HCR 2005 Summary

• Requires all Arizona school districts to become unified school districts by July 1, 2026, with provisions for consolidation or unification planning by county school superintendents if local boards fail to adopt plans by June 30, 2024 (extendable to June 30, 2025).

• Eliminates the authority to form and operate union high school districts, requiring them to consolidate with common school districts, unify into a single district, or convert to high school districts by January 1, 2025.

• Allows school districts to retain cost savings from consolidation or unification for classroom expenditures, with at least 25% dedicated to teacher salaries.

• Requires county school superintendents to conduct feasibility studies by September 15, 2022 examining academic research, fiscal implications, curriculum alignment, facilities needs, personnel compensation, and geographic boundaries for affected districts.

• Appropriates $250,000 to counties with populations of 500,000 or fewer and $750,000 to larger counties in fiscal year 2021-2022 to cover implementation costs and feasibility studies.