AZ SB1459

Requires school districts and charter schools to include an objective discipline rubric in student handbooks that does not consider student religion, race, sex, color, ethnicity, ancestry, or national origin.

Mandates annual reporting to the Department of Education on total teacher discipline referrals, the percentage implemented by administration, and the percentage not implemented.

Prohibits school districts, charter schools, and administrators from discouraging teachers from submitting discipline referrals through policies, guidelines, or statements that limit referral authority or penalize referral submission.

Authorizes the Department of Education to investigate violations of referral restrictions and adjust discipline statistics if warranted referrals were not submitted due to violations.

Requires the Department to notify schools that fail to implement disciplinary actions in at least 75 percent of referred cases and reduce the school's letter grade by one grade if the school received notice in the prior year and again fails to meet the threshold.