Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-8-101 - Achievement District Schools

A. Authority. This rule is adopted pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-2153(B)(9).

B. Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to implement the legislative intent, as expressed in Chapter 129, Laws of 2016, to administer the Achievement District Schools program.

C. Scope.

1. The scope of this Rule is the scope of A.R.S. Title 15, chapter 16, article 10 as it relates to Achievement District Schools. This rule is applicable to any district public school or charter public school operating in the State of Arizona that seeks qualification as an Achievement District School.

2. The statutory authority for this rule, A.R.S. Title 15, chapter 16, article 10, does not provide for exemptions therefrom for person or agents of persons subject thereto, and no such exemption is intended or should be presumed by this rule or any provision thereof.

D. Repeal. This rule does not repeal any known prior rule, memorandum, bulletin, directive or opinion on this subject matter. If such prior rule or directive exists and is in conflict herewith, the same is repealed hereby.

E. Definitions

1. "Achievement District School" is any district public school or charter public school operating in the State of Arizona that meets all of the requirements set forth in A.R.S. § 15-2141(B) and that has applied for and has been designated by the Board as an Achievement District School.

2. "Applicant" means a School that is applying to become an Achievement District School, either directly or through its charter holder or operator or school district.

3. "Application" means an application for designation as an Achievement District School.

4. "Board" has the meaning of A.R.S. § 15-2151(2).

5. "School" means a district public school or a charter public school that qualifies as a "school" pursuant to section 15-101(22).

6. "Underperforming" school means a school that has received a letter grade of C, D or F pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-241, or the equivalent under any replacement school evaluation system.

7. "Unaffiliated" means two entities that do not have any common ownership or control and are not under the control or ownership of the same entity.

F. Achievement District Schools - Application

1. A School seeking designation as an Achievement District School, pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-2141, shall file an Application with the Board on Form A, which may be modified from time to time by the Board. The Application may be submitted either in paper format or electronically through the Governor's Office of Education website.

2. Applications failing to comply with the requirements of A.R.S. § 15-2141 shall be denied without prejudice to the subsequent filing by such School of an application complying with such requirements.

3. The accuracy and completeness of the information contained in an Application shall be certified to by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the School. Electronic Applications shall include a section for the provision of an electronic signature.

G. Achievement District Schools- Application Criteria. In completing Applications, Applicants must explain or provide the following information:

1. For proving receipt of a letter grade of A, or an equivalent successor classification, pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-2141(B)(1), certification that the School has received such grade at the time of submitting the Application. Charter public schools shall also provide certification that they are in material compliance with all requirements and their charter is not subject to revocation.

2. For the proven instructional strategies and curricula that demonstrate high academic outcomes required by A.R.S. § 15-2141(B)(2), a short narrative describing the School's strategies that may include the School's core programs, areas of instruction, pedagogy utilized and educational philosophies.

3. For verifiable enrollment demand required by A.R.S. § 15-2141(B)(3), certification that the School has demonstrated enrollment demand, such as a wait list or open enrollment demand, including the methodology used to evaluate enrollment demand.

4. For a sound financial plan that contemplates operational costs and future enrollment growth, required by A.R.S. § 15-2141(B)(4), the Applicant's annual audited financial statements for the immediate past fiscal year, or if audited financial statements are not yet available, unaudited financial statements for the immediate past fiscal year, as well as year-to-date actual expenditures as compared to budget.

5. For a commitment to provide technical assistance to an Underperforming school in the State, as required by required by A.R.S. § 15-2141(B)(5), a letter from an Unaffiliated and Underperforming school that confirms the applicant School's commitment and that identifies the areas of support being or to be provided.

6. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-2141(B)(6), Applicants shall also provide information concerning any poverty indicators of its student population, including the ratio of students eligible for a free or reduced cost lunch program.

H. Achievement District Schools - Evaluation of Applications

1. Applications shall be reviewed to confirm that all required information has been received and the application is administratively complete. Within 30 days of submission of an application, the Applicant will be notified of any deficiencies in the Application.

2. Once an Application is determined to be administratively complete, the Board shall evaluate each Application and either approve or deny the Application within 60 days of this determination.

3. The Board shall meet no less than once every other month to decide upon Applications and for the conduct of any and all other business before the Board. The Board is authorized to call additional meetings in order to evaluate Applications or conduct other business and to cancel meetings if there is no business pending before the Board.

4. Applicants shall be notified of the Board's decision to grant or deny Achievement District School status within 10 business days of the Board's decision in writing, either by letter, facsimile or electronic mail.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-8-101

Adopted by exempt rulemaking at 23 A.A.R. 661, effective 3/1/2017.