AZ SB1388

Transfers authority over academic standards from the state board of education to individual school district governing boards and charter school governing bodies, with superintendent approval required.

Allows school districts and charter schools to adopt their own instruments to measure standards tests instead of mandating a single statewide test, with the department of education posting at least four nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement tests for selection.

Removes references to the specific "Arizona" instrument to measure standards test throughout education statutes and replaces with references to tests adopted by individual school districts and charter schools.

Maintains existing accountability measures including third-grade reading retention policies, school letter grades (A-F), improvement plans for low-performing schools, and graduation requirements while allowing local flexibility in assessment methods.

Decentralizes assessment administration and curriculum decisions to local level while preserving state oversight of special education, English language learner services, and basic competency requirements for promotion and graduation.