Arizona

School Choice Policies

Charter School Choice

Does the state have charter schools?

Are for-profit charter schools or management companies allowed?

Unclear-

"The sponsor of a charter school may be either the state board of education, the state board for charter schools, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, a community college district or a group of community college districts..."

"The sponsor of a charter school may contract with a public body, private person or private organization for the purpose of establishing a charter school pursuant to this article."

15-183.B. & 15-183.C

Is there a cap on the number of charter schools?

Did not find-

We did not find information about caps on charter schools in Arizona statutes. However, Education Commission of the States states that Arizona does not have caps on charters.

Education Commission of the States 50-State comparison

Are charters required to provide transportation for any students?

Did not find-

We did not find information about charter school transportation requirements in Arizona statutes. However, Education Commission of the States states that Arizona does not specify who must provide transportation to charter school students.

Education Commission of the States 50-state comparison

Can charter schools employ uncertified teachers?

Yes-

The state board of education may not adopt rules that exceed the requirements for persons qualified to teach in charter schools prescribed in title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (P.L. 114-95).

15-183.C.5

Virtual School Choice

Do state statutes allow for full-time virtual schools?

Yes-

District public schools and charters can be online course providers or online schools.

15-808. A: Arizona online instruction; reports; definitions

Are virtual schools required to track attendance?

Yes-

Each school shall ensure that a daily log is maintained for each pupil who participates in Arizona online instruction. The log shall describe the amount of time spent by each student participating in online instruction on academic tasks.

15-808. E: Arizona online instruction; reports; definitions

Do virtual schools have to comply with state teacher certification requirements?

Did not find

Private School Choice

Does the state have voucher programs?

No-

No voucher programs found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Does the state have educational expense tuition tax credits or deductions?

No-

No educational expense tax credits or deductions found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?

Not Applicable

Is there a cap on the number of students or private schools participating in voucher programs?

Not Applicable

Are voucher students in private schools required to take any standardized tests?

Not Applicable

Can private schools be removed from voucher programs based on performance?

Not Applicable

Are private schools in voucher programs required to provide transportation?

Not Applicable

Interdistrict School Choice

Does the state have interdistrict choice programs?

Yes-

"'Open enrollment' means a policy adopted and implemented by a school district governing board to allow resident transfer pupils to enroll in any school within the school district, to allow resident pupils to enroll in any school located within other school districts in this state and to allow nonresident pupils to enroll in any school within the district pursuant to section 15-816.01."

15-816(2) Enrollment policies

Are receiving schools or districts required to provide transportation to any students?

Yes-

"The governing board of the district educating the pupil shall provide transportation limited to no more than twenty miles each way to and from the school of attendance or to and from a pickup point on a regular transportation route or for the total miles traveled each day to an adjacent district for nonresident pupils with disabilities whose individualized education program specifies that transportation is necessary for fulfillment of the program."

15-816.01(C). Enrollment policies

Page last updated: December 2020

Click here to download the State Policy Spreadsheet. Click here to download the State Policy Map Data Memo.

Shape Created with Sketch.

We’re always looking for feedback. To get in touch with our team, please email comments or questions to info@reachcentered.org. Thank you!

The State Policy Map provides a snapshot of school choice policy found in laws passed by the legislative bodies, for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on information gathered from state statutes in fall 2019; data checks continued through December 2020. Information on this site may not include the most up-to-date policy information. The State Policy Map does not systematically reflect state Department of Education administrative policies, rules, or regulations. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. Links to third-party websites are for the user’s convenience; neither REACH nor any affiliated entities endorse the contents of third-party sites.

Note: On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Montana's exclusion of religious schools from the state's tax credit scholarship program was unconstitutional (Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue 591). The responses to the question "Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?" were collected before this ruling and therefore do not reflect any changes resulting from the Espinoza decision.