VERA Arizona
VERA-AZ integrates Arizona Academic Standards with AASA and AZELLA assessment data. With 100,000+ students in ESA programs and HB 2170 "Say Dyslexia" now law, Arizona needs systematic Type 4 identification through oral-written delta analysis.
Launch VERA-AZ Request Demo2025 Legislative Session
Governor Hobbs signed HB 2170 in May 2025, requiring IEPs to explicitly indicate dyslexia diagnoses. Combined with Move On When Reading and universal ESA eligibility, Arizona's accountability landscape demands systematic Type 4 identification.
HB 2170 | Signed May 13, 2025
Amends A.R.S. § 15-763 to require IEPs indicate dyslexia diagnosis when a child qualifies under Specific Learning Disability category. Effective August 2025.
A.R.S. § 15-704
Mandates screening within 45 days of enrollment for phonological awareness, rapid naming, sound-symbol correspondence, and nonsense word fluency.
$45M Annual Appropriation
State Legislature appropriates $45 million annually to K-3 schools for effective early reading instruction and intervention programs.
Type 4 Detection
Type 4 dyslexia candidates demonstrate strong oral communication but struggle with written expression. VERA-AZ analyzes the delta between AZELLA Speaking and Writing domains to flag students who may be missed by traditional phonics-focused screening.
Arizona English Language Learner Assessment measures oral language production, fluency, and comprehension across structured and unstructured contexts.
Writing domain captures written expression, organization, conventions, and language control aligned to Arizona English Language Proficiency Standards.
When Speaking scores significantly exceed Writing scores, the student is flagged for additional screening under Move On When Reading protocols.
Arizona Data Systems
VERA-AZ integrates with Arizona's established assessment and accountability systems, connecting AZELLA English learner data with AASA academic achievement to identify Type 4 patterns.
Arizona Academic Standards for ELA, Mathematics, and Science adopted by State Board of Education.
Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment for grades 3-8 ELA and Mathematics, replacing AzMERIT.
Arizona English Language Learner Assessment measuring Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
Arizona Department of Education provides comprehensive district and school performance data.
A.R.S. § 15-241 accountability system rates schools on A-F scale across multiple domains.
Accountability Integration
Arizona rates schools on an A-F scale measuring proficiency, growth, ELL progress, graduation rates, and college/career readiness. VERA-AZ shows how Type 4 identification gaps affect school grades.
Students must demonstrate proficiency across all four AZELLA domains to exit ELL status. High Speaking but low Writing scores may indicate Type 4 patterns requiring intervention.
Arizona's $45M literacy initiative requires evidence-based intervention for struggling readers. Type 4 identification ensures students receive appropriate support beyond phonics instruction.
SB1014 requires 2 hours daily of Targeted ELD instruction. VERA-AZ helps identify which ELL students need writing-specific intervention within SEI programs.
School Choice Context
Arizona pioneered universal ESA eligibility in 2022. With 100,000+ students using Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, VERA-AZ provides curriculum alignment verification and dyslexia identification across public and private school settings.
Pilot Districts
Initial deployment includes Arizona's largest districts, selected for significant English Learner populations and established data reporting infrastructure.
| District | Location | Students | Letter Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler Unified | Chandler | 44,000 | A |
| Gilbert Public Schools | Gilbert | 36,000 | A |
| Glendale Elementary | Glendale | 12,500 | B |
| Mesa Public Schools | Mesa | 64,000 | B |
| Phoenix Union HSD | Phoenix | 27,000 | B |
| Scottsdale Unified | Scottsdale | 22,000 | A |
| Tempe Elementary | Tempe | 11,000 | B |
| Tucson Unified | Tucson | 42,000 | C |
Get Started
Browse Arizona Academic Standards, access district-level AZELLA and AASA data, run Type 4 screening analysis, and identify students who need additional evaluation under HB 2170.
Launch VERA-AZ