SB 1503 Summary

• Establishes a five-year team-teaching pilot program under the Arizona Board of Regents to develop educator teams that deliver personalized learning and improve student academic outcomes.

• Selects a teaching college at a university with over 90,000 students to host the program and requires partnerships with school districts and charter schools to place student teacher teams in classrooms under certified lead teachers.

• Appropriates $5,000,000 annually from the state general fund for fiscal years 2019-2020 through 2024-2025 to provide stipends for participating student teachers and administer the program.

• Requires annual reports by December 15 detailing fund usage, student teacher outcomes, participation numbers, graduation rates, and retention in the teaching profession after graduation.

• Sunsets December 31, 2025, and addresses legislative findings that 25% of new teachers leave within one year and the need to reduce the number of untrained educators in Arizona schools.