Bill > SB1412

This bill mandates that the Arizona Auditor General conduct a comprehensive cost study of Arizona's online instruction programs and schools, examining expenses related to administration, technology, personnel, and curriculum for the fiscal years 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025, including federally supported costs and potentially relying on self-reported data. The study will also identify areas for reducing administrative and reporting burdens, analyze how the state's school finance formula impacts students receiving online instruction, and propose reporting options for online programs regarding course delivery methods, expenditures, student numbers, and teacher counts. The Auditor General is empowered to select a sample of programs and courses for this study, and relevant state education bodies and online programs are required to cooperate and provide necessary information. This section of the bill will be repealed on December 31, 2027. Additionally, the bill appropriates $165,000 from the state general fund to the office of the Auditor General for fiscal year 2026-2027 to cover the costs of this study, with this appropriation being exempt from standard lapsing provisions.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84966