programs pursuant to section 15-779.01.
(j) The right to access instructional materials pursuant to section 15-730.
(k) The right to receive a school report card pursuant to section 15-746.
(l) The attendance requirements prescribed in sections 15-802, 15-803 and 15-821.
(m) The right to public review of courses of study, textbooks and library books and materials pursuant to sections 15-721 and 15-722.
(n) The right to be excused from school attendance for religious purposes pursuant to section 15-806.
(o) Policies related to parental involvement pursuant to this section.
(p) The right to seek membership on school councils pursuant to section 15-351.
(q) Information about the student accountability information system as prescribed in section 15-1041.
(r) The right to access the failing schools tutoring fund pursuant to section 15-241.
(s) The right to access all written and electronic records of a school district or school district employee concerning the parent's child pursuant to section 15-143.
(t) The right to review and request the removal of a book that is available to students in the library or that will be used for classroom instruction pursuant to sections 15-113, 15-721 and 15-722.
B. The policy adopted by the governing board pursuant to this section may also include the following components:
1. A plan by which parents will be made aware of the district's parental involvement policy and this section, including:
(a) Rights under the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (20 United States Code section 1232g) relating to access to children's official records.
(b) The parent's right to inspect the school district policies and curriculum.
2. Efforts to encourage the development of parenting skills.
3. Communicating to parents techniques that are designed to assist the child's learning experience in the home.
4. Efforts to encourage access to community and support services for children and families.
5. Promoting communication between the school and parents concerning school programs and the academic progress of the parents' children.
6. Identifying opportunities for parents to participate in and support classroom instruction at the school.
7. Efforts to support, with appropriate training, parents as shared decision-makers and to encourage membership on school councils.
8. Recognizing the diversity of parents and developing guidelines that promote widespread parental participation and involvement in the school at various levels.
9. Developing preparation programs and specialized courses for certificated employees and administrators that promote parental involvement.
10. Developing strategies and programmatic structures at schools to encourage and enable parents to participate actively in their children's education.
C. The governing board may adopt a policy to provide to parents the information required by this section in an electronic form.
D. A parent shall submit a written request for information pursuant to this section during regular business hours to either the school principal at the school site or the superintendent of the school district at the office of the school district. Within ten days after receiving the request for information, the school principal or the superintendent of the school district shall either deliver the requested information to the parent or submit to the parent a written explanation of the reasons for denying the requested information. If the request for information is denied or the parent does not receive the requested information within fifteen days after submitting the request for information, the parent may request the information in writing from the school district governing board, which shall formally consider the request at the next scheduled public meeting of the governing board if the request can be properly noticed on the agenda. If the request cannot be properly noticed on the agenda, the governing board shall formally consider the request at the next subsequent public meeting of the governing board.
E. For the purposes of this section, "parent" means the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of a minor child.
Sec. 2. Section 15-113, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-113. Rights of parents; public educational institutions; objectionable materials and books; definitions
A. A parent of a student in a public educational institution has the right to review learning materials and activities in advance. and may take the following actions:
1. A parent who objects to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful may request to withdraw that parent's student from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used and request an alternative assignment.
2. A parent who objects to a book that is available to students in the school library or that will be used for classroom instruction may request that the public educational institution remove the book from the library or classroom.
B. A parent who objects to a book pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section because the parent finds the book to be lewd or sexual in nature, to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia shall submit the book and the basis for the finding to the department of education pursuant to section 15-249.01.
B. C. A charter school may require parents to waive the right to object to learning materials or activities pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section as a condition of enrollment if the charter school provides a complete list of books and materials to be used each school year before the student enrolls. If the charter school introduces books or materials that were not disclosed prior to before the student's enrollment, the parent retains the right to object to those materials pursuant to subsection A of this section.
C. D. A charter school may require that any request to review learning materials or activities or to withdraw the student from learning materials or activities pursuant to subsection A of this section be made in writing.
D. E. A public educational institution shall obtain signed, written consent from a student's parent or guardian before doing either of the following:
1. Using video, audio or electronic materials that may be inappropriate for the age of the student.
2. Providing sex education instruction to the student. At the same time the public educational institution seeks consent, it shall inform the student's parent or guardian of the parent's or guardian's right to review the instructional learning materials and activities.
E. F. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Objects to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful" means objecting to the material or activity because of sexual content, violent content or profane or vulgar language.
2. "Public educational institution" means any of the following:
(a) A school district, including its schools.
(b) A charter school.
(c) An accommodation school.
(d) The Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind.
Sec. 3. Section 15-189.07, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-189.07. Library collection; parental access; public review; objections; removal; prohibition
A. Each charter school governing body shall do all of the following:
1. Beginning January 1, 2023, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, develop and adopt procedures by which parents have access to the charter school's library collection of available books and materials and may receive a list of books and materials borrowed from the library by their children.
2. Make available on the charter school's website for review by the public a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for any of the charter school's school libraries for a period of at least sixty one hundred and twenty days after the purchase BEFORE making the books and materials available to students. Each charter school site shall make available on the school's website for review by the public a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for the school library for a period of at least sixty one hundred and twenty days after the purchase before making the books and materials available to students. This paragraph does not apply to the purchase of a book or material that is intended to replace a lost or damaged book or material.
3. Ensure that each charter school site notifies the parents of each pupil student enrolled at the charter school site of the opening and closing dates of the public review required under paragraph 2 of this section subsection within seven school days before the opening date.
B. A parent who objects to a book or material during the public review required under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section may request that the charter school not make the book or material available to students.
C. A parent who objects to a book or material during the public review required under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section because the parent finds the book to be lewd or sexual in nature, to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia shall submit the book or material and the basis for the finding to the department of education pursuant to section 15-249.01.
Sec. 4. Title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-249.01, to read:
15-249.01. Prohibited books; list; parent objections; definition
A. The department of education shall establish rules and procedures for establishing and maintaining a list of books that public educational institutions in this state are prohibited from using or making available to students, including procedures for parents to submit books to be included on the list. The department shall post the list on its website.
B. A parent may submit a book to the department of education for inclusion on the list described in subsection A of this section if the parent finds the book to be lewd or sexual in nature, to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia. The Department shall review each submission made by a parent, together with the basis for the parent's findings and, If the department agrees with the parent's findings, the department shall add the book to the list described in subsection A of this section.
C. for the purposes of this section, "Book" includes a textbook, a library book and any other material made available to students in an electronic or print format.
Sec. 5. Section 15-341, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-341. General powers and duties; immunity; delegation
A. The governing board shall:
1. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to govern the schools that are not inconsistent with the laws or rules prescribed by the state board of education.
2. Exclude from schools all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character or that are lewd or sexual in nature, that promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or that groom children into normalizing pedophilia. This paragraph does not prohibit the elective course allowed by section 15-717.01.
3. Manage and control the school property within its district, except that a district may enter into a partnership with an entity, including a charter school, another school district or a military base, to operate a school or offer educational services in a district building, including at a vacant or partially used building, or in any building on the entity's property pursuant to a written agreement between the parties.
4. Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the schools to use.
5. Prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils as provided in sections 15-701 and 15-701.01.
6. Furnish, repair and insure, at full insurable value, the school property of the district.
7. Construct school buildings on approval by a vote of the district electors.
8. In the name of the district, convey property belonging to the district and sold by the board.
9. Purchase school sites when authorized by a vote of the district at an election conducted as nearly as practicable in the same manner as the election provided in section 15-481 and held on a date prescribed in section 15-491, subsection E, but such authorization shall not necessarily specify the site to be purchased and such authorization shall not be necessary to exchange unimproved property as provided in section 15-342, paragraph 23.
10. Construct, improve and furnish buildings used for school purposes when such buildings or premises are leased from the national park service.
11. Purchase school sites or construct, improve and furnish school buildings from the proceeds of the sale of school property only on approval by a vote of the district electors.
12. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.
13. Discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school.
14. Except as provided in section 15-1224, deposit all monies received by the district as gifts, grants and devises with the county treasurer who shall credit the deposits as designated in the uniform system of financial records. If not inconsistent with the terms of the gifts, grants and devises given, any balance remaining after expenditures for the intended purpose of the monies have been made shall be used to reduce school district taxes for the budget year, except that in the case of accommodation schools the county treasurer shall carry the balance forward for use by the county school superintendent for accommodation schools for the budget year.
15. Provide that, if a parent or legal guardian chooses not to accept a decision of the teacher as provided in paragraph 42 of this subsection, the parent or legal guardian may request in writing that the governing board review the teacher's decision. This paragraph does not release school districts from any liability relating to a child's promotion or retention.
16. Provide for adequate supervision over pupils in instructional and noninstructional activities by certificated or noncertificated personnel.
17. Use school monies received from the state and county school apportionment exclusively to pay salaries of teachers and other employees and contingent expenses of the district.
18. Annually report to the county school superintendent on or before October 1 in the manner and form and on the blanks prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction or county school superintendent. The board shall also report directly to the county school superintendent or the superintendent of public instruction whenever required.
19. Deposit all monies received by school districts other than student activities monies or monies from auxiliary operations as provided in sections 15-1125 and 15-1126 with the county treasurer to the credit of the school district except as provided in paragraph 20 of this subsection and sections 15-1223 and 15-1224, and the board shall spend the monies as provided by law for other school funds.
20. Establish bank accounts in which the board during a month may deposit miscellaneous monies received directly by the district. The board shall remit monies deposited in the bank accounts at least monthly to the county treasurer for deposit as provided in paragraph 19 of this subsection and in accordance with the uniform system of financial records.
21. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against a teacher who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board but that is not cause for dismissal of the teacher or for revocation of the certificate of the teacher. Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days. Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action. The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters.
22. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against an administrator who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board regarding duties of administrators but that is not cause for dismissal of the administrator or for revocation of the certificate of the administrator. Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days. Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action. The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters. For violations that are cause for dismissal, the provisions of notice, hearing and appeal in chapter 5, article 3 of this title apply. The filing of a timely request for a hearing suspends the imposition of a suspension without pay or a dismissal pending completion of the hearing.
23. Notwithstanding sections 13-3108 and 13-3120, prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that prohibit a person from carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds unless the person is a peace officer or has obtained specific authorization from the school administrator.
24. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures relating to the health and safety of all pupils participating in district-sponsored practice sessions or games or other interscholastic athletic activities, including:
(a) The provision of water.
(b) Guidelines, information and forms, developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities, to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of concussions and head injuries and the risks of continued participation in athletic activity after a concussion. The policies and procedures shall require that, before a pupil participates in an athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent sign an information form at least once each school year that states that the parent is aware of the nature and risk of concussion. The policies and procedures shall require that a pupil who is suspected of sustaining a concussion in a practice session, game or other interscholastic athletic activity be immediately removed from the athletic activity and that the pupil's parent or guardian be notified. A coach from the pupil's team or an official or a licensed health care provider may remove a pupil from play. A team parent may also remove the parent's own child from play. A pupil may return to play on the same day if a health care provider rules out a suspected concussion at the time the pupil is removed from play. On a subsequent day, the pupil may return to play if the pupil has been evaluated by and received written clearance to resume participation in athletic activity from a health care provider who has been trained in evaluating and managing concussions and head injuries. A health care provider who is a volunteer and who provides clearance to participate in athletic activity on the day of the suspected injury or on a subsequent day is immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A school district, school district employee, team coach, official or team volunteer or a parent or guardian of a team member is not subject to civil liability for any act, omission or policy undertaken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this subdivision or for a decision made or an action taken by a health care provider. A group or organization that uses property or facilities owned or operated by a school district for athletic activities shall comply with the requirements of this subdivision. A school district and its employees and volunteers are not subject to civil liability for any other person or organization's failure or alleged failure to comply with the requirements of this subdivision. This subdivision does not apply to teams that are based in another state and that participate in an athletic activity in this state. For the purposes of this subdivision, athletic activity does not include dance, rhythmic gymnastics, competitions or exhibitions of academic skills or knowledge or other similar forms of physical noncontact activities, civic activities or academic activities, whether engaged in for the purposes of competition or recreation. For the purposes of this subdivision, "health care provider" means a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 14 or 17, an athletic trainer who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 41, a nurse practitioner who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15, and a physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 25.
(c) Guidelines, information and forms that are developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid use. Before a pupil participates in any district-sponsored practice session or game or other interscholastic athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent must be provided with information at least once each school year on the risks of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid addiction.
25. Establish an assessment, data gathering and reporting system as prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.
26. Provide special education programs and related services pursuant to section 15-764, subsection A to all children with disabilities as defined in section 15-761.
27. Administer competency tests prescribed by the state board of education for the graduation of pupils from high school.
28. Ensure that insurance coverage is secured for all construction projects for purposes of general liability, property damage and workers' compensation and secure performance and payment bonds for all construction projects.
29. Keep in the personnel file of all current and former employees who provide instruction to pupils at a school information about the employee's educational and teaching background and experience in a particular academic content subject area. A school district shall inform parents and guardians of the availability of the information and shall make the information available for inspection on request of parents and guardians of pupils enrolled at a school. This paragraph does not require any school to release personally identifiable information in relation to any teacher or employee, including the teacher's or employee's address, salary, social security number or telephone number.
30. Report to local law enforcement agencies any suspected crime against a person or property that is a serious offense as defined in section 13-706 or that involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or serious physical injury and any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to employees, students or anyone on the property of the school. This paragraph does not limit or preclude the reporting by a school district or an employee of a school district of suspected crimes other than those required to be reported by this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "dangerous instrument", "deadly weapon" and "serious physical injury" have the same meanings prescribed in section 13-105.
31. In conjunction with local law enforcement agencies and emergency response agencies, develop an emergency response plan for each school in the school district in accordance with minimum standards developed jointly by the department of education and the division of emergency management within the department of emergency and military affairs.
32. Provide written notice to the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school district at least ten days before a public meeting to discuss closing a school within the school district. The notice shall include the reasons for the proposed closure and the time and place of the meeting. The governing board shall fix a time for a public meeting on the proposed closure not less than ten days before voting in a public meeting to close the school. The school district governing board shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting. At the time and place designated in the notice, the school district governing board shall hear reasons for or against closing the school. The school district governing board is exempt from this paragraph if the governing board determines that the school shall be closed because it poses a danger to the health or safety of the pupils or employees of the school. A governing board may consult with the division of school facilities within the department of administration for technical assistance and for information on the impact of closing a school. The information provided from the division of school facilities within the department of administration shall not require the governing board to take or not take any action.
33. Incorporate instruction on Native American history into appropriate existing curricula.
34. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures:
(a) Allowing pupils who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis by a health care provider licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 14, 17 or 25 or by a registered nurse practitioner licensed and certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 to carry and self-administer emergency medications, including epinephrine auto-injectors, while at school and at school-sponsored activities. The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the medication device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to possess and self-administer the medication. The policies shall require a pupil who uses an epinephrine auto-injector while at school and at school-sponsored activities to notify the nurse or the designated school staff person of the use of the medication as soon as practicable. A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of wanton or wilful neglect.
(b) For the emergency administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by a trained employee of a school district pursuant to section 15-157.
35. Allow the possession and self-administration of prescription medication for breathing disorders in handheld inhaler devices by pupils who have been prescribed that medication by a health care professional licensed pursuant to title 32. The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the handheld inhaler device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to possess and self-administer the medication. A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on a good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph.
36. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored events and activities and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists that include the following components:
(a) A procedure for pupils, parents and school district employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The school shall make available written forms designed to provide a full and detailed description of the incident and any other relevant information about the incident.
(b) A requirement that school district employees report in writing suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official and a description of appropriate disciplinary procedures for employees who fail to report suspected incidents that are known to the employee.
(c) A requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, school officials provide all pupils with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to a pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.
(d) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials provide a pupil who is an alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil.
(e) A formal process for documenting reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. School districts shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this paragraph for at least six years. The school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that the reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.
(f) A formal process for the appropriate school officials to investigate suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying the alleged victim and the alleged victim's parent or guardian when a school official or employee becomes aware of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
(g) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted or been found to have committed incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
(h) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting false reports of incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
(i) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically harmed as the result of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.
(j) Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.
37. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures regarding changing or adopting attendance boundaries that include the following components:
(a) A procedure for holding public meetings to discuss attendance boundary changes or adoptions that allows public comments.
(b) A procedure to notify the parents or guardians of the students affected, including assurance that, if that school remains open as part of the boundary change and capacity is available, students assigned to a new attendance area may stay enrolled in their current school.
(c) A procedure to notify the residents of the households affected by the attendance boundary changes.
(d) A process for placing public meeting notices and proposed maps on the school district's website for public review, if the school district maintains a website.
(e) A formal process for presenting the attendance boundaries of the affected area in public meetings that allows public comments.
(f) A formal process for notifying the residents and parents or guardians of the affected area as to the decision of the governing board on the school district's website, if the school district maintains a website.
(g) A formal process for updating attendance boundaries on the school district's website within ninety days after an adopted boundary change. The school district shall send a direct link to the school district's attendance boundaries website to the department of real estate.
38. If the state board of education determines that the school district has committed an overexpenditure as defined in section 15-107, provide a copy of the fiscal management report submitted pursuant to section 15-107, subsection H on its website and make copies available to the public on request. The school district shall comply with a request within five business days after receipt.
39. Ensure that the contract for the superintendent is structured in a manner in which up to twenty percent of the total annual salary included for the superintendent in the contract is classified as performance pay. This paragraph does not require school districts to increase total compensation for superintendents. Unless the school district governing board votes to implement an alternative procedure at a public meeting called for this purpose, the performance pay portion of the superintendent's total annual compensation shall be determined as follows:
(a) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined based on the percentage of academic gain determined by the department of education of pupils who are enrolled in the school district compared to the academic gain achieved by the highest ranking of the fifty largest school districts in this state. For the purposes of this subdivision, the department of education shall determine academic gain by the academic growth achieved by each pupil who has been enrolled at the same school in a school district for at least five consecutive months measured against that pupil's academic results in the 2008-2009 school year. For the purposes of this subdivision, of the fifty largest school districts in this state, the school district with pupils who demonstrate the highest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008-2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 100 and the school district with pupils who demonstrate the lowest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008-2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 0.
(b) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of parents of pupils who are enrolled at the school district who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of parental satisfaction with the school district. The parental satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey. The parental satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each parent who participates in the survey. The letter grade scale used on the parental satisfaction survey shall direct parents to assign one of the following letter grades:
(i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.
(ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.
(iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.
(iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.
(v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.
(c) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of teachers who are employed at the school district and who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of teacher satisfaction with the school. The teacher satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey. The teacher satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each teacher who participates in the survey. The letter grade scale used on the teacher satisfaction survey shall direct teachers to assign one of the following letter grades:
(i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.
(ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.
(iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.
(iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.
(v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.
(d) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by other criteria selected by the governing board.
40. Maintain and store permanent public records of the school district as required by law. Notwithstanding section 39-101, the standards adopted by the Arizona state library, archives and public records for the maintenance and storage of school district public records shall allow school districts to elect to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph by maintaining and storing these records either on paper or in an electronic format, or a combination of a paper and electronic format.
41. Adopt in a public meeting and implement policies for principal evaluations. Before adopting principal evaluation policies, the school district governing board shall provide opportunities for public discussion on the proposed policies. The governing board shall adopt policies that:
(a) Are designed to improve principal performance and improve student achievement.
(b) Include the use of quantitative data on the academic progress for all students, which shall account for between twenty percent and thirty-three percent of the evaluation outcomes.
(c) Include four performance classifications, designated as highly effective, effective, developing and ineffective.
(d) Describe both of the following:
(i) The methods used to evaluate the performance of principals, including the data used to measure student performance and job effectiveness.
(ii) The formula used to determine evaluation outcomes.
42. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that define the duties of principals and teachers. These policies and procedures shall authorize teachers to take and maintain daily classroom attendance, make the decision to promote or retain a pupil in a grade in common school or to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school, subject to review by the governing board in the manner provided in section 15-342, paragraph 11.
43. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the emergency administration by an employee of a school district pursuant to section 36-2267 of naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist approved by the United States food and drug administration.
44. In addition to the notification requirements prescribed in paragraph 36 of this subsection, prescribe and enforce reasonable and appropriate policies to notify a pupil's parent or guardian if any person engages in harassing, threatening or intimidating conduct against that pupil. A school district and its officials and employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A person engages in threatening or intimidating if the person threatens or intimidates by word or conduct to cause physical injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another on school grounds. A person engages in harassment if, with intent to harass or with knowledge that the person is harassing another person, the person anonymously or otherwise contacts, communicates or causes a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telephonic or written means in a manner that harasses on school grounds or substantially disrupts the school environment.
45. Each fiscal year, provide to each school district employee a total compensation statement that is broken down by category of benefit or payment and that includes, for that employee, at least all of the following:
(a) Base salary and any additional pay.
(b) Medical benefits and the value of any employer-paid portions of insurance plan premiums.
(c) Retirement benefit plans, including social security.
(d) Legally required benefits.
(e) Any paid leave.
(f) Any other payment made to or on behalf of the employee.
(g) Any other benefit provided to the employee.
46. Develop and adopt in a public meeting policies to allow for visits, tours and observations of all classrooms by parents of enrolled pupils and parents who wish to enroll their children in the school district unless a visit, tour or observation threatens the health and safety of pupils and staff. These policies and procedures must be easily accessible from the home page on each school's website.
B. Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of this section, the county school superintendent may construct, improve and furnish school buildings or purchase or sell school sites in the conduct of an accommodation school.
C. If any school district acquires real or personal property, whether by purchase, exchange, condemnation, gift or otherwise, the governing board shall pay to the county treasurer any taxes on the property that were unpaid as of the date of acquisition, including penalties and interest. The lien for unpaid delinquent taxes, penalties and interest on property acquired by a school district:
1. Is not abated, extinguished, discharged or merged in the title to the property.
2. Is enforceable in the same manner as other delinquent tax liens.
D. The governing board may not locate a school on property that is less than one-fourth mile from agricultural land regulated pursuant to section 3-365, except that the owner of the agricultural land may agree to comply with the buffer zone requirements of section 3-365. If the owner agrees in writing to comply with the buffer zone requirements and records the agreement in the office of the county recorder as a restrictive covenant running with the title to the land, the school district may locate a school within the affected buffer zone. The agreement may include any stipulations regarding the school, including conditions for future expansion of the school and changes in the operational status of the school that will result in a breach of the agreement.
E. A school district, its governing board members, its school council members and its employees are immune from civil liability for the consequences of adopting and implementing policies and procedures pursuant to subsection A of this section and section 15-342. This waiver does not apply if the school district, its governing board members, its school council members or its employees are guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
F. A governing board may delegate in writing to a superintendent, principal or head teacher the authority to prescribe procedures that are consistent with the governing board's policies.
G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a school district governing board shall not take any action that would result in a reduction of pupil square footage unless the governing board notifies the school facilities oversight board established by section 41-5701.02 of the proposed action and receives written approval from the school facilities oversight board to take the action. A reduction includes an increase in administrative space that results in a reduction of pupil square footage or sale of school sites or buildings, or both. A reduction includes a reconfiguration of grades that results in a reduction of pupil square footage of any grade level. This subsection does not apply to temporary reconfiguration of grades to accommodate new school construction if the temporary reconfiguration does not exceed one year. The sale of equipment that results in a reduction that falls below the equipment requirements prescribed in section 41-5711, subsection B is subject to commensurate withholding of school district district additional assistance monies pursuant to the direction of the school facilities oversight board. Except as provided in section 15-342, paragraph 10, proceeds from the sale of school sites, buildings or other equipment shall be deposited in the school plant fund as provided in section 15-1102.
H. Subsections C through G of this section apply to a county board of supervisors and a county school superintendent when operating and administering an accommodation school.
I. A school district governing board may delegate authority in writing to the superintendent of the school district to submit plans for new school facilities to the school facilities oversight board for the purpose of certifying that the plans meet the minimum school facility adequacy guidelines prescribed in section 41-5711.
J. For the purposes of subsection A, paragraph 37 of this section, attendance boundaries may not be used to require students to attend certain schools based on the student's place of residence.
Sec. 6. Section 15-362, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-362. Libraries; powers and duties; authority to contract
A. The governing board of a school district may establish and maintain libraries. Such libraries shall be under control of the governing board. The governing board is accountable for the care of the libraries, but the board may appoint district librarians or put the libraries under the direct charge of a teacher or other qualified person. When requested, the governing board shall report on the libraries to the county school superintendent on forms supplied by the superintendent of public instruction.
B. The governing board shall:
1. Enforce the rules prescribed for governing school libraries.
2. Exclude from school libraries all books, publications and papers of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character, or that are lewd or sexual in nature, that promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or that groom children into normalizing pedophilia. This paragraph does not prohibit any materials for the elective course permitted by section 15-717.01.
C. A district library is free to all pupils of suitable age who attend the school. Residents of the district may become entitled to library privileges by payment of paying fees and compliance complying with regulations prescribed by the governing board. The governing board may enter into a contract or agreement with the proper authorities of a county free library or other public library possessing facilities to render the desired service for the procurement of reference or other library books or the extension services of the library. The amount expended shall not exceed two percent of the total school district budget for the school year during which the services are utilized used.
D. A school district governing board may enter into agreements with counties, county free library districts, municipal libraries, nonprofit and public libraries, tribal libraries, private schools and tribal schools in the county where the school district is located.
Sec. 7. Section 15-721, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-721. Common schools; course of study; textbooks; approval; selection; objections; removal; library books and materials; definition
A. The governing board shall approve for common schools the course of study, the basic textbook for each course and all units recommended for credit under each general subject title before implementing the course.
B. If any course does not include a basic textbook, the governing board shall approve all supplemental books used in the course before approving the course.
C. If any course includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books, the governing board may approve all supplemental books and teaching aids, including instructional computer software, that are used in the course before approving the course.
D. If the course includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books that have not been approved by the governing board at the time of approval of the course, a teacher may use the supplemental books at any time during the school year. Use of the supplemental books shall be brought to the attention of the governing board during the school year in which they are added for ratification.
E. D. Notwithstanding any other law, subsections B and C of this section do not apply to supplemental books used in courses or programs instituted pursuant to article 4 of this chapter.
F. E. The governing board shall:
1. Enforce the course of study and select all textbooks used in the common schools and purchase the textbooks from the publishers. The governing board may budget and spend district school monies for teaching aids, including instructional computer software. For courses that do not require that each student have a textbook other than for classroom instruction, the school district need only purchase one textbook for each student in the largest group that would be receiving classroom instruction at any one time.
2. Require that all meetings of committees authorized for the purposes of textbook review and selection be open to the public as prescribed in title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1.
3. Make available at the school district office for review by the public, for a period of sixty one hundred twenty days prior to formal selection of before selecting textbooks, a copy of each textbook that is being considered for selection.
4. Make available on the school district's website for review by the public a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for any of the district's school libraries for a period of at least sixty one hundred twenty days after the purchase before making the books and materials available to students. Each school operated by the school district shall make available on the school's website for review by the public a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for the school library for a period of at least sixty one hundred twenty days after the purchase before making the books and materials available to students. This paragraph does not apply to the purchase of a book or material that is intended to replace a lost or damaged book or material.
5. Ensure that each common school that is operated by the school district notifies the parents of each pupil student enrolled in the school of the opening and closing dates of the public review required under paragraph 4 of this subsection within seven school days before the opening date.
6. Allow parents to object to a book or material during the public review required under paragraph 4 of this subsection. A parent who objects to a book or material pursuant to this paragraph because the parent finds the book to be lewd or sexual in nature, to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia shall submit the book and the basis for the finding to the department of education pursuant to section 15-249.01.
G. The following are exempt from the requirements of subsection F, paragraphs 4 and 5 of this section:
1. Schools without a full-time library media specialist or an equivalent position.
2. School district libraries that have agreements with county free library districts, municipal libraries or other entities pursuant to section 15-362, subsection D.
H. F. For the purposes of this section, "textbook" means printed instructional materials or digital content, or both, and related printed or nonprinted instructional materials, that are written and published primarily for use in school instruction and that are required by a state educational agency or a local education agency for use by pupils in the classroom, including materials that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resource.
Sec. 8. Section 15-722, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-722. High schools; course of study; textbooks; approval; objections; removal; library books and materials; definition
A. The governing board shall approve for high schools the course of study and all units that are recommended for credit under each general subject title before implementing the course.
B. The governing board shall approve for high schools the basic textbook for each course and may purchase the textbooks from the publishers if approved by the governing board. Before approving any basic textbook for high schools, the governing board shall do all of the following:
1. Provide information on the school district's website, if the school district maintains a website, on the basic textbooks that are proposed for approval.
2. Require that all meetings of committees authorized for the purposes of textbook review and selection be open to the public pursuant to title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1.
3. Provide an opportunity for public comment for at least sixty one hundred twenty days. Public comment may include written comments, oral comments and comments submitted through email.
4. Make available at the school district office for review by the public, for a period of at least sixty one hundred twenty days before approving the textbooks, a copy of each textbook that is being considered for approval.
5. Make available on the school district's website for review by the public a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for any of the district's school libraries for a period of at least sixty one hundred twenty days after the purchase before making the books and materials available to students. Each school operated by the school district shall make available on the school's website for review by the public a list of all books and materials purchased after January 1, 2023 for the school library for a period of at least sixty one hundred twenty days after the purchase before making the books and materials available to students. This paragraph does not apply to the purchase of a book or material that is intended to replace a lost or damaged book or material.
6. Ensure that each high school that is operated by the school district notifies the parents of each pupil student enrolled in the school of the opening and closing dates of the public review required under paragraph 5 of this subsection within seven school days before the opening date.
7. Allow parents to object to a book or material during the public review required under this subsection. A parent who objects to a book or material pursuant to this paragraph because the parent finds the book to be lewd or sexual in nature, to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia shall submit the book and the basis for the finding to the department of education pursuant to section 15-249.01.
C. The following are exempt from the requirements of subsection B, paragraphs 5 and 6 of this section:
1. Schools without a full-time library media specialist or an equivalent position.
2. School district libraries that have agreements with county free library districts, municipal libraries or other entities pursuant to section 15-362, subsection D.
D. C. If any course does not include a basic textbook, the governing board shall approve all supplemental books that are used in the course before usage.
E. D. If any course includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books or instructional computer software, the governing board may approve all supplemental books and instructional computer software that are used in the course before usage.
F. If the course includes a basic textbook and uses supplemental books that have not been approved by the governing board at the time of approval of the course, a teacher may use the supplemental books at any time during the school year. Use of the supplemental books shall be brought to the attention of the governing board during the school year in which they are added for ratification.
G. E. The governing board shall prescribe up to five textbooks for each course, and the teacher, with the consent of the governing board, may use any one of the prescribed textbooks for the purposes of the teacher's course.
H. F. For the purposes of this section, "textbook" means printed instructional materials or digital content, or both, and related printed or nonprinted instructional materials, that are written and published primarily for use in school instruction and that are required by a state educational agency or a local education agency for use by pupils in the classroom, including materials that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used as a learning resource.
