Arizona school law review: introduction  (Page 2/4)

2. Respondent/administrative intern or contacted individual

Consider each question assigned to you and determine the proper response for the district. Prior to selecting and marking the district response, collect and analyze all evidence pertaining to district compliance with the point(s) of law expressed in the question.

Space is provided for the respondent to cite evidence to show compliance and to include other comments when considering evidence of compliance. Please use the following to show evidence of compliance: Board Policy Handbook, Teacher's Handbook, Student Handbook and Board Meeting minutes. Testimony of compliance from appropriate administrators should be used only as a last resort and should then form the basis for a recommendation of future governing board policy.

3. Administrative intern

Review responses in each chapter with special concern for the adequacy of available evidence. List all "No" responses on the Plan of Action form provided at the end of the assessment instrument in the handbook. Develop the plan of action, including time lines, and present the plan to the Governing Board for review as a Board agenda item.

The problem: why do we need this service?

The first problem that school administrators have with legal issues is that the landscape is always changing. They must make time in their busy schedules to research and study new changes to state laws. In Arizona, this is a challenge. In a typical legislative session, which starts in January and can run through the end of the fiscal year, there are frequently over 1,000 bills introduced. As many as 300+ of all bills govern education administration. A typical session might have as many as 350 bills that would change some aspect of Arizona School Law. Arizona Revised Statutes, Title XV contains most, but not all of laws that govern public schools. After 6 months of political fighting in the legislature, a typical year will see 60+ bills that change the laws governing schools. In addition, there are “rules and regulations” from a number of legal entities such as the State Board of Education, Library and Archives, Building Codes, Transportation laws, and personnel. There are also 45 different legal codes in Arizona that cover these basic areas, all of which change on a yearly basis. The only document that brings all of these elements together in a self-contained document is compiled every two years and is entitled: Arizona Education Law Review , published by NCPEA press. As part of registration for the conference, participants are given an updated copy of this document to help prepare their district to stay in compliance with Arizona School law.

An example of the many changes that occur in Arizona public education law can be found in the additions to this document since 2008. In just the last three years, these changes include: