AZ HB2518

Appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the Arizona Department of Education for an online early learning program serving four-year-old children.

Requires the department to competitively award a contract to a 501(c)(3) organization that has demonstrated past success in conducting online early learning programs through independent evaluations.

Mandates quarterly reports from the service provider including participant numbers, technology access data, instructional software usage frequency, parental feedback, and student performance on kindergarten readiness assessments.

Defines "online early learning program" as home-based instruction with at least 45 instructional hours covering reading, math, and science aligned with national early learning standards, including computer/internet provision for low-income families and multilingual parental engagement components.

Program terminates on July 1, 2021 pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes section 41-3102.