Pursuant to the authority granted to the State Board of Education, the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education respectfully requests approval for the reallocation of the AR Better Chance funding for the purpose of expanding existing programs or the development of new programs.  The funding for these grants resulted from programs either relinquishing their slots or being placed in re-competition. 

Pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-15-430 (2)(A) If the State Board determines that sufficient progress has been made by a public school or school district in academic distress toward correcting all issues that caused the classification of academic distress, but the public school or school district has not yet resolved all issues that caused the classification of academic distress, the commissioner, with the approval of the State Board, may appoint a community advisory board of either five (5) or seven (7) members to serve under the supervision and direction of the commissioner.

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  On January 14, 2014, the State Board of Education approved waivers for the Barton Lexa School District.  Representatives of the district are appearing before the Board with another petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Bismarck School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers.    

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Brinkley School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers.  

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Glen Rose School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers.  

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Southeast Cooperative are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers on behalf of 13 districts served by the cooperative.  

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Cleveland County School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers.  

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Crossett School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Dermott School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the DeWitt School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Drew Central School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Dumas School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Hamburg School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Hermitage School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Lakeside School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the McGehee School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Monticello School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Star City School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Warren School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers. 

When charged with the task of revising the previous English language arts and disciplinary literacy standards, a group of qualified individuals from across the state came together to craft standards that were specific for the schools and students of Arkansas. The result of this work is the Arkansas English Language Arts Standards and the Arkansas Disciplinary Literacy Standards. Reflecting what Arkansas educators know to be best for students, these standards retain the same structure as the previous standards and work together to ensure that students are college and career ready and on track for success. The Arkansas English Language Arts Standards and Arkansas Disciplinary Literacy Standards are respectfully submitted to the State Board of Education for adoption.

Act 421 of 2013 allows curriculum frameworks from two (2) separate courses to be taught in a single course, known as a combined or embedded course. Several school districts made application to the Curriculum and Instruction Unit for approval of a combined or embedded course and assured, in writing, that the curriculum frameworks for both courses will be taught fully in the combined or embedded course. Arkansas Department of Education staff respectfully requests the State Board of Education to approve the embedded courses as attached with the understanding that when the curriculum frameworks for one of the courses are revised, a new course approval request must be submitted to the State Board of Education and approval must be granted before a school is allowed to offer the embedded course.

The ADE proposes revisions to these rules to bring them into compliance with Act 1268 of 2015 (codified at Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-40-601 through 610).  The proposed rules set forth a process for school district screening students for characteristics of dyslexia and providing services as appropriate.  The State Board released these rules for public comment on January 14, 2016.  A public hearing was held on February 2, 2016. Many comments were received during the public comment period, resulting in non-substantive changes to the rules.  Department staff respectfully requests the State Board give final approval to these rules pending Legislative Council review or approval.

Acts 372 and 947 of 2015 amended Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-1501 et seq. regarding the creation of school districts by detachment.  A public comment hearing was held on May 3, 2016.  No public comments were received.  The rules were approved by the Governor on April 14, 2016.  ADE staff respectfully requests the State Board give final approval to these rules.

As a result of changes in federal law that eliminate highly qualified teacher status for all except special education, the ADE is recommending these rules to ensure that during the state transition to implementation of requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, all students have qualified teachers for core content areas when licensure is waived for charter schools or school districts, and for special education and alternative learning environment teachers.  The rules were approved for public comment on May 12, 2016, and a public comment hearing was held on June 16, 2016.  Public comments were received, but no substantive changes were made.  These rules have been approved by the Governor in accordance with Executive Order # 15-02.  ADE staff respectfully requests the State Bard give final approval for these rules.

As an additional option for educators to demonstrate content knowledge as required with Arkansas Qualified Teacher (AQT) rules, the Department seeks Board approval to use the Praxis® Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (5511) as an assessment for special education teachers with a K-12 license and ALE educators, grades K-12, to use the Fundamental Subjects assessment as a means of demonstrating content knowledge in the area of qualification.  If approved, ALE educators and K-12 licensed special education teachers who successfully pass this assessment would be qualified under AQT to teach multiple core subjects.  This assessment would not be used for licensure endorsements or certifications but only for AQT in these circumstances.

Presentation of recommendations for schools classified in Academic Distress on April 14, 2016. ADE assigned a team of educators to conduct an onsite review and make recommendations to the State Board of Education, the superintendent of the school district, and principal of the school. Once reviewed by the State Board of Education, the recommendations become binding on the district for implementation.

The Arkansas Department of Education requests the approval of the State Board of Education to use the ACT Aspire established cut scores for Arkansas students.  This will allow Arkansas to have national comparisons with other states that are also assessed with the ACT Aspire, as well as provide schools with guidance about which performance levels will require an academic improvement plan.  See https://www.discoveractaspire.org/act-aspire-technical-bulletin-1/.

The ACT and ACT Aspire Report will be presented.  The information will be uploaded as soon as the data reports are available.

ESEA Flexibility Waiver established that the State Board would receive quarterly progress reports related to Schools in Priority Status.