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 State Board of Education on Thursday signed off on Robotics 3 and 4 courses/standards and also approved sending out new or amended rules for public comment. Read More

The State Board of Education on Thursday approved a civics exam prepared by the Arkansas Department of Education in response to legislation passed during the 2017 legislative session. Act 478 mandates that in order to graduate, high school students must pass the civics portion of the naturalization test used by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This requirement also applies to adults seeking their GEDs. It will become effective in the 2018-19 school year. Read More

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas State Board of Education on Thursday voted to approve the last batch of waivers sought by school districts seeking to maintain their current calendar schedules.  Members agreed to let the Little Rock School District and Pulaski County Special School District join the rest of the state’s school districts in starting the 2018-19 school year on August 13 instead of August 20. At Thursday’s meeting, Arkansas Parks and Tourism Director Kane Webb testified before the board that in the past years, an “early creep of the school start calendar has slowly eroded summers” for businesses and agencies dependent upon the dollars spent by vacationing families.  Read More

Currently, state law stipulates that districts may begin the school year only on the Monday of a week that includes the date of August 20. This poses a problem where the 2018-19 school year is concerned, as districts across the state would have to start the fall semester a full week later than in recent years. Read More