Section R7-2-315. Board Examination Systems; Offerings; Proce- dures

A.      The State Board of Education shall select board examination systems that may be used by traditional public schools and charter schools in accordance with the requirements of this Section. Board examination systems selected by the State Board of Education shall:

1.        Be approved by an interstate compact on board examina- tion systems,

2.        Be periodically modified to reflect core  standards selected by an interstate compact on board examination systems,

3.        Be aligned to State Board of Education approved aca- demic standards,

4.        Have common passing scores that are prescribed by an interstate compact on board examination systems that are set to the level of literacy required to succeed in college- level courses offered by community colleges in this state that count toward a degree or certificate without taking remedial or developmental coursework.

B.       The State Board of Education shall contract with a private organization to act as primary administrator of approved board examination systems. The private organization shall:

1.        Identify, select and contract with a national organization that is devoted to issues concerning education and the economy and that is selected by the State Board of Edu- cation to provide technical services to develop and main- tain an interstate system of approved board examination systems.

2.        Provide data and other information to a national organiza- tion that is devoted to issues concerning education and the economy and that is selected by the State Board of Education to provide technical services the national orga- nization deems necessary to set appropriate performance

standards for students in this state. The Department of Education shall provide data and other information to the private organization, as necessary.

3.        Conduct technical studies required by the State Board of Education to compare the scores on approved board examinations by the students in this state to scores on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards Test and other measures deemed necessary to ensure the efficacy of the approved board examinations. The private organization may contract with other entities that are selected by the State Board of Education for the purpose of conducting technical studies.

4.        In cooperation with the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion and the State Board of Education, solicit monies from all lawful private and public sources, including fed- eral monies, to offset the costs of instruction provided to students pursuant to this Section.

5.        Exercise general supervision over the implementation of the approved board examination systems in this state.

6.        Prepare an annual report for the State Board of Education, which shall forward it to the legislature and the governor, on the progress made toward the goals established in

A.R.S. Title 15, Chapter 7, Article 6. Participating schools and the Department of Education shall provide data to the private organization as needed in order to complete the annual report.

7.        Identify, select and represent this state on the national governing body of an interstate compact on board exam- ination systems, as approved by the State Board of Edu- cation.

8.        Select this state’s representatives in an interstate compact on board examination systems in accordance with the policies prescribed by that interstate compact.

9.        Develop the Grand Canyon Diploma to be approved and adopted by the State Board of Education.

C.      The Department of Education shall develop a system, subject to State Board of Education approval, to track the academic progress of pupils who participate in board examination sys- tems.

D.      School districts or charter schools wishing to implement an approved board examination in one or more schools shall:

1.        Send written notice to the private organization described in this Section indicating that school district’s or charter school’s interest in implementing an approved board examination system,

2.        Submit an implementation plan to the private organiza- tion described in this Section that includes at least the fol- lowing elements:

a.         The specific approved board examination system the school district wishes to implement;

b.        A proposed timeline for the implementation of an approved board examination system;

c.         A description of the funding model that will be employed to ensure the sustainability of the approved board examination system offering;

d.        A communication plan for students and parents that provides an overview of the selected approved board examination system, potential course offerings, a description of student support systems, and contact information for students and parents to obtain more detailed information regarding board examination systems and the Grand Canyon Diploma option, as defined in R7-2-315.01.

E.       Upon receipt of an implementation plan described in this Sec- tion the private organization shall work cooperatively with the applicable school district or charter school to ensure that the

plan is feasible and to modify any elements of the plan deemed necessary for successful implementation of the approved board examination system.

Historical Note

Adopted effective November 17, 1994 (Supp. 94-4).

Repealed effective February 20, 1997 (Supp. 97-1). New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 18 A.A.R. 1025, effective January 24, 2011 (Supp. 12-2).