Governor Brewer signed into law an important piece of education legislation today.

The bill, SB1196, sponsored by Senator John Huppenthal, R-Chandler, instituted a series of important education reforms.

The bill included:

– Enhanced teacher performance pay.

– Increased online instruction as an alternative and innovative means of teaching.

– Improved fingerprinting requirements for school personnel.

– Allowed greater flexibility within school district board governance.

– Provided greater flexibility within school construction processes.

– Implemented consistent evaluation and assessment to better measure the overall quality of Arizona schools.

– The establishment of a task force to promote student achievement and academic gains.

– Financial shelter to school districts and charter schools by exempting them from municipal tax on the storage, use or consumption of personal property.

The following pictures feature Senator John Huppenthal, R-Chandler (left), and Senator Chuck Gray, R-Mesa (right) at the bill signing event today.