November 12, 2026 at 8:30 AM - State Board of Education
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I. Call to Order
Presenter:
Randy Henderson
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II. Moment of Silence
Presenter:
Randy Henderson
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III. Pledge of Allegiance
Presenter:
Randy Henderson
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IV. National Anthem
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
Description:
Ty Jordan, a Senior from Little Rock School District's Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, will perform the national anthem.
The soloist will be accompanied by Parkview's Choir Director, Ms. Mary Shollmier. |
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V. Recognition
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
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VI. Changes to Agenda
Presenter:
Randy Henderson
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VII. Action Agenda
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VII.1. East End School District Name Change Request
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
Description:
Pursuant to A.C.A. § 6-13-102, the State Board of Education has the authority to change the legal name of a school district. The East End School District has submitted a resolution requesting to change its name to the Bigelow School District.
Attachments:
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VII.2. Public School District Waiver Requests
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
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VII.2.a. Barton School District Waiver Request
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
Description:
Barton School District requests a waiver of Standard 4-F and 6 CAR § 61-507(b), regarding the library media specialist staffing ratio for Grades K-12, for the 2026-2027 school year.
Attachments:
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VII.2.b. Hot Springs School District Waiver Request
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
Description:
Hot Springs School District requests a waiver of Standard 1-A.5 and 6 CAR § 62-102, regarding class size requirements for Grades 11-12, for the 2026-2027 school year.
Attachments:
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VII.2.c. Brinkley School District Waiver Request
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
Description:
Brinkley School District requests a waiver of Standard 4-C.1 and 6 CAR § 61-504(a), regarding high school principal staffing requirements, to allow the superintendent to serve as principal/compliance officer for Grades 7-12 for the 2026-2027 school year.
Attachments:
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VII.3. Consideration of Request for Final Approval of the Rules Governing Grading and Course Credit - 6 CAR pt. 96
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
Description:
The division is requesting that these rules be adopted and submitted to the General Assembly for review. This amendment reflects changes made by Acts 237 of 2023, 654 of 2023; 635 of 2023, 165 of 2025, and 341 of 2025. Three public comment periods were held with the final public comment period running from September 19th to October 19th. Public comment was received and changes were made following the first and second public comment periods.
Attachments:
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VII.4. PLSB Case 25-121 Danny Marrs - Written Reflections
Presenter:
LaBria Brown
Description:
At the last State Board of Education meeting on October 8th, the State Board requested PLSB 25-121 Danny Marrs's written reflections be pulled to the Action agenda for November's meeting.
Attachments:
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VIII. New Business
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IX. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Randy Henderson
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IX.1. Minutes
Presenter:
Angela Scaife/Melody Pettit
Attachments:
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IX.2. 2027 State Board of Education Meeting Dates
Presenter:
Courtney Salas-Ford
Description:
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-11-104(b) states, "In any of its meetings before the end of the calendar year, the state board shall determine the meeting dates for the following year."
In keeping with the tradition of meeting every second Thursday of the month, the following Thursdays are proposed for State Board meetings:
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IX.3. Recommendations from the Charter Authorizing Panel
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Attachments:
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IX.3.a. Institute for the Creative Arts
Description:
On October 15, 2026, Ms. Toyce Newton moved that the Charter Authorizing Panel:
1. Rescind academic monitoring site-visit requirements for the Institute for the Creative Arts adopted by the Panel on August 20, 2026, and 2. Require the Institute for the Creative Arts to submit limited academic progress reports to the Charter School Office within 30 calendar days following the conclusion of both the fall and winter interim assessment windows, and 3. Maintain all financial monitoring and monthly financial reporting requirements established by the August 20, 2026 motion. Ms. Edie Stewart seconded Ms.Newton's motion, and it passed unanimously. |
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IX.3.b. Garfield Scholars Academy
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
On October 15, 2026, representatives from the Garfield Scholars Academy appeared before the Charter Authorizing Panel ("the Panel") to request waivers of the Superintendent licensure requirements, Library Media Specialist licensure and staffing requirements, and classroom teacher licensure requirements.
Dr. John Bacon moved that the Panel accept the Charter School Office's recommendation to approve the three waivers with a second by Mr. Phillip Baldwin. The motion passed unanimously. |
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IX.3.c. The Grove Academy
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
On October 15, 2026, Dr. Terri Guy appeared before the Charter Authorizing Panel ("the Panel") to request approval for The Grove Academy, an open enrollment charter school to open in Little Rock (Pulaski County), Arkansas for the 2027-28 school year.
Ms. Edie Stewart moved that the Panel approve the Open Enrollment Charter Application for The Grove Academy and require the Charter School Office to monitor, on a monthly basis, the school's compliance with the pre-opening checklist, including its progress toward securing adequate financing and an appropriate facility, to ensure that all necessary requirements are met for the school to open for the school to open for the 2027-28 school year. Ms. Toyce Newton seconded Ms. Stewart's motion, and it passed unanimously. |
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IX.3.d. Imboden Area Charter School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
On October 15, 2026, the Charter Authorizing Panel ("the Panel") accepted the Imboden Area Charter School Board's petition to voluntarily transfer its charter to Freedom Education Services, as unanimously approved by the Imboden Area Charter School Board on October 13, 2026; schedule the revocation hearing for November 3, 2026; and approve the transition agreement pending the Panel's November 3 action and final consideration by the State Board of Education on November 12, 2026.
The motion was made by Ms. Edie Stewart, seconded by Dr. John Bacon and passed unanimously. |
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IX.3.d.1) Voluntary Assignment of Charter for Imboden Area Charter School to Freedom Education Services, Inc.
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
On November 3, 2026, Phillip Baldwin moved to adopt the findings read into the record by the Division and approve the Joint Petition for Voluntary Assignment of the charter of Imboden Area Charter School, LEA 3840700, from Imboden Area Charter School, Inc. to Freedom Education Services, Inc., effective January 1, 2027, subject to the conditions set forth in the Division’s written recommendation, Attachment A, which were incorporated into the motion by reference. Edie Stewart seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by a vote of 5-0.
Attachments:
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IX.4. Review of Loan and Bond Applications
Presenter:
Greg Rogers
Description:
The members of the State board of Education are requested to review the following:
Commercial Bond Applications - 2 Second Lien With a recommendation to approve the applications from the Loan Committee and additional information provided by the school districts in its application package and pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1205, concerning school district bonds, a school district shall not sell bonds until the issue is approved by the State Board of Education. Therefore, the State Board of Education, in its discretion and after considering the merits of each application, with the loan committee recommendation, may approve a school district bond application for the full amount of the proposed bond issue, approve the application for a lesser amount than requested, or disapprove the application.
Attachments:
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X. Reports
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X.1. Review of the District Strategic Plan and Action Plans for Districts with a Rating of F
Presenter:
Matt Sewell and Stacy Smith
Description:
Districts received letter grades in September 2026 for the 2025-2026 school year. The following districts received an F letter grade and are presenting their District Strategic Plan and Improvement Plan to SBE:
Attachments:
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X.2. ATOY Report
Presenter:
Stephanie Williams
Attachments:
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X.3. Commissioner's Report
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
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XI. Public Comments
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XII. Adjournment
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