ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona bill would give schools flexibility on instructional time

Apr 15, 2021, 4:25 AM

(AP Photo)...

(AP Photo)

(AP Photo)

PHOENIX — A bill one step away from getting to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s desk would redefine what schools can count as state-mandated instructional hours.

Under HB 2862, schools would be able to provide students a combination of direct instruction, project-based learning, independent learning and mastery-based learning. These instructional time models would need to be approved by district and charter governing boards.

The bill has the backing of the Greater Phoenix Chamber.

“Students could go into an employer’s workplace and get on-the-job training, or at least some knowledge about what the job would entail, so it can better inform students about the career paths out there,” Mike Huckins, the chamber’s vice president of public affairs, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

He added students would be able to learn what employers are looking for and the requirements to get a certain job. Employers would also benefit because they’d be able to get students interested in working for them in the future.

Currently, schools can only provide in-person or online instruction. There’s little room to incorporate new learning models because of the risk of losing state funding.

“As we’ve learned over the last year with the pandemic going on, there’s lots of different ways that students can learn,” Huckins said. “Some work great for some students. Others do not.”

The Arizona School Boards Association, the Arizona School Administrators Association and other education advocacy groups are neutral on the bill.

It already passed the Senate and needs the House’s final approval before it can head to Ducey’s desk.

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Arizona bill would give schools flexibility on instructional time