SB 1303 Summary

• Amends Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-913.01 to expand county jail education programs to serve prisoners up to 21 years old without a high school diploma or GED, including those with disabilities.

• Requires county school superintendents and sheriffs to jointly establish methods for delivering education programs in county jails, including transferring educational records from juvenile detention centers or other public agencies.

• Allows counties to operate jail education programs through accommodation schools funded at 72 percent of the standard accommodation school rate, or through a county jail education fund with base and variable amounts.

• Variable funding amounts are calculated based on the number of instructional days (240+ minutes) provided to prisoners and includes enhanced funding for pupils with disabilities.

• Appropriates $114,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 to the superintendent of public instruction for distribution to county school superintendents for jail education programs.