HB2539

THE CONTEXT: As added by Laws 2021, Chapter 404, the State Board of Education (SBE), subject to the availability of appropriated monies, is required to design a public awareness effort to distribute school choice and enrollment materials that: 1) communicate the ability to choose any Arizona public school; 2) include resources to learn about school choice options; and 3) instruct the public how to request enrollment for students. SBE may collaborate with public and private partners and ADE ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would establish the Program in ADE, direct the Program to implement a public awareness program that: a) informs the public about a student's ability to choose any Arizona public school; b) directs the public to informational resources that explain school choice options; and c) instruct the public how to request enrollment for students, and mandate the Program develop single-page informational pamphlets that: a) educate parents on the available school choice options for students in kindergarten through the 12th grade; and b) are available in physical and digital formats and, if digital, contain hyperlinks to websites that provide further information.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to create an operative state process for school choice instead of leaving implementation undefined. It would establish the Program in ADE, and would also direct the Program to implement a public awareness program that: a) informs the public about a student's ability to choose any Arizona public school; b) directs the public to informational resources that explain school choice options; and c) instruct the public how to request enrollment for students, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.