Minimize Delays Final Legislation
On June 4th, 2026, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed into law this provision that streamlines enrollment, ensures continuity of special education services, and prioritizes timely support for military-connected students transferring into the state with their families on military orders. Specifically, this bill ensures that:
- Local education agencies must accept enrollment applications from military families -- including those with special education needs -- through various means, including electronic and remote options, and allow these students to meet residency requirements for school attendance even if their families have not yet arrived in the State.
- When a military-connected family enrolls their child, the school district must promptly coordinate with the parents and the student’s previous school to exchange records and avoid delays in providing special education services.
- The district must accept unofficial records from parents (such as copies of IEPs) while waiting for official documents, and must provide services or accommodations comparable to the student’s previous IEP until a new IEP is developed.
- The existing IEP must be adopted, or a new IEP implemented, within 30 calendar days of enrollment.
