A 2023 graduate of Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center in Jonesboro, Lily Williams won a national gold medal in the 2023 automotive refinishing SkillsUSA competition. In September 2024, Ms. Williams will represent the United States in the international WorldSkills competition to be held in Lyon, France.

"The United States Senate Youth Program was created by Senate resolution 324 in 1962 in order to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world."

Our two delegates, Mr. Joshua Ofodile and Mr. Bannon Sansom Price, joined Senator John Boozman and Senator Tom Cotton in representing Arkansas during the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week, held March 2-9, 2024. They were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
 

Recognizing the importance of the School Breakfast Program, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proclaimed March as School Breakfast Month on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The purpose of this month-long celebration is to honor child nutrition teams and school personnel, as well as encourage school districts to increase school breakfast participation. 

The Lowe family is appealing the Quitman School District's denial of a legal transfer to the Rose Bud School District. 

Due to inclement weather in the state, 12 school districts are requesting the Board waive Ark. Code Ann. § 6-10-106(g) to allow a mid-year change from a traditional school calendar of 178 days to an alternative calendar of 1,068 hours.
 

There are 35 school districts requesting a waiver of Ark, Code Ann. § 6-10-106 (a)(1)(A) which requires school districts to begin school on or after the Monday of the week in which August 19 falls and no earlier than August 14 or later than August 26.
 

These rules are being presented for release for public comment. 

DESE Rules Governing Right to Read are presented for approval to release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing Educator Performance are presented for approval to release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing Community Service and Diploma Requirements are presented for approval to release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing Public School Choice are presented for approval to release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing Petitions for Student Transfers are presented for approval to release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing School Transformation Contracts are presented for approval to release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing Public School Policies Relating to Overnight Travel and Use of Public School Lavatories are presented for release for public comment.

DESE Rules Governing the Arkansas Student Protection Act are presented for approval to release for public comment.

Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309 requires local school districts to secure a waiver when classrooms are staffed with unlicensed teachers for longer than 30 days. Requests were received from 24 school districts for a total of 32 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 38 school districts requesting a total of 50 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by DESE staff, and are consistent with program guidelines.

Commercial Bond Applications - 5 Second-Lien; 5 Voted

With the recommendation to approve all applications from the Loan Committee and additional information provided by the school district in its application package and:

• Pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated § 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.

Violation of Standard 1. An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom. Violation of Standard 2. An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. The Professional Licensure Standards Board requests the State Board of Education order a Probation of License for 1 year and assess a $200 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training Provided by the PLSB (1.5 Hours), TCC22007: SMACtalk for Teachers: Online Etiquette (1 Credit Hour), and Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p) Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293.  Require educator to provide written reflection on each training/book on how it will influence her future interactions with students both in person and online. Due to the PLSB for approval within 90 days of the State Board Order. (All costs paid by Educator Snider)

Violation of Standard 2. An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. The Professional Licensure Standards Board requests the State Board of Education order a Probation of License for 2 years and assess a $250 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training Provided by the PLSB (1.5 Hours), Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p) Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293, Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 10: ISBN 13: 9780470500163, Title: Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability Using the QBQ! (144 p) Author: John G. Miller ISBN 10: 0399152334 ISBN 13: 978-0399152337, and Title: You’ve Gotta Connect: Building Relationships that Lead to Engaged Students, Productive Classrooms, and Higher Achievement (280 Pages) Author: James Alan Sturtevant ISBN-10: 1629500046 ISBN-13: 978-1629500046. Require educator to provide written reflection on each training/book on how it will impact the educator’s future interactions with colleagues and students. Due to the PLSB for approval within 90 days of the State Board Order. Quarterly reports from the educator’s supervisor on her interactions with colleagues and students. Submitted to the PLSB quarterly for approval. (All costs paid by Educator Blakely).

The Charter Authorizing Panel voted to approve amendment requests that allow the charter to change the location and name of the school and granted waivers of laws pertaining to board members.

The Charter Authorizing Panel voted to approve the waiver requests of laws and standards pertaining to class size and teaching load, flexible schedules, teacher licensure, gifted and talented, and library media specialists for Batesville High School Charter.

The LEARNS OEC Update March 2024, required by Act 237 (LEARNS) to be submitted to legislative leaders, is presented for State Board review. This report provides an update of local early childhood lead organizations and unification of the Unified Early Childhood Care and Education System. 

The State Board requested monthly updates from the Watson Chapel School District on progress made towards correcting Standards for Accreditation violations and other concerns noted by DESE.