Transcript Highlights:

• I think the superintendent, Superintendent Evans, we take that one.
• So Superintendent Evans will begin with you, and again I’m going to ask folks as Superintendent Evans
• </c> commissioner Olsen and superintendent commissioner Olsen and superintendent Evans<00:52:41.640><
• Now, I've spoken with both Commissioner Arnold and Superintendent Evans, and Superintendent Evans has
• Now, I've spoken with both Commissioner Arnold and Superintendent Evans, and Superintendent Evans has

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I went to the superintendent. Nothing happened.
• Superintendent? Okay, thank you.
• Superintendent? Mr.
• Superintendent? Okay, thank you.
• Superintendent? Mr.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• , assistant superintendent, or business manager, with a recommendation from the superintendent on the
• </c> leaders including our superintendent leaders including our superintendent Marcy Marcy Marcy Kelly
• </c> much more to the job of superintendent much more to the job of superintendent than<01:13:54.400>
• It only talks about the in-district changes. superintendent to move their student to superintendent to
• </c> teachers administrators superintendents teachers administrators superintendents work<03:34:00.640

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Derek Lennox, on behalf of the California County Superintendents.
• Derek Linus with the California County Superintendents.
• Brian Easter, the Superintendent of Maple Elementary School District. Thank you.
• Melanie Motta, Superintendent/Principal, Hope Elementary, strong support.
• Derek Lannis with the California County Superintendents.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c><00:19:46.240><c> school</c> The superintendent I mean the school The superintendent I mean
• I've been a superintendent.
• ,</c> that the schools, the superintendent, that the schools, the superintendent, the<01:03:06.640><c
• Uh, I I like to and my superintendent.
• </c> recognized school superintendent then. recognized school superintendent then.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Their main mission is to oversee the state superintendent of schools and hire the state superintendent
• He represents the superintendents association, and I've had extensive conversations with superintendents
• superintendent.
• Why would you expect a state superintendent to last longer than our district superintendents are lasting
• There were three state superintendents—this is what gets me—three state superintendents over P.E.D. from

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And the superintendent there, Mr. Marlett? Yes, Superintendent Marlett, are you there?
• </c> um and uh we have um uh superintendent um and uh we have um uh superintendent Frank<00:42:42.079
• Thank you, superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Superintendent, are there questions or comments for the superintendent or for Senator Weber?

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• In Section 1.7, it empowers the state superintendent or district superintendents to waive, modify, or
• Thank you so much, Superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• It can go to the superintendent of schools.
• I also want to thank Superintendent Canavero.

Committee: Assembly Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, as a superintendent, you have to have an ed specialist.
• Yesterday, I spoke with the superintendent in the Salmon School District.
• I also spoke with the superintendent in the Shelley School District.
• Superintendents make decisions that affect student safety, ...not less.
• This is per approval of the superintendent of public instruction.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a superintendent of schools.
• same school board attorney reports to the superintendent?
• They already told you she was our national superintendent of the year.
• When it's clear that the staff is the staff or the superintendent and they report to the superintendent
• If the superintendent reports to the board, they could bring an item to get rid of the superintendent

Summary: The committee first heard SJR 1104, a proposed constitutional amendment on voluntary religious expression in public schools. Senator Massullo said the measure would protect students and school personnel from discrimination for lawful religious expression, while not requiring prayer or religious activity. Questions focused on whether the proposal would change existing law, whether it could be used to protect coercive conduct by school officials, and whether the staff summary accurately reflected the bill. Public testimony included support from religious-freedom advocates and opposition from American Atheists and some senators who said the measure could make minority-faith students uncomfortable. The committee voted to report SJR 1104 favorably. The committee then took up SB 1738 on educational facilities, which directs state education offices to review facility requirements and recommend design and construction practices to improve safety and accountability. Senator Yarborough offered and the committee adopted an amendment removing crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusting the bill to preserve safe spaces during emergencies. The bill was reported favorably after brief discussion about balancing transparency, access control, and emergency safety. The committee also adopted a delete-all amendment to SB 824 on charter schools, replacing it with a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to the Department of Education, which would publish a statewide report; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next approved confirmation recommendations for appointees on tabs 7 and 8, then took up SPB 7036, a committee bill sponsored by Chair Simon. The package included school turnaround and early literacy changes, updates to school safety and health policies, early learning revisions, instructional changes, and educator pipeline provisions. The most contentious part was a proposal to let the state develop instructional materials; several senators questioned costs, guardrails, and whether the state should enter the textbook business. Simon said that portion was still being considered and that the bill would need safeguards if it moved forward. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1620 on public education, described by Senator Leak as a “school board members’ bill of rights.” The bill would give individual board members direct access to district documents and staff, limit district attorneys’ ability to represent both the board and administration, strengthen nepotism rules, and prohibit nondisclosure agreements for employees. Testimony from Volusia County board members, educators, and advocates was sharply divided: supporters argued the bill would improve transparency and protect minority board members, while opponents warned it could undermine superintendent authority, expose confidential student or personnel information, and create confusion in district operations. After debate, the committee voted to report SB 1620 favorably. The committee then heard SB 1170 on cameras in self-contained special education classrooms, with an amendment changing the proposal from a statewide mandate to a district policy allowing parents of students with disabilities to request cameras. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, centered on protecting non-speaking and vulnerable students and documenting abuse; one witness opposed the bill as an unfunded mandate. The committee was still in debate on the bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will also say that our superintendents I will also say that our superintendents and our school district
• I'm the superintendent, proud superintendent, of St. Lucie County Public Schools.
• Thank you, Superintendent, for being here.
• Prince, the superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools; and Dr.
• I had the superintendent of my school system.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an overview from Department of Education Chancellor Paul Burns on Florida’s K-12 governance structure and major divisions, including early learning, public schools, safe schools, school choice, and accountability. He highlighted school readiness and VPK, teacher preparation and licensure, school safety functions, scholarship and virtual/home education programs, and FAST progress monitoring. Burns also cited statewide gains such as higher mid-year reading performance, a record graduation rate of 89.7%, and record CTE enrollment, while members questioned the meaning of Florida’s “number one” education rankings, teacher pay, post-COVID learning loss, vacancies, and chronic absenteeism. St. Lucie County Superintendent John Prince then described the scale and responsibilities of a mid-sized district, emphasizing student safety, transportation, meals, hurricane shelter operations, career and technical education, teacher recruitment and retention, progress monitoring, remediation, and mental health supports. Members asked about school shelter construction standards, remediation funding, late school start times, attendance, and concordance scores; Prince argued for more flexibility for CTE pathways and noted that local districts use a mix of state and federal funds to support remediation and staffing. The committee then moved to an early warning systems panel. Burns explained that Florida law requires districts to use attendance, behavior/suspensions, course performance, FAST results, and other academic indicators to identify students needing support, with districts and families developing intervention plans. Superintendents from Putnam, St. Johns, and St. Lucie counties said chronic absenteeism is tied to achievement and NAEP decline, but causes vary by district, including poverty, transportation, daycare, family instability, travel, and student athletics. They described MTSS, PBIS, home visits, attendance letters, and community partnerships as responses. Members also discussed VPK access, full-day VPK funding, excused versus unexcused absences, and the need for earlier intervention in pre-K and K-2. Finally, Vice Chancellor Darren Norris outlined Florida’s post-Parkland school safety measures, including armed school officers, anonymous reporting, behavioral threat assessment teams, mental health training, panic alert systems, emergency drills, active assailant response policies, and firearm detection canines. Superintendents said compliance is costly and often requires shifting local funds, but they praised state grants for mental health, hardening, and mapping. They noted ongoing challenges with new mandates, capital costs, manual reporting burdens, and the need to balance safety requirements with classroom resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you agree, superintendent?
• As I read that, it strikes out the superintendent.
• Chair, senators, that the Superintendent said at a prior meeting that a prior Superintendent had set
• And I hear the superintendent saying that she hasn't.
• I think Senator Duhigg passed legislation with the superintendent of insurance to require the superintendent

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Superintendent.
• Ed Monansala, Superintendent, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Albaran, Superintendent
• Corey Greenlaw, Assistant Superintendent for the National County Superintendent of Schools, Dr.
• Next, Fresno County Superintendent. We're close. Assistant Superintendent.
• Corey Greenlaw, Assistant Superintendent with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is that the top-paid superintendent in the state, the superintendent of the Tolleson Union High School
• That's higher—$11,000 more than the next highest-paid superintendent.
• And once they did understand it, that superintendent was put on leave.
• School district governing boards hire superintendents in public meetings.
• Superintendent salaries are public in the Superintendent Annual Financial Report, which isn't true of

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. HB 2395 would create a voluntary Arizona School Fitness Program in ADE to recognize schools that participate in nationally recognized fitness testing, allow schools to note the designation on report cards, and direct ADE to issue guidelines and best practices. Supporters argued it would encourage student activity and improve health and achievement without penalties; it passed with a due pass recommendation on a 6-0 vote, with two members not voting. HB 2409, the Getting Arizona Ready for AI Act, would create an Arizona Artificial Intelligence Program in ADE to offer voluntary summer AI courses around the state, including digital hygiene/civic integrity and small-business/entrepreneurship components, with optional facility use and possible academic credit. The sponsor said the bill was meant to prepare students for AI-driven job disruption while keeping the program voluntary and low-cost. It passed 4-2 with one not voting. HB 2203 would require ADE to review school and agency reporting requirements, identify duplicative or obsolete reports, and recommend consolidation or repeal; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill passed unanimously by those voting. HB 2008 would bar school libraries from using public funds to pay professional associations for libraries and librarians; opponents called it unnecessary and constitutionally problematic, while supporters framed it as limiting public spending. It passed 4-2 with one not voting. The committee also heard HB 2075, which would require school districts to submit superintendent and CFO contracts to ADE, post them online, and maintain a searchable database and annual compensation report. Supporters said it would improve transparency and prevent excessive or hidden compensation, while opponents argued it unfairly targeted district schools and should, if anything, apply to all publicly funded schools. After extended debate over transparency and comparisons to charter schools and ESAs, the bill received a due pass recommendation on a 4-2 vote with one not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• so what does a superintendant so what does a superintendent<03:13:06.200><c> do</c> superintendent do
• </c> and responsibilities superintendents and responsibilities superintendents were<03:16:22.239><c>
• The superintendent is the superintendent.
• Now we have a superintendent and two assistant superintendents.
• <04:04:49.880><c> assistant</c><04:04:50.279><c> superintendent</c> superintendent assistant superintendent

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 362, which would grant the Department of Education rulemaking authority related to educator licensure and testing requirements, including passing scores on professional education assessments. Representative Ladd said the bill is intended to preserve New Hampshire’s standards for classroom teachers and CTE instructors, while allowing DOE flexibility through rulemaking. He emphasized maintaining high standards, including for career and technical education, and said he was open to DOE clarifying the language further. Committee members raised concerns that the bill, as written, could remove language recognizing industry-recognized credentials for CTE instructors. Department of Education Director Steven Appy said DOE had drafted an amendment to clarify that the requirement applies to an initial New Hampshire license, to exempt CTE teachers from content exams, and to preserve current administrative practice allowing basic academic skills testing and industry-recognized credentials as substitutes. The committee discussed the distinction between basic academic skills tests and content assessments, and Appy said the amendment was meant to avoid conflating those requirements. The chair said the committee would take up executive session on HB 362 and related bills later. The committee then took up House Bill 90, which narrows and defines the rules for part-time teachers, especially in concurrent enrollment settings. Representative Ladd explained that the bill is meant to allow qualified college faculty or adjuncts from the University System or Community College System to teach high school concurrent-enrollment courses when local schools lack a teacher with the needed master’s-level credentials, particularly in math and STEM subjects. He said the bill is intended to expand student access to college-level coursework, save money, and preserve standards, while still requiring background checks and adherence to ethics and conduct rules. Members began asking questions about how the bill would work in practice, including certification and endorsement issues, but the hearing was not concluded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• into the superintendency role.
• I don't know that's fair for our superintendents and leaders. Mr.
• My sister was also an educator; she was a superintendent.
• And I know that's frustrating as superintendents.
• And Superintendent Guy, I'll make sure I'm looking at the right person.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill puts accountability into a school superintendent, to all school superintendents, to be responsible
• We need to talk to ASA, the superintendent association.
• , that superintendent, whether the board is actually placing those pressures or maybe the superintendent
• Giving the accusation to the principal or the superintendent.
• However, this bill would make superintendents of rural schools with large areas to cover, or superintendents

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 4043, which would require each school district and charter school, beginning in 2027, to ensure at least one employee at each school is trained in CPR, first aid, and AED use. The sponsor said he intended to amend the bill on the floor to ensure someone is trained at all times and to clarify AED language. The American Heart Association testified neutral with concerns, supporting CPR training but warning the bill could leave gaps if only one person is trained and noting the need for AED access and emergency planning. Parents whose son died in an Arizona kindergarten classroom urged support, saying school staff should be prepared to respond to emergencies. The committee recommended the bill do pass by a vote of 7-1 with four present. The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 2015, as amended by a strike-everything amendment supporting at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for students and prominent display of federal dietary guidelines. A representative of End Chronic Disease testified in favor, arguing schools should help prevent chronic disease through health education and physical activity. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and then gave the resolution a due pass recommendation on a 12-0 roll call. House Bill 2621, in its strike-everything form and with a Garcia amendment, addressed enrollment and special education procedures for students in unorganized territory, students using certificates of educational convenience, and children of active-duty military parents. The sponsor explained the bill was meant to clarify confusing law, speed enrollment and evaluations, and reduce delays in services. Champions for Kids supported the measure and the amendments, and the committee adopted both amendments before recommending the bill do pass 11-0. The committee also approved House Bill 2385, which limits superintendent contracts to one-year terms for the first three years unless the superintendent has already been employed three consecutive years; the sponsor framed it as a way to reduce costly early buyouts. That bill passed 7-4. Later, the committee approved House Bill 4106, creating the One Arizona Service Fellowship Program to provide service opportunities, stipends, and tuition awards for young adults, with an amendment changing the stipend contribution formula. The sponsor and supporters described it as a state-based service model inspired by Utah and aimed at education, military families, parks, hunger, and homelessness work; some members opposed it as an unnecessary state mandate or questioned the need for a new program. The committee also passed House Bill 2992, as amended, establishing a pilot program on child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention, expanded to K-12 and including grooming/exploitation content. A survivor advocate strongly supported the bill, while some members raised concerns about the funding source and possible unintended consequences. Finally, the committee passed House Bill 2370, which would require school leaders to notify governing boards before modifying weapons detection systems and to report changes within 24 hours; the sponsor cited a fatal school stabbing and other weapons incidents, while opponents argued the bill was too vague and could create operational problems. The committee also adopted a strike-everything amendment to House Bill 4056, allowing legislators making public records requests in their official capacity to avoid fees and requiring electronic production; the sponsor said it was needed after districts sought large fees, while opponents warned it could burden public agencies. The committee then began discussion of House Bill 2478, which would create an Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes to study K-12 accountability, finance, graduation requirements, and related issues, with proposed amendments to add early childhood study and change commission membership, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> certain decisions of the superintendent. certain decisions of the superintendent.
• Uh, we want our superintendent tied to our community.
• Uh, we want our superintendent tied to our community.
• our superintendent tied to our<00:07:25.440><c> community.
• :43.480><c> said</c><00:14:43.960><c> he</c> Earwood, the superintendent, has said he Earwood, the superintendent

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Pam Quinones, the superintendent from Lovington.
• , an associate superintendent, and superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent Quinonez, thank you, Superintendent Hatch, and thank you, Superintendent Strickland
• Back to the question, and I know the superintendent had Superintendent Quiñones if you wanted to add
• Thank you, Superintendent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Superintendent. Mr.
• Chair, Superintendent. Mr.
• Chair, Superintendent. Mr.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Chair, Superintendent.