AZ SB1289

Department of Education prohibited from assigning school and school district letter grades for school years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 to allow development of a revised accountability system.

Department of Education must continue collecting and publishing academic performance data during the moratorium period and develop criteria to identify schools and districts demonstrating below average performance.

School districts granted authority to adopt alternative policies on performance-based funding and teacher dismissal procedures for lowest-performing teachers during the two-year transition period.

School districts and charter schools with C, D, or F grades in 2013-2014 or with more than 10 percent of third-grade students reading far below grade level must have K-3 reading programs approved by State Board of Education before receiving reading support funding.

Student assessment scores may not be used as a factor in determining pupil letter grades during school years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016; State Board of Education must report proposed legislation for revised accountability system by December 15, 2015.