In The News

An update from APSRC’s legal team – Earlier this week in El Dorado, U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey issued orders denying the motions for temporary orders and preliminary injunctions filed by the Hope, Junction City and Lafayette County school districts, which had sought relief from participation in the Arkansas Public School Choice Act. The districts collectively argued that their participation in the School Choice Act would cause them to violate the terms of court orders issued in their desegregation cases as to their desegregation obligations. Read More

Arkansas students demonstrated growth in several areas on the 2018 ACT Aspire, ADE officials said Thursday. Meanwhile, ACT grade 11 results held steady. According to a news release issued by the Arkansas Department of Education: “Overall, the percent of students at or above ready in English remained steady or trended upward in all grades except for grades 6, 9 and 10. Reading results at or above ready trended upward in all grades except for grades 6, 9 and 10.” Read More

The Charter Authorizing Panel on Wednesday approved a request from Friendship Aspire Academy to open its Little Rock campus a year earlier than planned. Originally slated to open at a renovated martial arts building in 2019-20, the school will now be ready to accept students for the 2018-19 school year at what used to be Garland Elementary in the Little Rock School District. Friendship leaders pushed for an earlier start date upon learning that Einstein Charter Schools had decided against opening a school in Little Rock. Read More

The State Board of Education on Thursday heard reports from three districts currently under state control – Little Rock, Dollarway, and Earle. Board members asked about a wide variety of topics, which ranged from the state of staff morale to plans for current and new facilities. They seemed generally pleased with each district’s progress, but urged continuing self-evaluation and mindfulness of student achievement and growth. Read More

The governor-appointed School Safety Commission confirmed on Tuesday that it will host a public hearing at 9 a.m. May 30. Each speaker will have 5 minutes to address the commission, which was created in March after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. Read More