Governor Jan Brewer Signs Education Reform Legislation

Education Bills Referenced in the Governors State of the State Address Signed into Law PHOENIX Governor Jan Brewer has now signed into law all of the education bills touted in her January State of the State address. Im very proud of the legislative accomplishments achieved this session regarding education reform, said Governor Brewer. I would like to thank education chairs Senator John Huppenthal and Representative Rich Crandall for their leadership in enacting these important and progressive educational reforms. Increasing college and career readiness and reducing the achievement gap are key goals for the business community, said Thomas Franz, President and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership. Arizona's business leaders were proud to support this package of reforms and look forward to their implementation. Yesterday, the Governor signed HB 2732 and SB 1040. HB 2732 lays the groundwork for the end of third grade social promotion and will increase literacy rates by creating powerful incentives to focus on these critical early years. The new promotion requirements do not apply to pupils who are enrolled in grade three before the 2014 school year; the bill will become effective upon the successful passage of Proposition 100. SB 1040 will require the State Board of Education to adopt a model framework for teacher and principal evaluations, which includes data on student academic progress and accounts for between 33-50 percent of the evaluation outcomes. Use of such evaluation instruments by school districts and charter schools shall begin in 2013. Last week, Governor Brewer signed into law the school labeling system legislation, SB 1286, which replaces the current school classification system with a letter grade system. The current system rating schools as excelling, highly performing, performing plus, performing, under-performing and failing will be replaced with simple letter grades, such as A, B, C, D, and F. Additionally, for the first time school districts will receive grades. The passage of these three pieces of legislation, along with the alternative teacher certification bill signed by Governor Brewer in April, will play a key role in Arizonas Race to the Top application.