2018 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 15 - Education
§ 15-1655 Arizona teacher academy; tuition waiver; annual report

15-1655. Arizona teacher academy; tuition waiver; annual report

A. Universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents shall implement an Arizona teacher academy to incentivize Arizona resident students to enter the teaching profession and to commit to teach in Arizona public schools. The Arizona board of regents, in consultation with universities under the jurisdiction of the board, shall develop:

1. Metrics to assess the efficacy of the academy.

2. A marketing and promotion plan to recruit students for the academy.

B. The Arizona teacher academy may include new or existing teacher preparation program pathways that are student-focused and that employ proven, research-based models of best practices already being implemented. Each university may develop a portfolio of teacher preparation programs to offer as part of the academy. Programs offered as part of the academy shall include accelerated models for:

1. High-demand teacher specializations, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

2. Individuals seeking postbaccalaureate coursework that results in professional certification.

C. Each university shall develop formalized partnerships with public schools in this state to build commitments for teacher employment on completion of the Arizona teacher academy. The targeted deployment of teachers who have completed the academy shall be based on the needs of each school system and the community that is being served as well as the individual skills of each teacher.

D. Each university shall provide to each full-time student who is enrolled in the Arizona teacher academy an annual waiver for all tuition and fees associated with the student's program of study, subject to the following:

1. If the student does not successfully complete the academic year in good academic standing, the student shall reimburse the university for the total amount of the waiver for tuition and fees the student received for that year.

2. For each academic year that the student successfully completes and for which the student receives a waiver for all tuition and fees, the student must agree to teach for one full school year in a public school in this state.

3. If the student does not fulfill the student's agreement to teach in a public school, the student must reimburse the university for the proportional amount of the waiver for tuition and fees that the student received that corresponds to the number of school years the student agreed to teach but did not teach in a public school in this state.

4. If the student is physically or mentally unable to fulfill the requirements of the academy, the university shall assess the student's ability to repay the financial assistance received and shall make a determination on any terms of repayment.

E. On or before July 1, 2018 and each year thereafter, the Arizona board of regents shall report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, and submit a copy to the secretary of state, on all of the following:

1. The total number of students enrolled in the Arizona teacher academy of each university.

2. The percentage of students who completed each year of the academy and who plan to continue to the subsequent year, delineated by each teacher preparation program offered by each university as part of the Arizona teacher academy.

3. The number of teachers who completed a program of study through the Arizona teacher academy.

4. The number of teachers currently teaching in a public school in this state as part of an agreement for receiving a full tuition and fee waiver.

5. The number of students who have defaulted on their agreement and who are in repayment agreements.