public schools; first day; restriction

HB 4038 (Arizona) sets a minimum start date of September 1 for the first day of instruction beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, directly affecting all Arizona public schools and charter schools. It allows schools to adopt flexible instructional models (including blended, project-based, or remote learning) to meet state requirements, but limits remote instruction to 40% of total time after 2022-2023 without impacting funding. Schools exceeding this remote learning threshold must report to the state education department, and may face requirements to reclassify as online schools. The bill also permits reallocating instructional time between subjects to support student needs and aligns attendance policies with adopted models.