A LETTER FROM ASBCS

"To improve public education in Arizona by sponsoring charter schools that provide quality educational choices"

Dear Charter Community,

Almost six years ago, I was appointed to the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools to help fulfill its mission of improving public education by sponsoring high-quality charter schools. As a charter school teacher at Leading Edge Academy, I had already been involved in the work of providing high quality education to students at the classroom level, and this was an opportunity to have an even greater impact on students throughout the state. In my time with the Board, I truly believe we have done just that. Charter schools in Arizona have year over year outperformed the State average on statewide assessments. Highly rated charters can be found in almost every county, and every year, we are approving new charter schools with unique, innovative approaches to student learning. 

With all of the gratitude and affection in my heart for this work and this community, I must announce that I will be stepping down from the Board. A new opportunity has arisen for my family almost 2,000 miles away in Georgia, and we are so excited for what is to come! My last Board meeting will be the November Board meeting on November 21, 2022. 

I want to extend a booming “THANK YOU!” to everyone who has made my time as a Board member and Board President so fulfilling. Thank you to my fellow Board members for your support, tireless involvement, and dedication to our cause. Thank you to all of the charter school operators, applicants, representatives, faculty and staff- without all of your work, there is no portfolio for us to brag about wherever we go. Thank you to Board staff for everything you do to keep this Board and agency running smoothly. And finally, thank you to the parents, students, and community members who have trusted the Board and the charter system to provide you with the education that works best for your family. With this Board, I know that you are in good hands.

Fortunately, I will be maintaining a position with Leading Edge Academy from afar, and I am so grateful and excited to keep some of my roots here in Arizona. I am forever thankful for the opportunity to represent the charter community as the Board president, and I look forward to hearing all of the wonderful things this Board and charter community will continue to do in the coming years. 

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” - Joseph Campbell

All the best,

Mary Ellen Lee

From the Arizona Department of Education

Arizona School Firearms Survey 2021-2022

Due: Friday, November 11, 2022

ADE is required to report all firearm events in Arizona schools and the associated disciplinary actions. This data demonstrates compliance with Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § Stat. 13-3102(A)(12), and A.R.S. §15-841 (G) and also validates compliance with the federal Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA) of 1994, Title 18, Section 921. Further, the data may be used in grant opportunities related to school safety.

To accomplish this task, a simple survey document has been created to capture the required information about any incident related to firearms in schools. The survey is structured so that if your Local Education Agency (LEA) had no incidents during the 2021-2022 school year, answer “No” to the initial question and submit the survey to ADE. 

Please remember that this Firearms survey should be completed by LEAs, not school sites.

If the LEA has experienced one or more incidents related to firearms, there will be a series of questions that capture information on each incident and the associated disciplinary actions taken. Once complete, the LEA will submit the survey to ADE.

It is anticipated that the survey will take minimal time to complete, as the information requested should be readily available at each LEA. Please submit this survey no later than Friday, November 11, 2022.

2022-2023 Immunization Data Reports

Due: Tuesday, November 15, 2022

This notice is a reminder from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) that each year all Arizona schools must complete and submit an Immunization Data Report (IDR) by November 15th for students enrolled in childcare/preschool, kindergarten, and sixth grade. If you are unsure if ADHS has received your survey, you can sign into your IDR account and check your home page. Submitted surveys will be GREEN. Surveys that have been started but not submitted will be YELLOW, and surveys that have not been started will be GRAY. If you have not yet submitted the Immunization Data Reports, please read this email in its entirety for further instruction.

A.R.S. §15-872 (B) states that “a pupil shall not be allowed to attend school without submitting documentary proof to the school administrator unless the pupil is exempted from immunization pursuant to section 15-873.” Please visit the Arizona Immunization Program Office (AIPO) website for additional information that outlines age and grade-specific state-required immunizations. 

Directions for completing the Immunization Data Reports: 

• ALL reports are due no later than November 15th. After this date, you will be able to print a summary of SUBMITTED reports but will not be able to register a new account, begin a new report, or edit an existing report. Reports that have not been submitted will not have a summary available for your records. ADHS recommends completing your report before the due date, as you may have questions, concerns, or technical issues that cannot be resolved in time. 
• You MUST complete your IDR at the following web page: https://apps.azdhs.gov/IDR.
• Paper formats, school software system print-outs, or self-created IDRs will NOT be accepted. 
• Please read the tutorial slides on the registration/login page. They will answer many of your questions about registering and completing your IDR. View the Childcare, Preschool, or Head Start tutorial and the Kindergarten and Sixth Grade tutorial. 
• You cannot register again if you registered LAST YEAR and have the same email address. You can log in using your email and the password you created. You can reset your password by clicking “Reset Password”. You will need to register a new account if you have a new email address. 



After you have read this letter and viewed the training slides, further questions can be directed to AZIDR@azdhs.gov or call 480-490-6084.

Thank you for your efforts to protect your students, staff, and community against vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Please disregard this reminder notice if you have already submitted your 2022-2023 Immunization Data Reports. However, please share and remind your colleagues of this legally required survey.  

Thank you for submitting these essential and required reports. Your work is appreciated! 

From the U.S. Department of Education

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce two new grant opportunities administered by the Office of Safe and Supportive Schools. 

Below are brief descriptions of the programs with links to their relevant websites. Please consider the opportunities and share them with your networks! 

School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SBMH) - Application Closes November 3, 2022

The SBMH grant program provides competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs), Local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health service providers delivering school-based mental health services to students in LEAs with demonstrated need. This grant program provides $144 million each year for 5 years. Grant projects awarded under this program are anticipated to have an average award size of $1,750,000, ranging from $500,000 to $3,000,000 per year. The Department anticipates making up to 150 awards. 

You're invited to join the upcoming technical assistance webinar for prospective applicants: 

• Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 4:00 pm | Washington DC time. 
• Click here to register.
• The webinars will be recorded for anyone who cannot participate in the live events.

This application will close on November 3, 2022.

Additional information on this grant can be found on the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program website. 

Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) - Application closes November 3, 2022

The MHSP Demonstration grant program provides competitive grants to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools and LEAs. The grant program aims to address a challenge facing districts and schools across the country: an insufficient supply of school-based mental health professionals to meet the needs of students. The partnerships must include (1) one or more high-need LEA or a SEA on behalf of one or more high-need LEA; and (2) one or more eligible institutions of higher education (IHE). This grant program provides $143 million each year for 5 years. Grant projects awarded under this program are anticipated to have an average award size of $800,000, ranging from $400,000 to $1,200,000 per year. The Department anticipates making up to 250 awards. 

You're invited to join the upcoming technical assistance webinar for prospective applicants: 

• Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 3:00 pm | Washington DC time. 
• Click here to register.
• The webinars will be recorded for anyone who cannot participate in the live events. 

This application will close on November 3, 2022.

Additional information on this grant can be found on the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program website. 

Reminders

Next Regular Board Meeting

Date: Monday, November 21, 2022

Time: 9:00 AM

Location: Virtual