15-795.01. Competency-based college-ready educational pathways

In accordance with the rules adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-203, subsection A, paragraph 38, students who are eligible for a high school diploma through the fulfillment of a defined competency-based college-ready educational pathway shall have multiple pathways available to them and may:

1. Enroll the following fall semester in a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district in this state. Community colleges under the jurisdiction of a community college district in this state shall admit students who obtain a high school diploma through the fulfillment of a defined competency-based educational pathway and who otherwise meet the qualifications for admission. The school district or charter school from which the student earned the high school diploma shall include that student in the school district's or charter school's student count and shall continue to receive per pupil funding for a student who earns a high school diploma until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end of grade twelve, as long as that student is enrolled as a full-time student in a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district in this state. The school district or charter school shall subtract twenty percent of its average daily membership amount and reimburse the community college if the student has earned a high school diploma and is attending a community college as a full-time student. If the student attends community college on a community college campus, the school district or charter school shall reimburse the community college district for the amount of operating and capital outlay full-time student equivalency monies. For the purposes of this paragraph, the amount of operating full-time student equivalency monies shall be equivalent to the average appropriation per full-time student equivalent for all community college districts as calculated pursuant to section 15-1466, subsection C, paragraph 2. Fifty percent of the remaining balance of the per pupil funding shall be used for teacher and pupil incentives, including scholarship programs, to offset the costs of competency-based pathways and to provide customized programs of assistance for students who do not demonstrate mastery. The other fifty percent shall be used for maintenance and operations, including capital. Under this paragraph, a student who earns a high school diploma is responsible for tuition. A student who earns a high school diploma may enroll in community college courses offered on a community college campus or a high school campus, or both. Notwithstanding any other law, community college districts shall not classify a student who remains in high school pursuant to this paragraph as a full-time equivalent student. Students who take courses on high school campuses pursuant to this paragraph shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic sports, through the end of grade twelve. The expenditure by community college districts of payments from the school district or charter school to the community colleges under this section shall not be included under the district expenditure limitation prescribed pursuant to article IX, section 21, Constitution of Arizona. If the instruction provided under this paragraph is offered on a community college campus, the funding and implementation mechanics between the school district or charter school and the community college shall be determined by agreement between the school district or charter school and the community college.

2. Remain in high school and participate in programs of study available to students through the school district or charter school. The school district or charter school shall continue to include that student in the school district's or charter school's student count and shall continue to receive per pupil funding for a student who is eligible for a high school diploma until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end of grade twelve, as long as that student is enrolled in approved advanced preparation programs of study at that school district or charter school. Students who elect to remain in high school pursuant to this paragraph shall not be prevented from enrolling at a high school after the student becomes eligible for a high school diploma and shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic sports, through the end of grade twelve.

3. Enroll in a full-time career and technical education program offered on a high school campus or a career technical education district campus, or any combination of these campuses. A student who elects to remain in high school pursuant to this paragraph shall not be prevented from enrolling at a high school after the pupil becomes eligible for a high school diploma and shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic sports, through the end of grade twelve. The school district or charter school from which the student became eligible for the high school diploma shall include that student in the school district's or charter school's student count and shall continue to receive per pupil funding for a student who is eligible for a high school diploma until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end of grade twelve, as long as that student is enrolled in an approved full-time career and technical education program. Notwithstanding any other law, if the instruction provided under this paragraph is provided by a career technical education district in a full-time career and technical education program that is designed to lead to a certificate that is awarded by an industry or recognized as meeting industry standards, the sum of the average daily membership for that pupil shall not exceed 1.25, and the average daily membership shall be apportioned at 1.0 for the career technical education district and 0.25 for the school district.

4. If accepted for admission to a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, enroll in the university after completion of additional high school coursework designed to prepare students for admission to selective postsecondary institutions that offer baccalaureate degrees. The school district or charter school from which the student earned the high school diploma shall include that student in the school district's or charter school's student count and shall continue to receive per pupil funding for a student who earns a high school diploma until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end of grade twelve for as long as that student is enrolled as a full-time student in the university. One-third of the school district's or charter school's average daily membership amount shall be retained by the school district or the operator of the charter school. One-third of the school district's or charter school's average daily membership amount shall be retained for use at the school site. One-third of the school district's or charter school's average daily membership amount shall be distributed as follows:

(a) Fifty percent of this amount shall be deposited in a scholarship account established and managed by the school district or charter school from which the student graduated specifically for a student who qualifies for a diploma and who attends a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents as a full-time student.

(b) Fifty percent of this amount shall be retained by the university where the student is enrolled.