Bill would require Arizona school board members to complete eight hours of school finance training

A new section 15-349 would require governing board members to complete a training program. It covers school district governing board members. The training must cover school finance and related topics: governance, fiduciary duties, developing and adopting policies, community engagement, student outcome-focused governance, and legal and ethical duties. County school superintendents would provide a training program approved by the auditor general, and may contract with another county's superintendent. The Department of Education would provide approved training for members who have not completed the county program, and may charge each school district for its cost. Programs must be submitted to the auditor general for approval; if the auditor general disapproves, the department may take the program to the joint legislative audit committee for a vote. Not later than forty-five days after the first day of the member's term. Members must report their completion date by October 1 each year starting in 2027.

The act sets annual reports on training completion and makes noncompliance a ground for ineligibility in certain districts. It covers governing board members of school districts the auditor general identifies as among the highest risk in the state. A member is ineligible to be a candidate for nomination, election, or appointment to any school district board only if the member fails the training and reporting rules and was not appointed to the office during the current term and is on the board of a district the auditor general identifies as one of the highest risk. Those ineligible under this rule are also barred from the county superintendent's appointments to fill vacancies and from running for the board. County superintendents report by November 1, 2027 and each year after. The state board of education reports by December 1, 2027 and each year after.

The act sets a deadline and a notice duty for members already serving when the law takes effect. It covers school district governing board members serving on the effective date whose terms expire on or after one year after the effective date, and members whose terms begin after it. A member must complete the training and notify the county school superintendent of the date. Existing members have one year after the effective date. Members whose terms begin after the effective date follow the forty-five day deadline.