HB 2392 Summary

• Establishes the Arizona Teacher Recruitment and Retention Incentive Program within the Department of Education as a partnership between Arizona Board of Regents universities and participating school districts.

• Creates teaching fellows programs at each ABOR university to train undergraduate and current teachers pursuing master's or doctoral degrees, with annual stipends of $1,500 for undergraduate juniors/seniors, student teachers, and teachers in their first three years of employment.

• Requires stipend recipients to execute service contracts obligating them to teach full-time in Arizona for one year per year of stipend received, with provisions for repayment of stipends plus 7% interest and liquidated damages if contract obligations are not fulfilled.

• Mandates the Department of Education, in cooperation with ABOR and participating school districts, to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature by September 15 documenting vacant teaching positions, teacher shortages, and program operations.

• Appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2017-2018 to the stipend fund and sets the program termination date as July 1, 2024.