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School board authority in Arizona

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Arizona state law makes school boards responsible for governing and managing public school districts in the state. This article details the powers and duties Arizona law grants to school boards for governing school districts and the constraints on that authority with regard to certain topics.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • School boards in Arizona have the authority to set curriculum content and requirements, subject to restrictions and requirements in state law.
  • State law also prohibits the inclusion of certain ideas or content related to race, ethnicity, and racism within curriculum.
  • Arizona is one of 26 states with state laws or executive orders prohibiting or limiting cell phones in classrooms and/or schools, including through requiring school boards to pass certain policies.
  • Collective bargaining agreements between teachers' unions and school districts are not allowed in Arizona.


    • Types of legal and contractual constraints on school board authority

    See also: Local school board authority across the 50 states

    This page presents the results from Ballotpedia research on school board authority and constraints on that authority in all 50 states as of 2024. School board authority comes from state constitutions and state statutes and can be interpreted or specified by state regulations or court decisions. In addition to authority over district budgets, the selection of a superintendent, and administrative responsibilities, school boards have varying levels of authority over district policy on other topics depending on the state and district.

    There are several sources of legal and contractual constraints on school board policy-making authority which also vary by state or by district.

    • State laws commonly restrict or mandate school board policies on certain topics.
      • Parents' Bills of Rights, which at least 26 states have in statute to some degree, limit the policies school boards are allowed to pass.
    • State rules, guidance, and funding incentives can constrain, mandate, or influence school board policies. These include regulation from state education commissions and superintendents, executive orders from governors, or grant conditions.
    • Federal and state court rulings can dictate whether or not school district policies are compatible with state law or federal law.
    • The federal government, largely through its Department of Education, can promulgate regulations or guidance that influence district policy or make funding contingent on certain policies.
    • Collective bargaining agreements between school districts and teacher unions can create contractual constraints on the policies school boards can pass.
    • State school board associations can influence school board policy or, in some cases. enter into contracts with school boards that can limit school board policy.

    This page features the following sections:

    School board authority over district policy in Arizona

    Enabling or authorizing statute for the boards of school districts in Arizona

    See also: Enabling statute

    Arizona Statutes Title 15, Chapter 4 - 421, creates school boards to govern school districts:[1]

    “

    A. The governing body of a school district shall be a governing board. There shall be three governing board members, except as otherwise provided by this section and section 15-425, subsection A.

    B. The governing body of a high school district shall be a governing board composed of:

    1. In a single district, the governing board members of the common school district.

    2. In a union high school district, five members.[2]

    		”

    Arizona Statutes Title 15, Chapter 1 - 101, defines a governing board as a board for the government and management of a school district:[3]

    “

    14. "Governing board" means a body organized for the government and management of the schools within a school district or a county school superintendent in the conduct of an accommodation school.[2]

    		”

    Arizona school boards' powers and duties

    Arizona public school boards of directors are given a list of 46 specific powers and duties to administer public schools in the state, with the first duty charging the boards with prescribing "policies and procedures to govern the schools," but requires the policies to be consistent with existing state statutes and regulations issued by the Arizona State Board of Education, according to Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-341. In addition to budget-related and fiscal duties, school property and facilities management, and administrative responsibilities, the specific powers and duties include

    • setting curriculum requirements;
    • student discipline policies; and
    • certain parental notification requirements.

    The list of duties of school district boards are charged with appears in Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-341 as of 2024 and are as follows:[4]

    “

    A. The governing board shall:

    1. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to govern the schools that are not inconsistent with the laws or rules prescribed by the state board of education.

    2. Exclude from schools all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character. This paragraph does not prohibit the elective course allowed by section 15-717.01.

    3. Manage and control the school property within its district, except that a district may enter into a partnership with an entity, including a charter school, another school district or a military base, to operate a school or offer educational services in a district building, including at a vacant or partially used building, or in any building on the entity's property pursuant to a written agreement between the parties.

    4. Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the schools to use.

    5. Prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils as provided in sections 15-701 and 15-701.01.

    6. Furnish, repair and insure, at full insurable value, the school property of the district.

    7. Construct school buildings on approval by a vote of the district electors.

    8. In the name of the district, convey property belonging to the district and sold by the board.

    9. Purchase school sites when authorized by a vote of the district at an election conducted as nearly as practicable in the same manner as the election provided in section 15-481 and held on a date prescribed in section 15-491, subsection E, but such authorization shall not necessarily specify the site to be purchased and such authorization shall not be necessary to exchange unimproved property as provided in section 15-342, paragraph 23.

    10. Construct, improve and furnish buildings used for school purposes when such buildings or premises are leased from the national park service.

    11. Purchase school sites or construct, improve and furnish school buildings from the proceeds of the sale of school property only on approval by a vote of the district electors.

    12. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.

    13. Discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school.

    14. Except as provided in section 15-1224, deposit all monies received by the district as gifts, grants and devises with the county treasurer who shall credit the deposits as designated in the uniform system of financial records. If not inconsistent with the terms of the gifts, grants and devises given, any balance remaining after expenditures for the intended purpose of the monies have been made shall be used to reduce school district taxes for the budget year, except that in the case of accommodation schools the county treasurer shall carry the balance forward for use by the county school superintendent for accommodation schools for the budget year.

    15. Provide that, if a parent or legal guardian chooses not to accept a decision of the teacher as provided in paragraph 42 of this subsection, the parent or legal guardian may request in writing that the governing board review the teacher's decision. This paragraph does not release school districts from any liability relating to a child's promotion or retention.

    16. Provide for adequate supervision over pupils in instructional and noninstructional activities by certificated or noncertificated personnel.

    17. Use school monies received from the state and county school apportionment exclusively to pay salaries of teachers and other employees and contingent expenses of the district.

    18. Annually report to the county school superintendent on or before October 1 in the manner and form and on the blanks prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction or county school superintendent. The board shall also report directly to the county school superintendent or the superintendent of public instruction whenever required.

    19. Deposit all monies received by school districts other than student activities monies or monies from auxiliary operations as provided in sections 15-1125 and 15-1126 with the county treasurer to the credit of the school district except as provided in paragraph 20 of this subsection and sections 15-1223 and 15-1224, and the board shall spend the monies as provided by law for other school funds.

    20. Establish bank accounts in which the board during a month may deposit miscellaneous monies received directly by the district. The board shall remit monies deposited in the bank accounts at least monthly to the county treasurer for deposit as provided in paragraph 19 of this subsection and in accordance with the uniform system of financial records.

    21. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against a teacher who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board but that is not cause for dismissal of the teacher or for revocation of the certificate of the teacher. Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days. Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action. The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters.

    22. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against an administrator who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board regarding duties of administrators but that is not cause for dismissal of the administrator or for revocation of the certificate of the administrator. Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days. Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action. The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters. For violations that are cause for dismissal, the provisions of notice, hearing and appeal in chapter 5, article 3 of this title apply. The filing of a timely request for a hearing suspends the imposition of a suspension without pay or a dismissal pending completion of the hearing.

    23. Notwithstanding sections 13-3108 and 13-3120, prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that prohibit a person from carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds unless the person is a peace officer or has obtained specific authorization from the school administrator.

    24. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures relating to the health and safety of all pupils participating in district-sponsored practice sessions or games or other interscholastic athletic activities, including:

    (a) The provision of water.
    (b) Guidelines, information and forms, developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities, to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of concussions and head injuries and the risks of continued participation in athletic activity after a concussion. The policies and procedures shall require that, before a pupil participates in an athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent sign an information form at least once each school year that states that the parent is aware of the nature and risk of concussion. The policies and procedures shall require that a pupil who is suspected of sustaining a concussion in a practice session, game or other interscholastic athletic activity be immediately removed from the athletic activity and that the pupil's parent or guardian be notified. A coach from the pupil's team or an official or a licensed health care provider may remove a pupil from play. A team parent may also remove the parent's own child from play. A pupil may return to play on the same day if a health care provider rules out a suspected concussion at the time the pupil is removed from play. On a subsequent day, the pupil may return to play if the pupil has been evaluated by and received written clearance to resume participation in athletic activity from a health care provider who has been trained in evaluating and managing concussions and head injuries. A health care provider who is a volunteer and who provides clearance to participate in athletic activity on the day of the suspected injury or on a subsequent day is immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A school district, school district employee, team coach, official or team volunteer or a parent or guardian of a team member is not subject to civil liability for any act, omission or policy undertaken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this subdivision or for a decision made or an action taken by a health care provider. A group or organization that uses property or facilities owned or operated by a school district for athletic activities shall comply with the requirements of this subdivision. A school district and its employees and volunteers are not subject to civil liability for any other person or organization's failure or alleged failure to comply with the requirements of this subdivision. This subdivision does not apply to teams that are based in another state and that participate in an athletic activity in this state. For the purposes of this subdivision, athletic activity does not include dance, rhythmic gymnastics, competitions or exhibitions of academic skills or knowledge or other similar forms of physical noncontact activities, civic activities or academic activities, whether engaged in for the purposes of competition or recreation. For the purposes of this subdivision, "health care provider" means a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 14 or 17, an athletic trainer who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 41, a nurse practitioner who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15, and a physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 25.
    (c) Guidelines, information and forms that are developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid use. Before a pupil participates in any district-sponsored practice session or game or other interscholastic athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent must be provided with information at least once each school year on the risks of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid addiction.

    25. Establish an assessment, data gathering and reporting system as prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.

    26. Provide special education programs and related services pursuant to section 15-764, subsection A to all children with disabilities as defined in section 15-761.

    27. Administer competency tests prescribed by the state board of education for the graduation of pupils from high school.

    28. Ensure that insurance coverage is secured for all construction projects for purposes of general liability, property damage and workers' compensation and secure performance and payment bonds for all construction projects.

    29. Collect and maintain information about each current and former teacher's educational and teaching background and experience in a particular academic content subject area. A school district shall either post the information on the school district's website or make the information available for inspection on request of parents and guardians of pupils enrolled at a school. This paragraph does not require any school to release personally identifiable information in relation to any teacher, including the teacher's address, salary, social security number or telephone number.

    30. Report to local law enforcement agencies any suspected crime against a person or property that is a serious offense as defined in section 13-706 or that involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or serious physical injury and any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to employees, students or anyone on the property of the school. This paragraph does not limit or preclude the reporting by a school district or an employee of a school district of suspected crimes other than those required to be reported by this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "dangerous instrument", "deadly weapon" and "serious physical injury" have the same meanings prescribed in section 13-105.

    31. In conjunction with local law enforcement agencies and emergency response agencies, develop an emergency response plan for each school in the school district in accordance with minimum standards developed jointly by the department of education and the division of emergency management within the department of emergency and military affairs. Any emergency response plan developed pursuant to this paragraph must address how the school and emergency responders will communicate with and provide assistance to students with disabilities.

    32. Provide written notice to the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school district at least ten days before a public meeting to discuss closing a school within the school district. The notice shall include the reasons for the proposed closure and the time and place of the meeting. The governing board shall fix a time for a public meeting on the proposed closure not less than ten days before voting in a public meeting to close the school. The school district governing board shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting. At the time and place designated in the notice, the school district governing board shall hear reasons for or against closing the school. The school district governing board is exempt from this paragraph if the governing board determines that the school shall be closed because it poses a danger to the health or safety of the pupils or employees of the school. A governing board may consult with the division of school facilities within the department of administration for technical assistance and for information on the impact of closing a school. The information provided from the division of school facilities within the department of administration shall not require the governing board to take or not take any action.

    33. Incorporate instruction on Native American history into appropriate existing curricula.

    34. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures:

    (a) Allowing pupils who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis by a health care provider licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 14, 17 or 25 or by a registered nurse practitioner licensed and certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 to carry and self-administer emergency medications, including epinephrine auto-injectors, while at school and at school-sponsored activities. The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the medication device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to possess and self-administer the medication. The policies shall require a pupil who uses an epinephrine auto-injector while at school and at school-sponsored activities to notify the nurse or the designated school staff person of the use of the medication as soon as practicable. A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of wanton or wilful neglect.
    (b) For the emergency administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by a trained employee of a school district pursuant to section 15-157.

    35. Allow the possession and self-administration of prescription medication for breathing disorders in handheld inhaler devices by pupils who have been prescribed that medication by a health care professional licensed pursuant to title 32. The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the handheld inhaler device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to possess and self-administer the medication. A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on a good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph.

    36. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored events and activities and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists that include the following components:

    (a) A procedure for pupils, parents and school district employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The school shall make available written forms designed to provide a full and detailed description of the incident and any other relevant information about the incident.
    (b) A requirement that school district employees report in writing suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official and a description of appropriate disciplinary procedures for employees who fail to report suspected incidents that are known to the employee.
    (c) A requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, school officials provide all pupils with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to a pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.
    (d) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials provide a pupil who is an alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil.
    (e) A formal process for documenting reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. School districts shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this paragraph for at least six years. The school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that the reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.
    (f) A formal process for the appropriate school officials to investigate suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying the alleged victim and the alleged victim's parent or guardian when a school official or employee becomes aware of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
    (g) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted or been found to have committed incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
    (h) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting false reports of incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
    (i) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically harmed as the result of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.
    (j) Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

    37. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures regarding changing or adopting attendance boundaries that include the following components:

    (a) A procedure for holding public meetings to discuss attendance boundary changes or adoptions that allows public comments.
    (b) A procedure to notify the parents or guardians of the students affected, including assurance that, if that school remains open as part of the boundary change and capacity is available, students assigned to a new attendance area may stay enrolled in their current school.
    (c) A procedure to notify the residents of the households affected by the attendance boundary changes.
    (d) A process for placing public meeting notices and proposed maps on the school district's website for public review, if the school district maintains a website.
    (e) A formal process for presenting the attendance boundaries of the affected area in public meetings that allows public comments.
    (f) A formal process for notifying the residents and parents or guardians of the affected area as to the decision of the governing board on the school district's website, if the school district

    maintains a website.

    (g) A formal process for updating attendance boundaries on the school district's website within ninety days after an adopted boundary change. The school district shall send a direct link to the school district's attendance boundaries website to the department of real estate.

    38. If the state board of education determines that the school district has committed an overexpenditure as defined in section 15-107, provide a copy of the fiscal management report submitted pursuant to section 15-107, subsection H on its website and make copies available to the public on request. The school district shall comply with a request within five business days after receipt.

    39. Ensure that the contract for the superintendent is structured in a manner in which up to twenty percent of the total annual salary included for the superintendent in the contract is classified as performance pay. This paragraph does not require school districts to increase total compensation for superintendents. Unless the school district governing board votes to implement an alternative procedure at a public meeting called for this purpose, the performance pay portion of the superintendent's total annual compensation shall be determined as follows:

    (a) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined based on the percentage of academic gain determined by the department of education of pupils who are enrolled in the school district compared to the academic gain achieved by the highest ranking of the fifty largest school districts in this state. For the purposes of this subdivision, the department of education shall determine academic gain by the academic growth achieved by each pupil who has been enrolled at the same school in a school district for at least five consecutive months measured against that pupil's academic results in the 2008-2009 school year. For the purposes of this subdivision, of the fifty largest school districts in this state, the school district with pupils who demonstrate the highest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008-2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 100 and the school district with pupils who demonstrate the lowest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008-2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 0.
    (b) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of parents of pupils who are enrolled at the school district who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of parental satisfaction with the school district. The parental satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey. The parental satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each parent who participates in the survey. The letter grade scale used on the parental satisfaction survey shall direct parents to assign one of the following letter grades:
    (i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.
    (ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.
    (iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.
    (iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.
    (v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.
    (c) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of teachers who are employed at the school district and who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of teacher satisfaction with the school. The teacher satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey. The teacher satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each teacher who participates in the survey. The letter grade scale used on the teacher satisfaction survey shall direct teachers to assign one of the following letter grades:
    (i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.
    (ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.
    (iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.
    (iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.
    (v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.
    (d) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by other criteria selected by the governing board.

    40. Maintain and store permanent public records of the school district as required by law. Notwithstanding section 39-101, the standards adopted by the Arizona state library, archives and public records for the maintenance and storage of school district public records shall allow school districts to elect to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph by maintaining and storing these records either on paper or in an electronic format, or a combination of a paper and electronic format.

    41. Adopt in a public meeting and implement policies for principal evaluations. Before adopting principal evaluation policies, the school district governing board shall provide opportunities for public discussion on the proposed policies. The governing board shall adopt policies that:

    (a) Are designed to improve principal performance and improve student achievement.
    (b) Include the use of quantitative data on the academic progress for all students, which shall account for between twenty percent and thirty-three percent of the evaluation outcomes.
    (c) Include four performance classifications, designated as highly effective, effective, developing and ineffective.
    (d) Describe both of the following:
    (i) The methods used to evaluate the performance of principals, including the data used to measure student performance and job effectiveness.
    (ii) The formula used to determine evaluation outcomes.

    42. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that define the duties of principals and teachers. These policies and procedures shall authorize teachers to take and maintain daily classroom attendance, make the decision to promote or retain a pupil in a grade in common school or to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school, subject to review by the governing board in the manner provided in section 15-342, paragraph 11.

    43. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the emergency administration by an employee of a school district pursuant to section 36-2267 of naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist approved by the United States food and drug administration.

    44. In addition to the notification requirements prescribed in paragraph 36 of this subsection, prescribe and enforce reasonable and appropriate policies to notify a pupil's parent or guardian if any person engages in harassing, threatening or intimidating conduct against that pupil. A school district and its officials and employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A person engages in threatening or intimidating if the person threatens or intimidates by word or conduct to cause physical injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another on school grounds. A person engages in harassment if, with intent to harass or with knowledge that the person is harassing another person, the person anonymously or otherwise contacts, communicates or causes a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telephonic or written means in a manner that harasses on school grounds or substantially disrupts the school environment.

    45. Each fiscal year, provide to each school district employee a total compensation statement that is broken down by category of benefit or payment and that includes, for that employee, at least all of the following:

    (a) Base salary and any additional pay.
    (b) Medical benefits and the value of any employer-paid portions of insurance plan premiums.
    (c) Retirement benefit plans, including social security.
    (d) Legally required benefits.
    (e) Any paid leave.
    (f) Any other payment made to or on behalf of the employee.
    (g) Any other benefit provided to the employee.

    46. Develop and adopt in a public meeting policies to allow for visits, tours and observations of all classrooms by parents of enrolled pupils and parents who wish to enroll their children in the school district unless a visit, tour or observation threatens the health and safety of pupils and staff. These policies and procedures must be easily accessible from the home page on each school's website.[2]

    		”

    Discretionary powers

    In addition to the 46 powers and duties school boards are charged with, Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-342 lists 39 discretionary powers they are authorized, but not required, to exercise.[5]

    These discretionary powers include the option to

    • expel pupils for misconduct;
    • review and overturn the decision of a teacher to pass or fail a student;
    • suspend a teacher or administrator without pay for up to 10 days;
    • establish alternative education programs;
    • require a period of silence to be observed at the beginning of the day;
    • require uniforms;
    • adopt policies on parental notification when a law enforcement officer interviews a student; and
    • for small districts, opt out of federal grants on the grounds of reporting burdens.

    The full list of discretionary powers state law gives to school boards in Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-342 as of 2024 are below:[6]

    “

    The governing board may:

    1. Expel pupils for misconduct.

    2. Exclude from grades one through eight children under six years of age.

    3. Make such separation of groups of pupils as it deems advisable.

    4. Maintain such special schools during vacation as deemed necessary for the benefit of the pupils of the school district.

    5. Allow a superintendent or principal or representatives of the superintendent or principal to travel for a school purpose, as determined by a majority vote of the board. The board may allow members and members-elect of the board to travel within or without the school district for a school purpose and receive reimbursement. Any expenditure for travel and subsistence pursuant to this paragraph shall be as provided in title 38, chapter 4, article 2. The designated post of duty referred to in section 38-621 shall be construed, for school district governing board members, to be the member's actual place of residence, as opposed to the school district office or the school district boundaries. Such expenditures shall be a charge against the budgeted school district funds. The governing board of a school district shall prescribe procedures and amounts for reimbursement of lodging and subsistence expenses. Reimbursement amounts shall not exceed the maximum amounts established pursuant to section 38-624, subsection C.

    6. Construct or provide in rural districts housing facilities for teachers and other school employees that the board determines are necessary to operate the school.

    7. Sell or lease to the state, a county, a city, another school district or a tribal government agency any school property required for a public purpose if the sale or lease of the property will not affect the normal operations of a school within the school district.

    8. Annually budget and spend monies for membership in an association of school districts within this state.

    9. Enter into leases or lease-purchase agreements for school buildings or grounds, or both, as lessor or as lessee, for periods of less than twenty years subject to voter approval for construction of school buildings as prescribed in section 15-341, subsection A, paragraph 7.

    10. Subject to title 41, chapter 56, sell school sites or enter into leases or lease-purchase agreements for school buildings and grounds, as lessor or as lessee, for a period of twenty years or more, but not to exceed ninety-nine years, if authorized by a vote of the school district electors in an election called by the governing board as provided in section 15-491, except that authorization by the school district electors in an election is not required if one of the following requirements is met:

    (a) The market value of the school property is less than $50,000 or the property is procured through a renewable energy development agreement, an energy performance contract, which among other items includes a renewable energy power service agreement, or a simplified energy performance contract pursuant to section 15-213.01.

    (b) The buildings and sites are completely funded with monies distributed by the school facilities division within the department of administration or at the direction of the school facilities oversight board, or its predecessor.

    (c) The transaction involves the sale of improved or unimproved property pursuant to an agreement with the school facilities oversight board in which the school district agrees to sell the improved or unimproved property and transfer the proceeds of the sale to the school facilities oversight board in exchange for monies from the school facilities oversight board for the acquisition of a more suitable school site. For a sale of property acquired by a school district before July 9, 1998, a school district shall transfer to the school facilities oversight board that portion of the proceeds that equals the cost of the acquisition of a more suitable school site. If there are any remaining proceeds after the transfer of monies to the school facilities oversight board, a school district shall only use those remaining proceeds for future land purchases approved by the school facilities oversight board, or for capital improvements not funded by the school facilities oversight board for any existing or future facility.

    (d) The transaction involves the sale of improved or unimproved property pursuant to a formally adopted plan and the school district uses the proceeds of this sale to purchase other property that will be used for similar purposes as the property that was originally sold if the sale proceeds of the improved or unimproved property are used within two years after the date of the original sale to purchase the replacement property. If the sale proceeds of the improved or unimproved property are not used within two years after the date of the original sale to purchase replacement property, the sale proceeds shall be used toward paying any outstanding bonded indebtedness. If any sale proceeds remain after paying for outstanding bonded indebtedness, or if the district has no outstanding bonded indebtedness, sale proceeds shall be used to reduce the district's primary tax levy. A school district shall not use this subdivision unless all of the following conditions exist:

    (i) The school district is the sole owner of the improved or unimproved property that the school district intends to sell.

    (ii) The school district did not purchase the improved or unimproved property that the school district intends to sell with monies that were distributed pursuant to title 41, chapter 56.

    (iii) The transaction does not violate section 15-341, subsection G.

    11. Review the decision of a teacher to promote a pupil to a grade or retain a pupil in a grade in a common school or to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school. The pupil has the burden of proof to overturn the decision of a teacher to promote, retain, pass or fail the pupil. In order to sustain the burden of proof, the pupil shall demonstrate to the governing board that the pupil has mastered the academic standards adopted by the state board of education pursuant to sections 15-701 and 15-701.01. If the governing board overturns the decision of a teacher pursuant to this paragraph, the governing board shall adopt a written finding that the pupil has mastered the academic standards. Notwithstanding title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1, the governing board shall review the decision of a teacher to promote a pupil to a grade or retain a pupil in a grade in a common school or to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school in executive session unless a parent or legal guardian of the pupil or the pupil, if emancipated, disagrees that the review should be conducted in executive session and then the review shall be conducted in an open meeting. If the review is conducted in executive session, the board shall notify the teacher of the date, time and place of the review and shall allow the teacher to be present at the review. If the teacher is not present at the review, the board shall consult with the teacher before making its decision. Any request, including the written request as provided in section 15-341, the written evidence presented at the review and the written record of the review, including the decision of the governing board to accept or reject the teacher's decision, shall be retained by the governing board as part of its permanent records.

    12. Provide transportation or site transportation loading and unloading areas for any child or children if deemed for the best interest of the district, whether within or without the district, county or state.

    13. Enter into intergovernmental agreements and contracts with school districts or other governing bodies as provided in section 11-952. Intergovernmental agreements and contracts between school districts or between a school district and other governing bodies as provided in section 11-952 are exempt from competitive bidding under the procurement rules adopted by the state board of education pursuant to section 15-213.

    14. Include in the curricula it prescribes for high schools in the school district career and technical education, vocational education and technology education programs and career and technical, vocational and technology program improvement services for the high schools, subject to approval by the state board of education. The governing board may contract for the provision of career and technical, vocational and technology education as provided in section 15-789.

    15. Suspend a teacher or administrator from the teacher's or administrator's duties without pay for a period of time of not to exceed ten school days, if the board determines that suspension is warranted pursuant to section 15-341, subsection A, paragraph 21 or 22.

    16. Dedicate school property within an incorporated city or town to that city or town or within a county to that county for use as a public right-of-way if both of the following apply:

    (a) Pursuant to an ordinance adopted by the city, town or county, there will be conferred on the school district privileges and benefits that may include benefits related to zoning.

    (b) The dedication will not affect the normal operation of any school within the district.

    17. Enter into option agreements for the purchase of school sites.

    18. Donate surplus or outdated learning materials, educational equipment and furnishings to nonprofit community organizations if the governing board determines that the anticipated cost of selling the learning materials, educational equipment or furnishings equals or exceeds the estimated market value of the materials.

    19. Prescribe policies to assess reasonable fees for students to use district-provided parking facilities. The fees are to be applied by the district solely against costs incurred in operating or securing the parking facilities. Any policy adopted by the governing board pursuant to this paragraph shall include a fee waiver provision in appropriate cases of need or economic hardship.

    20. Establish alternative education programs that are consistent with the laws of this state to educate pupils, including pupils who have been reassigned pursuant to section 15-841, subsection E or F.

    21. Require a period of silence to be observed at the commencement of the first class of the day in the schools. If a governing board chooses to require a period of silence to be observed, the teacher in charge of the room in which the first class is held shall announce that a period of silence not to exceed one minute in duration will be observed for meditation, and during that time no activities shall take place and silence shall be maintained.

    22. Require students to wear uniforms.

    23. Exchange unimproved property or improved property, including school sites, if the governing board determines that the improved property is unnecessary for the continued operation of the school district without requesting authorization by a vote of the school district electors and if the governing board determines that the exchange is necessary to protect the health, safety or welfare of pupils or if the governing board determines that the exchange is based on sound business principles for either:

    (a) Unimproved or improved property of equal or greater value.

    (b) Unimproved property that the owner contracts to improve if the value of the property ultimately received by the school district is of equal or greater value.

    24. For common and high school pupils, assess reasonable fees for optional extracurricular activities and programs conducted when the common or high school is not in session, except that fees shall not be charged for pupils' access to or use of computers or related materials. For high school pupils, the governing board may assess reasonable fees for fine arts and vocational education courses and for optional services, equipment and materials offered to the pupils beyond those required to successfully complete the basic requirements of any other course, except that fees shall not be charged for pupils' access to or use of computers or related materials. Fees assessed pursuant to this paragraph shall be adopted at a public meeting after notice has been given to all parents of pupils enrolled at schools in the district and shall not exceed the actual costs of the activities, programs, services, equipment or materials. The governing board shall authorize principals to waive the assessment of all or part of a fee assessed pursuant to this paragraph if it creates an economic hardship for a pupil. For the purposes of this paragraph, "extracurricular activity" means any optional, noncredit, educational or recreational activity that supplements the education program of the school, whether offered before, during or after regular school hours.

    25. Notwithstanding section 15-341, subsection A, paragraphs 7 and 9, construct school buildings and purchase or lease school sites, without a vote of the school district electors, if the buildings and sites are totally funded from one or more of the following:

    (a) Monies in the unrestricted capital outlay fund, except that the estimated cost shall not exceed $250,000 for a district that uses section 15-949.

    (b) Monies distributed at the direction of the school facilities oversight board established by section 41-5701.02 or by the school facilities division within the department of administration pursuant to title 41, chapter 56.

    (c) Monies specifically donated for the purpose of constructing school buildings. This paragraph does not eliminate the requirement for an election to raise revenues for a capital outlay override pursuant to section 15-481 or a bond election pursuant to section 15-491.

    26. Conduct a background investigation that includes a fingerprint check conducted pursuant to section 41-1750, subsection G for certificated personnel and personnel who are not paid employees of the school district, as a condition of employment. A school district may release the results of a background check to another school district for employment purposes. The school district may charge the costs of fingerprint checks to its fingerprinted employee, except that the school district may not charge the costs of fingerprint checks for personnel who are not paid employees of the school district.

    27. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, sell advertising as follows:

    (a) Advertisements shall be age appropriate and not promote any substance that is illegal for minors such as alcohol, tobacco and drugs or gambling. Advertisements shall comply with the state sex education policy of abstinence.

    (b) Advertising approved by the governing board for the exterior of school buses may appear only on the sides of the bus in the following areas:

    (i) The signs shall be below the seat level rub rail and not extend above the bottom of the side windows.

    (ii) The signs shall be at least three inches from any required lettering, lamp, wheel well or reflector behind the service door or stop signal arm.

    (iii) The signs shall not extend from the body of the bus so as to allow a handhold or present a danger to pedestrians.

    (iv) The signs shall not interfere with the operation of any door or window.

    (v) The signs shall not be placed on any emergency doors.

    (c) The school district shall establish an advertisement fund that is composed of revenues from the sale of advertising. The monies in an advertisement fund are not subject to reversion.

    28. Assess reasonable damage deposits to pupils in grades seven through twelve for using textbooks, musical instruments, band uniforms or other equipment required for academic courses. The governing board shall adopt policies on any damage deposits assessed pursuant to this paragraph at a public meeting called for this purpose after providing notice to all parents of pupils in grades seven through twelve in the school district. Principals of individual schools within the district may waive the damage deposit requirement for any textbook or other item if the payment of the damage deposit would create an economic hardship for the pupil. The school district shall return the full amount of the damage deposit for any textbook or other item if the pupil returns the textbook or other item in reasonably good condition within the time period prescribed by the governing board. For the purposes of this paragraph, "in reasonably good condition" means the textbook or other item is in the same or a similar condition as it was when the pupil received it, plus ordinary wear and tear.

    29. Notwithstanding section 15-1105, expend surplus monies in the civic center school fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay if sufficient monies are available in the fund after meeting the needs of programs established pursuant to section 15-1105.

    30. Notwithstanding section 15-1143, spend surplus monies in the community school program fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay if sufficient monies are available in the fund after meeting the needs of programs established pursuant to section 15-1142.

    31. Adopt guidelines to standardize the format of the school report cards required by section 15-746 for schools within the district.

    32. Adopt policies that require parental notification when a law enforcement officer interviews a pupil on school grounds. Policies adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall not impede a peace officer from performing the peace officer's duties. If the school district governing board adopts a policy that requires parental notification:

    (a) The policy may provide reasonable exceptions to the parental notification requirement.

    (b) The policy shall set forth whether and under what circumstances a parent may be present when a law enforcement officer interviews the pupil, including reasonable exceptions to the circumstances under which a parent may be present when a law enforcement officer interviews the pupil, and shall specify a reasonable maximum time after a parent is notified that an interview of a pupil by a law enforcement officer may be delayed to allow the parent to be present.

    33. Enter into voluntary partnerships with any party to finance with monies other than school district monies and cooperatively design school facilities that comply with the adequacy standards prescribed in section 41-5711 and the square footage per pupil requirements pursuant to section 41-5741, subsection D, paragraph 3, subdivision (b). The design plans and location of any such school facility shall be submitted to the school facilities oversight board for approval pursuant to section 41-5741, subsection 0. If the school facilities oversight board approves the design plans and location of any such school facility, the party in partnership with the school district may cause to be constructed and the district may begin operating the school facility before monies are distributed at the direction of the school facilities oversight board pursuant to section 41-5741. Monies distributed from the new school facilities fund to a school district in a partnership with another party to finance and design the school facility shall be paid to the school district pursuant to section 41-5741. The school district shall reimburse the party in partnership with the school district from the monies paid to the school district pursuant to section 41-5741, in accordance with the voluntary partnership agreement. Before the school facilities oversight board directs the distribution of any monies pursuant to this subsection, the school district shall demonstrate to the school facilities oversight board that the facilities to be funded pursuant to section 41-5741, subsection O meet the minimum adequacy standards prescribed in section 41-5711. If the cost to construct the school facility exceeds the amount that the school district receives from the new school facilities fund, the partnership agreement between the school district and the other party shall specify that, except as otherwise provided by the other party, any such excess costs shall be the responsibility of the school district. The school district governing board shall adopt a resolution in a public meeting that an analysis has been conducted on the prospective effects of the decision to operate a new school with existing monies from the school district's maintenance and operations budget and how this decision may affect other schools in the school district. If a school district acquires land by donation at an appropriate school site approved by the school facilities oversight board and a school facility is financed and built on the land pursuant to this paragraph, the school facilities oversight board shall direct the distribution of an amount equal to twenty percent of the fair market value of the land that can be used for academic purposes. The school district shall place the monies in the unrestricted capital outlay fund and increase the unrestricted capital budget limit by the amount of the monies placed in the fund. Monies distributed under this paragraph shall be distributed from the new school facilities fund pursuant to section 41-5741. If a school district acquires land by donation at an appropriate school site approved by the school facilities oversight board and a school facility is financed and built on the land pursuant to this paragraph, the school district shall not receive monies for the donation of real property pursuant to section 41-5741, subsection F. It is unlawful for:

    (a) A county, city or town to require as a condition of any land use approval that a landowner or landowners that entered into a partnership pursuant to this paragraph provide any contribution, donation or gift, other than a site donation, to a school district. This subdivision only applies to the property in the voluntary partnership agreement pursuant to this paragraph.

    (b) A county, city or town to require as a condition of any land use approval that the landowner or landowners located within the geographic boundaries of the school subject to the voluntary partnership pursuant to this paragraph provide any donation or gift to the school district except as provided in the voluntary partnership agreement pursuant to this paragraph.

    (c) A community facilities district established pursuant to title 48, chapter 4, article 6 to be used for reimbursement of financing the construction of a school pursuant to this paragraph.

    (d) A school district to enter into an agreement pursuant to this paragraph with any party other than a master planned community party. Any land area consisting of at least three hundred twenty acres that is the subject of a development agreement with a county, city or town entered into pursuant to section 9-500.05 or 11-1101 shall be deemed to be a master planned community. For the purposes of this subdivision, "master planned community" means a land area consisting of at least three hundred twenty acres, which may be noncontiguous, that is the subject of a zoning ordinance approved by the governing body of the county, city or town in which the land is located that establishes the use of the land area as a planned area development or district, planned community development or district, planned unit development or district or other land use category or district that is recognized in the local ordinance of such county, city or town and that specifies the use of such land is for a master planned development.

    34. Enter into an intergovernmental agreement with a presiding judge of the juvenile court to implement a law-related education program as defined in section 15-154. The presiding judge of the juvenile court may assign juvenile probation officers to participate in a law-related education program in any school district in the county. The cost of juvenile probation officers who participate in the program implemented pursuant to this paragraph shall be funded by the school district.

    35. Offer to sell outdated learning materials, educational equipment or furnishings at a posted price commensurate with the value of the items to pupils who are currently enrolled in that school district before those materials are offered for public sale.

    36. If the school district is a small school district as defined in section 15-901, and if allowed by federal law, opt out of federal grant opportunities if the governing board determines that the federal requirements impose unduly burdensome reporting requirements.

    37. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the emergency administration of inhalers by trained employees of the school district and nurses who are under contract with the school district pursuant to section 15-158.

    38. Develop policies and procedures to allow principals to budget for or assist with budgeting federal, state and local monies.

    39. Subject to article IX, section 7, constitution of Arizona, the laws pertaining to travel and subsistence, gifts, grants, including federal grants, or devises and policies adopted by the department of education, provide food and beverages at school district events, including official school functions and trainings.[2]

    		”

    Constraints on Arizona school boards' authority

    This section tracks constraints on school boards specific to Arizona as of September 2024. It features constraints on school boards' authority by topic, through collective bargaining agreements, and through Parents' Bills of Rights.

    Constraints on Arizona school boards' authority by topic

    This section features constraints on school boards' authority on policies related to the following topics:

    Curriculum requirements

    See also: K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states

    Arizona requires the following specific curricular topics to be included in the state's content standards:

    • Mental health[7]
    • State and federal constitutions[8]
    • American institutions and history of Arizona
    • Holocaust and other genocide instruction[9]
    • 9/11 instruction[10]
    • Instruction on the laws relating to sexual conduct with a minor for pupils in grades 7-12[11]
    • The original intent of the founding documents and principles of the United States as found in source documents[12]
    • The civic-minded expectations of an upright and desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured by the United States Constitution[13]
    • CPR[14]

    Curriculum restrictions

    Arizona law prohibits instruction in public schools that teaches the superiority of one race, ethnic group, or sex above others. This includes the following topics listed in Arizona law:[15]

    “

    1. One race, ethnic group or sex is inherently morally or intellectually superior to another race, ethnic group or sex.

    2. An individual, by virtue of the individual's race, ethnicity or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.

    3. An individual should be invidiously discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual's race, ethnicity or sex.

    4. An individual's moral character is determined by the individual's race, ethnicity or sex.

    5. An individual, by virtue of the individual's race, ethnicity or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed by other members of the same race, ethnic group or sex.

    6. An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress because of the individual's race, ethnicity or sex.

    7. Academic achievement, meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race, ethnic group or sex to oppress members of another race, ethnic group or sex.[2]

    		”


    Arizona law also prohibits sex education before the fifth grade:[16]

    “

    A. School districts and charter schools may not provide sex education instruction before grade five.[2]

    		”
    Federal law and guidance

    Book bans, removals, and restrictions

    Arizona school boards have the authority to acquire books for the school and to remove books. Arizona school boards must exclude books of what the bill calls sectarian, partisan, or denominational character:[18]

    “ ..

    2. Exclude from schools all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character. This paragraph does not prohibit the elective course allowed by section 15-717.01.

    ...

    4. Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the schools to use.

    5. Prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils as provided in sections 15-701 and 15-701.01.[2]

    		”


    Case law:
    The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed local school boards' authority to remove school books in Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico in 1982 but held that school library books are distinct from curricular books, which school boards have more authority to regulate. The ruling held that school boards are charged with inculcating community values and may make curricular decisions accordingly, but cannot impose religious creeds or "permanently the student’s ability to investigate matters that arise in the natural course of intellectual inquiry,” according to the opinion.[19][20]

    Federal guidance


    Parental notification

    Arizona requires parental notification in the following circumstances:

    • If the school district offers sex education curriculum[22]
    • If the school district offers Instruction, learning materials, or presentations regarding sexuality in courses other than sex education[23]
    • If their child is suspected of involvement in a crime[24]

    Case law: The United States Supreme Court ruled in Mahmoud v. Taylor on June 27, 2025, that Montgomery County Board of Education's introduction of LGBTQ+ related storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt outs, placed an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.[25]

    Discipline

    See also: How does Arizona compare to other states on school board authority over disciplinary policy?

    Arizona is one of 47 states that gives school boards authority over district disciplinary policy.

    The text of AZ Statutes §15-341 is as follows:[26]

    “

    A. The governing board shall:

    ...

    12. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.

    13. Discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school.[2]

    		”

    Arizona Revised Statute §15-153 provides school boards with the authority to prescribe policies regarding crime on campus:[27]

    “

    A. Each school district governing board and charter school governing body shall prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for school personnel to report any suspected crime against a person or property that is a serious offense as defined in section 13-706 or that involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or serious physical injury and any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to an employee, student or other person on the school property. The policies shall dictate a process for employees to document and report the conduct, including specifying the employees responsible for making a report to the local law enforcement agency pursuant to section 15-341, subsection A, paragraph 30. Conduct that is considered to be bullying, harassment or intimidation shall be addressed according to policies adopted pursuant to section 15-341, subsection A, paragraph 36.

    B. Each school district governing board and charter school governing body shall prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that require the school district or charter school to notify the parent or guardian of each student who is involved in a suspected crime or any conduct that is described in subsection A of this section, subject to the requirements of federal law.[2]

    		”
    Federal guidance

    School board elections

    See also: Rules governing school board election dates and timing in Arizona, How does Arizona compare to other states on school board authority over election timing?

    Arizona is one of 42 states in which school boards do not have authority over the timing of school board elections because state or municipal laws determine school board election dates.

    Click here to read about the laws governing school board elections in Arizona.

    Public school choice and open enrollment

    See also: School choice in Arizona

    Arizona state law requires school boards to develop policies to implement school choice in their district, subject to the guidelines in Arizona law that mandate school choice, according to Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-816.01:[29]

    “

    A. School district governing boards shall establish policies and shall implement an open enrollment policy without charging tuition.

    ...

    These policies shall include the information required by subsection I of this section, basic information that is needed to request enrollment and that is consistent with guidance and state and federal law regarding pupil privacy and civil rights, and information regarding the provision of transportation or resources for transportation. The policies must be easily accessible from the home page on each school's website and be available in English and in Spanish or in any other language used by a majority of the populations served by the school or school district. A school district shall update on each school's website the school's capacity and whether the school is currently accepting open enrollment students, by grade level, at least once every twelve weeks unless there are no changes to report for the individual school. If a school has any other separate capacity by specialized program, the information required pursuant to this subsection shall also be posted by specialized program. Schools shall accept pupils throughout the school year as capacity allows. Pupils who are denied access due to capacity shall be informed that they are on a waitlist and of the details regarding the process prescribed in subsection E of this section. Pupils shall be selected as seats become available.[2]

    		”

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in Arizona, How does Arizona compare to other states on school board authority over charter schools?

    Arizona is one of 10 states that do not give local school boards any authority over whether charter schools are issued in their district.

    Those who sponsor charters include the Arizona State Board of Education, the Arizona 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. Sponsors are prohibited from granting a charter to a school district governing board for a new charter school or converting an existing district public school to a charter school:[30]

    “

    A. An applicant seeking to establish a charter school shall apply in writing to a proposed sponsor as prescribed in subsection C of this section. ...

    C. 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, subject to the following requirements:

    1. An applicant may not apply for sponsorship to any person or entity other than those prescribed in this subsection.
    2. The applicant may apply to the state board of education or the state board for charter schools. Notwithstanding any other law, neither the state board for charter schools nor the state board of education shall grant a charter to a school district governing board for a new charter school or for the conversion of an existing district public school to a charter school.[2]
    		 ”

    Cellphone bans

    See also: How does Arizona compare to other states on cell phone laws?

    Arizona is one of 26 states with state laws or executive orders prohibiting or limiting cell phones in classrooms and/or schools, including through requiring school boards to pass certain policies. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) signed Arizona House Bill 2484 on April 14, 2025, which requires public school districts and charter schools to adopt policies that limit student access to cell phones, with certain exceptions.[31]

    Collective bargaining agreements

    Teacher union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) can constrain school board authority. Teacher CBAs are agreements between a school district and a teachers’ union to establish rights and other contract details for public school employees. CBAs do not have the force of law, but are contractually binding for a set period of time. Within the time set out in the agreement, the school board must comply with the stipulations that were agreed to in the contract. In this way, CBAs can constrain school board authority by giving teachers authority over curriculum, prohibiting school boards from banning books, and establishing certain student or parental rights. They can also determine rights and protections for educators, and conditions for students (such as required recess periods or the amount of standardized testing), among other provisions.

    CBAs vary greatly within and across states in size, topics covered, and constraints they put on school boards. Not all states allow teachers to bargain collectively. As of January 2022, 35 states and the District of Columbia guaranteed K-12 teachers some right to bargain collectively, and six states prohibited public-sector employee collective bargaining by law, which includes public school teachers. The other nine states have no statewide bargaining framework, but local jurisdictions within these states can grant bargaining rights if they choose.[32][33]

    Arizona school boards are not legally allowed to engage in collective bargaining agreements with school employees, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality.[34]

    The National Council on Teacher Quality reported that no state law or regulations exist on this topic, though former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard held that while public employers may meet with representatives of public employees and enter into memoranda of understanding, the final decision on the topics discussed rests with the employer, as of January 2019:[35]

    “

    Absent a statutory provision allowing for collective bargaining, a county cannot create an ordinance for anything beyond the scope of meeting and conferring with employee representatives for the purpose of obtaining information and advice in order to make ultimately unilateral decisions.[2]

    		”

    Parents' Bill of Rights

    See also: How does Arizona compare to other states on Parents' Bills of Rights?

    Arizona is one of 26 states that has a Parents' Bill of Rights.

    The statute guarantees parents the rights, among others, to

    • direct the education of their child;
    • access all records relating to their child; and
    • to direct the moral or religious training of their child.

    The full text is as follows:[36]

    “

    A. All parental rights are reserved to a parent of a minor child without obstruction or interference from this state, any political subdivision of this state, any other governmental entity or any other institution, including:

    1. The right to direct the education of the minor child.

    2. All rights of parents identified in title 15,  1 including the right to access and review all records relating to the minor child.

    3. The right to direct the upbringing of the minor child.

    4. The right to direct the moral or religious training of the minor child.

    5. The right to make health care decisions for the minor child, including rights pursuant to §§ 15-873, 36-2271 and 36-2272, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

    6. The right to access and review all medical records of the minor child unless otherwise prohibited by law or the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor child and a law enforcement official requests that the information not be released.

    7. The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of the minor child is made pursuant to § 15-109.

    8. The right to consent in writing before any record of the minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid is created, stored or shared, except as required by § 36-694, or before any genetic testing is conducted on the minor child pursuant to § 12-2803 unless authorized pursuant to § 13-610 or a court order.

    9. The right to consent in writing before the state or any of its political subdivisions makes a video or voice recording of the minor child, unless the video or voice recording is made during or as a part of a court proceeding, by law enforcement officers during or as part of a law enforcement investigation, during or as part of an interview in a criminal or child safety services investigation or to be used solely for any of the following:

    (a) Safety demonstrations, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the common areas of a school or on pupil transportation vehicles.

    (b) A purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity.

    (c) A purpose related to regular classroom instruction.

    (d) Security or surveillance of buildings or grounds.

    (e) A photo identification card.

    10. The right to be notified promptly if an employee of this state, any political subdivision of this state, any other governmental entity or any other institution suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against the minor child by someone other than a parent, unless the incident has first been reported to law enforcement and notification of the parent would impede a law enforcement or child safety services investigation.  This paragraph does not create any new obligation for school districts and charter schools to report misconduct between students at school, such as fighting or aggressive play, that is routinely addressed as a student disciplinary matter by the school.

    11. The right to obtain information about a child safety services investigation involving the parent pursuant to § 8-807.

    B. This section does not authorize or allow a parent to engage in conduct that is unlawful or to abuse or neglect a child in violation of the laws of this state.  This section does not prohibit courts, law enforcement officers or employees of a government agency responsible for child welfare from acting in their official capacity within the scope of their authority.  This section does not prohibit a court from issuing an order that is otherwise permitted by law.

    C. Any attempt to encourage or coerce a minor child to withhold information from the child's parent shall be grounds for discipline of an employee of this state, any political subdivision of this state or any other governmental entity, except for law enforcement personnel.

    D. Unless those rights have been legally waived or legally terminated, parents have inalienable rights that are more comprehensive than those listed in this section.  This chapter does not prescribe all rights of parents.  Unless otherwise required by law, the rights of parents of minor children shall not be limited or denied.

    E. For the purposes of this section, “parent” means the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of a minor child.[2]

    		”


    How does Arizona compare to other states?

    This section compares Arizona's school board authority and constraints with those of other states on select topics. These topics include authority over discipline policy, school board election timing, charter schools, cellphone use policy, as well as constraints on school boards' authority from Parents' Bills of Rights.

    Book bans, removals, and restrictions

    Twenty-three (23) states have no laws regulating the curation of school library books. Twenty-seven (27) states, however, have passed laws restricting school board authority over school library book curation. These laws typically fall into one of the following categories:

    • Eleven states require school boards to develop a policy for the removal of books, including creating a way for the public to challenge school library books.
    • Nine states prohibit school boards from removing books on the grounds that they represent specific ideologies or perspectives.
    • Six states prohibit books if they contain specific material, including sexual content or anything deemed harmful to minors.
    • Five states require school boards to establish local boards to review challenges to library books.
    • Two states require school boards to allow parents to view a catalogue of books.

    Some states have adopted multiple types of these policies.

    Discipline

    • School boards in 47 states have authority over disciplinary policy in their district.
    • School boards in two states have authority over disciplinary policy for specific circumstances, such as suspension, expulsion, or bullying.
    • Individual schools in one state create their own disciplinary policy.

    School board elections

    School boards' authority over the timing of school board elections varies by state.

    • School boards in 42 states do not have authority over election timing;
    • School boards in five states can choose from limited options when to hold school board elections;
    • School boards in two states can choose from a date range when to hold school board elections;
    • The school board in Hawaii is not elected.

    The map below shows the types of authority school boards in the states have to determine the timing of school board elections.

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in the United States

    Some school boards in the U.S. are authorized to approve or deny applications for charter schools in their district, while state boards of education hold the authority in other states. In some states, school boards can authorize charter schools, but there are other entities besides school boards that can also authorize charter schools or to which a school board decision can be appealed.

    • 10 states do not authorize school boards to make decisions on whether to approve new charter schools in their districts.
    • 36 states do authorize school boards to approve new charter schools in their districts, deny approval to new charter schools, or both.
    • 3 states do not have laws governing charter school authorization.
    • 1 state allows school districts to apply to the state board of education to be a charter school district.

    State cellphone laws

    See also: State policies on cellphone use in K-12 public schools

    In most states, school boards or superintendents often set policies on cellphones in public schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), around 76% of schools said they banned the non-academic use of cellphones or smartphones during school hours during the 2021-22 school year, down from 91% in 2010.[37]

    Beginning with Florida in 2023, some states enacted laws or policies to regulate student cellphone usage in public schools. Twenty-six (26) states had statewide laws or policies restricting cellphone use in K-12 classrooms or schools as of June 2025. Four states had requirements for all school district boards to adopt a policy on cellphones but without specific requirements for those policies. Four other states had policies encouraging school districts to establish restrictions on cellphone use in the classroom.


    Parents' Bill of Rights

    See also: Parents' Bill of Rights in education

    If state law explicitly provides certain rights to parents, it can constrain the policy-making authority of school boards. These sections of statute are often referred to within statute and are categorized here as Parents' Bills of Rights. In some states, they are education-specific, regarding the rights a parent has to be involved in their child's public education. Common examples include notification requirements, opt-out rights, and records access. Other Parents' Bills of Rights are more general, commonly affording parents a right to direct the upbringing of their child.

    • 26 states have enacted a statewide Parents' Bill of Rights
    • 24 states have not enacted a Parents' Bill of Rights.

    Noteworthy events

    See also: Overview of trends in K-12 curricula development
    • Arizona Governor vetoes bill prohibiting instruction advancing antisemitism or antisemitic actions (2025): Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed House Bill (HB) 2867 on June 10, 2025, which proposed prohibiting antisemitic instruction or actions in K-12 public schools. Hobbs argued that the bill wasn't about antisemitism and placed what she called an unacceptable level of personal liability on public school educators and staff, opening them up to what she called threats of personally costly lawsuits.[38]
    • Arizona superintendent criticizes CRT professional development materials for teachers (2023): Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (R), in a June 8, 2023, press conference, criticized teacher instruction materials in Mesa. Horne argued against a passage contained in the materials, which stated that "black and Indigenous people of color are most vulnerable due to living under a system of white supremacy,” saying the United States did not promote systems of white supremacy and argued that the passage demonstrated a “typical critical race theory statement.”[39]
    • Arizona lawmakers advance constitutional amendment to prohibit critical race theory in schools (2022): The Arizona House of Representatives on February 17, 2022, approved House Concurrent Resolution 2001 (HCR 2001), which aimed to prohibit the instruction of critical race theory in the state's public schools. The Arizona State Senate did not vote on the resolution before adjourning. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment was not on the November 8, 2022, ballot because it did not receive a simple majority vote in both chambers of the state legislature.[40]

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ AZ Legislature, "15-421. Governing boards; members; qualifications; prohibitions; candidate statements; definitions," October 1, 2024
    2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    3. ↑ AZ Legislature, "15-101. Definitions," October 1, 2024
    4. ↑ CaseText.com, "Section 15-341 - General powers and duties; immunity; delegation," September 19, 2024
    5. ↑ Casetext.com, "Section 15-342 - Discretionary powers," September 26, 2024
    6. ↑ Casetext.com, "Section 15-342 - Discretionary powers," September 26, 2024
    7. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-701.03 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    8. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-710 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    9. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-701.02 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    10. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-710.02 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    11. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-711 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    12. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-718 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    13. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-718 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    14. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-718.01 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    15. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-717.02 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    16. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "AZ Rev Stat § 15-711 (2023)," September 19, 2024
    17. ↑ The White House, "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," accessed March 14, 2025
    18. ↑ Casetext.com, "Ariz. Rev. Stat. Section 15-341 - General powers and duties; immunity; delegation," September 19, 2024
    19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named edlawcenter
    20. ↑ Law.Justia.com, "Island Trees Sch. Dist. v. Pico by Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982)," September 18, 2024
    21. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax," accessed January 28, 2025
    22. ↑ FindLaw.com, "Arizona Revised Statutes Title 15. Education § 15-102. Parental involvement in the school;  definition," September 20, 2024
    23. ↑ FindLaw.com, "Arizona Revised Statutes Title 15. Education § 15-102. Parental involvement in the school;  definition," September 20, 2024
    24. ↑ AZ Legislature, "Arizona Revised Statute §15-153," September 20, 2024
    25. ↑ The United States Supreme Court, "Mahmoud et al. v. Taylor et al." accessed July 7, 2025
    26. ↑ AZ Legislature, "15-341. General powers and duties; immunity; delegation," September 20, 2024
    27. ↑ AZ Legislature, "15-153. Crime reporting; policies and procedures; notification; discipline," September 20, 2024
    28. ↑ The White House, "Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies," April 30, 2025
    29. ↑ Casetext.com, "Section 15-816.01 - (Effective 9/14/2024) Open enrollment policies; preference; selection process; transportation; reporting requirements; public awareness effort," September 20, 2024
    30. ↑ Casetext.com, "Section 15-183 - Charter schools; application; requirements; immunity; exemptions; renewal of application; reprisal; fee; funds; annual reports," September 20, 2024
    31. ↑ Fox 10 Phoenix, "Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signs classroom phone ban bill," accessed April 16, 2025
    32. ↑ National Education Association, "Collective Bargaining: What it is and How it Works", accessed October 3, 2024.
    33. ↑ National Education Association, "The Benefits of Collective Bargaining in Education", accessed October 3, 2024
    34. ↑ National Council on Teacher Quality, "Collective Bargaining Laws," September 23, 2024
    35. ↑ AZ Attorney General Opinions, "County Meet-and-Confer Ordinances," September 23, 2024
    36. ↑ FindLaw, "Arizona Revised Statutes Title 1. General Provisions § 1-602. Parents' bill of rights;  definition," September 23, 2024
    37. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Percentage of public schools with various safety and security measures: Selected school years, 1999-2000 through 2021-22," accessed August 8, 2024
    38. ↑ WHEC - News 10, "Arizona governor vetoes bill banning teaching antisemitism, calls it an attack on educators," accessed June 25, 2025
    39. ↑ Arizona's Family, "Arizona superintendent claims critical race theory is being taught to teachers," accessed June 17, 2023
    40. ↑ Arizona Legislature, "Bill History for HCR2001," accessed October 25, 2023
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