By Christina Fowler LITTLE ROCK – The State Board of Education reviewed the quarterly Legislative Reports and approved the District Support plans for the five school districts currently under state authority on Thursday. Mike Hernandez, State Superintendent for the Arkansas Department of Education, highlighted the efforts Dollarway, Earle, Lee County, Little Rock, and Pine Bluff School Districts have made to improve literacy and math proficiency in their districts, reduce chronic absenteeism among students and teachers, and improve collaboration through the development of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). To view the Legislative Update for each district, click on the District Name below: Dollarway School District Earle School District Lee County School District Little Rock School District Pine Bluff School District Searcy County School District’s request for an… Read More

By CATHY FRYE LITTLE ROCK – The State Board of Education on Thursday voted to waive the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act and the Public School Employee Fair Hearing Act in both the Little Rock and Pine Bluff school districts. Members also voted on five motions pertaining specifically to the Little Rock School District. One passed and the other four failed. Thursday’s meeting drew a crowd that exceeded the capacity of the Arkansas Department of Education’s auditorium, which offers seating for 160 people. Many of those in attendance were therefore sent to two overflow areas while waiting for an opportunity to offer public comment. Board chairman Jay Barth said that 45 people had signed up to speak. Read More

The Arkansas State Board of Education voted on Thursday to approve two new rules and signed off on two Act 1240 waivers. At its November meeting on Thursday, the board voted to approve the final ADE rules governing the calculation methods for declining enrollment and student-growth funding for school districts. New rules were required per Act 741, passed in 2017.  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 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