AZ HB2174

Establishes the Project Rocket pilot program to improve academic outcomes in low-performing schools with high poverty rates for fiscal years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.

Provides $150 per student to eligible schools that received letter grades of C, D, or F in the prior fiscal year, with C-grade schools requiring at least 60% of students to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

Requires eligible schools to submit improvement plans by October 1, 2021, focusing on evidence-based strategies such as academic interventions, salary adjustments, class size reduction, professional development, or adaptive technology.

Mandates that F-grade schools establish Project Rocket committees and partner with approved independent school improvement experts selected through a request for proposals process by August 30, 2021.

Appropriates $44,567,968 annually to the Project Rocket fund and $1,000,000 plus 7 FTE positions annually to the state board of education for program administration, with final program evaluation report due December 1, 2024; program repeals December 31, 2024.