The CLSD Funding Application opened August 1, 2023, and closes on October 13, 2023. 

If your program does not currently have the below, refer to How to Access the CLSD-Supplement Grant to begin your process.

• ADE Entity or CTDS Number 
• SAM.gov UEI Number  
• Ever received funds from ADE 
• Grants Management role in ADEConnect 

The SAM.gov UEI registration process can take up to 10 business days to complete. 

How to Access the CLSD-Supplement Grant Application 

CLSD-Supplemental Grant Overview Presentation

Grants Management Resource Library 

Guidance Document 

Grants Rubric and Narrative Questions

ADE CLSD-Supplemental Tier 1 or Tier 2 Strong to Moderate Vetted List (Updates will be coming soon.)

*The CLSD-Supplemental grant operates on a federal calendar year from 10/1-9/30 concluding 9/30/2025. 

Videos

• Understanding the ESSA Tiers of Evidence Video and handout 
• Reading a study 
• Using the WWC to Identify ESSA Evidence Ratings 

Tools

• LitHubAZ
• Science of Reading
• Evaluating evidence to align with current needs/wants/context 
• The Science of Reading: Defining Guide from The Reading League

Evidence-Based Resources

• ADE Science of Reading 
• Evidence for ESSA 
• CLSD Literacy State Development information
• Using the WWC to Find ESSA Tiers of Evidence 
• Aligning Evidence-based Clearinghouses with the ESSA Tiers of Evidence
• Early Childhood Technical  Assistance Center

Videos

• 3-minute "elevator speech" about the Science of Reading, as explained by Dr. Stephanie Stollar. 
• Providing Reading Interventions for Students in Grades 4–9: What the IES Guide and Research Tell Us

Tools

• LitHubAZ
• Science of Reading
• COX Campus Coaching Courses
• Move On When Reading: Professional Development
• Assessing the body of evidence for a particular intervention 
• ADE Move on When Reading Interventions and Supplemental Programs 

Evidence-Based Resources

• Evidence-Based Resource Websites (ESSA) 
• Selecting Evidence-Based Practices for Low-Performing Schools 
• Evidence for ESSA
• IRIS Center Peabody College Vanderbilt
• CLSD Program Resources: Evidence-Based Practices
• Ohio's Evidence-Based Clearinghouse
• Connecticut State DOE Evidence-Based Practice Guide
• What Works Clearinghouse
• Scarborough’s Reading Rope 
• The Center for Literacy and Learning: The Simple View of Reading
• Early Childhood Technical  Assistance Center
• Pre-K Practice Guide: Preparing Young Children for School

1. Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind
2. Avondale Elementary District
3. Casa Grande Elementary District
4. Espiritu Community Development Corp.
5. Espiritu Community Development Corp.
6. Gila Bend Unified District
7. Marana Unified District
8. Phoenix Elementary District
9. Prescott Valley Charter School
10. Southwest Human Development
11. Washington Elementary School District
12. Winslow Unified District

1. EMAC

EMAC Administrator Guide |  EMAC Portal User Guide

Micro-Training Modules

2. CNA

CNA Rubric for Application to Literacy Grant

List of Science Laboratory Safety Resources

Register for Science & STEM Professional Learning

Master List of Science Professional Organizations

Testing Information

PAEMST – Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Rural STEM Program Fund

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as “the Nation’s Report Card,” is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas.

• NAEP Profile for Arizona – Grade 4
• NAEP Profile for Arizona – Grade 8

Arizona Assessment Information

Assessment Website     |     AzSCI Website

The table below summarizes the minimum credit requirements for high school graduation in Arizona, starting with the graduating class of 2017. Please note that school districts and charter schools may, at their discretion, establish additional graduation credit requirements for their students.

Key highlights from R7-2-302 are listed below.

Mathematics (1) Three credits containing course content in preparation for proficiency at the high school level on the statewide assessment and aligned to the Arizona Mathematics Standards for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. These three credits shall be taken beginning with the ninth grade unless a student meets these requirements prior to the ninth grade. (2) The requirement for the third credit covering Algebra II, may be met by, but is not limited to the following: a math course comparable to Algebra II course content; computer science, career and technical education and vocational education, economics, science and arts courses as determined by the local school district governing board or charter school. (3) The mathematics requirements may be modified for students using a Personal Curriculum.

Science (4) Three credits of science in preparation for proficiency at the high school level on the statewide assessment.

History and Social Science (5) History and Social Science will minimally consist of one credit of American history, including Arizona history; one credit of world history/geography; and one-half credit of government and one-half credit of economics. Note: Specific course requirements are outlined in R7-2-302.

Arizona Civics Test Homepage | Arizona Civics Test Administration Guide (Updated October 2023)

New Legislation Signed in 2022: There is new legislation that was signed into law in 2022 that requires students graduating in 2026 and after must have a passing score of 70/100. If a student graduates in 2026, and has already taken the civics test and scored a 60-69, they will need to retest and score a 70/100 sometime before they graduate in 2026.

Special education students with an Individualized Education Plan are only required to pass the civics test if it is mentioned in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). As a courtesy, the Arizona Department of Education, with help from the Maricopa County Education Service Agency and Arizona educators, has developed a mostly multiple-choice version of the required test.

Updates:

For all students to meet the civics test graduation requirement, please use the 2008  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (linked above) test. There is a 2020 test with additional questions that the Trump administration created. It is only an option for a small number of immigrants who applied for and were interviewed during a short period of time. The Biden administration chose to return to the 2008 test, and that is the test you will use for students to meet the graduation requirement. The current passing rate for students is 60/100 for students graduating from 2022 to 2025.

Civics Test Reporting Information:

Beginning in 2023, LEAs are now required to report civics test aggregate data by grade level. The Reporting Form can be found on the Arizona Civics Homepage.

If you have any questions regarding the reporting of civics test data, please email K12 Standards at [email protected].

AzM2/AzMERIT has been replaced by Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) for grades 3-8 and by ACT Aspire for grade 9 and ACT for grade 11.

Passing the above tests is not a requirement for graduation; however, local schools may choose to develop their own academic requirements. See the assessment webpage for more information about the statewide summative assessments.

A student may be eligible for early graduation if they fulfill all necessary requirements. Ultimately, the decision lies with the school or district, made in collaboration with the student’s parents. For further details, please consult the above graduation requirements. 

Since dual enrollment programs are managed locally, it is recommended to reach out to your local high school's counseling team or your nearby community college. They can provide detailed information about:

• Dual enrollment opportunities
• Tuition assistance options
• Admission requirements

Please review the resources below for more information:

• ADE: Dual Enrollment Student and Family Information
• AZTransfer

Students, including those who are homeschooled, are eligible to fully engage in dual enrollment programs and earn college credits as per the relevant statute 15-1821.01.

No. A second language is not an Arizona state graduation requirement. However, some universities and state universities require two years of a second language to enroll.

No. However, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) highly recommends students complete the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to leave all options open to them after high school.

The Arizona Department of Education does not house student transcripts or records. Contact the school or district issuing the diploma or credits for transcripts and records. Guidance on obtaining transcripts or records can be found at this website: /adeinfo/transcripts-and-student-records/.  

• For a closed district or school, please contact the District Office.
• For a closed Charter school, please contact the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools at (602) 364-3080.

Additionally, you can check the resources below: 

• https://needmytranscript.com/
• https://www.parchment.com/

There is no state mandate specifying the number of attendance days necessary for graduation or promotion. However, in Arizona, schools are required to provide a minimum of instructional hours annually; high school students must complete at least 720 hours. Due to local control, most educational decisions, including attendance policies, are managed by local school districts and governing boards.

Helpful resources: 

• Arizona State Legislature webpage
• 15-00808 R7-2-302. Minimum Course of Study and Competency Requirements for Graduation from High School

Please refer to Arizona State Legislation for more information on this topic. You can find additional Special Educational resources on our Exceptional Student Services (ESS) webpage.

Please reach out to our Adult Education unit for more information on this topic. 

Per Board Rule and Statute R7-2-302, “a credit” refers to a year-long course. For high school, a class is typically 55 minutes/day or 275 minutes/week for 180 days.

Legislation: A.R.S §15-501.1 K-5 Endorsement - Full text of bill

• A.R.S. §15-501.1 establishes a literacy endorsement as a requirement for teachers who provide literacy instruction in kindergarten through grade five. Under the rules adopted by the Board to conform with this statute, the Literacy, K-5 endorsement requires:

  • A. Three semester hours of college coursework or 45 clock hours of approved training in the science of reading instruction, including systematic phonics instruction; and

  • B. Three semester hours of college coursework or 45 clock hours of approved training in reading instruction, including assessments, instructional practices, and interventions to improve student reading proficiency for struggling readers, including students with the characteristics of dyslexia

• Additionally, teachers must also receive a passing score on the Foundations of Reading exam by Pearson.

• Pre-service teachers will have until 2025 to secure the endorsement, while certificated in-service educators have until 2028 to complete the requirements.

• Teachers who already have a reading endorsement listed on their certificate are exempt from these requirements, as the reading endorsement has several more requirements.

• Video: This video describes the requirements and other important details of the K-5 endorsement. 
  *The final slide in this video contains outdated contact information for the ADE ELA team. Please see the current contact information on this webpage.

K-5 Literacy Endorsement Approved Trainings *The latest revision date can be found on the final page of the list

Arizona Reading Fundamentals OnDemand Academy now includes two new courses that are aligned with the K-5 Literacy Endorsement training requirements. These courses have been added to the list of Approved Trainings. See the blue tab below for more information. 

Vendors: ADE has an RFI process to request information from vendors for courses or training opportunities that meet the requirements of the legislation. As a result of the review process, an approved list of training has been generated. The list is continually evolving and will be updated as needed. Any organization interested in having a course or training included on the list should review materials as directed in the RFI document.

Responses to the RFI must be received between January 1 - March 1 of each year for review and will be reviewed in the order they are received. Any submissions after March 1 will go on the review list for the following year’s submission window. Reviews will be completed by August 1st. If edits are required and not submitted by the end of the review window, then a new submission will be required the following year. Please submit responses to all components with the chosen focus area/s (A and/or B). 

Enrollment is closed permanently for the Pathways to Proficient Reading with Pathways to Structured Literacy, K-5, offered through APLD/ADEConnect,  as of 12/19/2025. Please see the list under approved trainings above for other options.  We will have another option for a free course available in late summer of 2026. Information on that course and how to enroll will be provided here as soon as it is available.

The Foundations of Reading (NT 890) test for Arizona assesses proficiency in and depth of understanding of the subject of reading and writing development. The test reflects scientifically based reading research. 

The Pearson website created for Arizona educators includes basic information, registration, and preparation materials to support educator practice before taking the test.

Upon registering for the Foundations of Reading exam, participants will see a cost of $139.00. However, after the registration, this cost will be eliminated. All Arizona educators have an opportunity to take the exam one time at no charge. It is highly recommended that you take the required coursework/training before taking the exam, as only one attempt is free.

Visit the ADE Foundations of Reading Test Prep site for the following:

1. Study guide with test strategies and test design
2. Free sample test and question analysis
3. Free videos and tutorials to prepare you to successfully pass the exam
4. Options to purchase test prep materials