Katie Fite

Director of Communications

Arkansas Public School Resource Center

501-492-4300 | kfite@apsrc.net

Arkansas State Board of Education's May Meeting: Important Updates and Decisions

LITTLE ROCK, AR - On Thursday, May 9th, 2024, the Arkansas State Board of Education convened to address crucial items on the published agenda. The meeting, accessible through this link, featured various agenda items, with input from representatives and public commentators.

As the policy-making body for Arkansas's education system, the State Board of Education diligently considered and acted upon several essential agenda items during the meeting:

V. Action Agenda 

V.1. School Start Date Waiver Requests

The board approved waiver requests for the following school districts for one year:

V.1.a. Little Rock School District 

V.1.b. Mountain Pine School District

V.1.c. Western Yell County School District

V.2. Inclement Weather Calendar Waiver Requests

The board approved waiver requests for the following school districts:

V.2.a. Hillcrest School District

V.2.b. Shirley School District

V.3. One-year Standards for Accreditation Waiver Requests

The board tabled the waiver request for the following school district until the June meeting:

V.3.a. Huntsville Public School District's One-Year Standards for Accreditation Request

V.4. Consideration of the Recommendation to Remove the Lee County School District from Fiscal Distress Status

The board released Lee County School District from fiscal distress status.

V.5. Consideration of Administrative Rules for Final Approval

The board approved the following rules for final approval:

V.5.a. DESE Rule Governing the Student Protection Act

V.5.b. DESE Rule Governing Student Transfers

V.5.c. DESE Rules Governing Educator Performance

V.5.d. DESE Rule Governing the Right to Read Act

V.6. Consideration of Request to Release Administrative Rules for Public Comment

The board approved the following rules to be released for public comment:

V.6.a. DESE Rule Governing Arkansas Governor's School 

V.6.b. DESE Rule Governing Background Checks

V.6.c. DESE Rule Governing the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators

V.6.d. DESE Rule Governing Better Beginnings

V.6.e. DESE Rule Governing the Requirements and Procedures for Obtaining an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential

V.6.f. DESE Rule Governing Dyslexia Screenings and Interventions 

V.6.g. DESE Rule Governing Educator Licensure

V.6.h. DESE Rule Governing Emergency Response Equipment and Training in Arkansas Public Schools

V.6.i. DESE Rule Governing the Fiscal Assessment and Accountability Program

V.6.j. DESE Rule Governing the Maternity Leave Cost Sharing Program 

V.6.k. DESE Rule Governing Water Safety Information Provided by Public Schools

V.7. Consideration of Request to Repeal Administrative Rules and Release for Public Comment

The board approved the following rules to be repealed and releaed for public comment:

V.7.a. DESE Rule Governing the Educator Compensation Reform Program

V.7.b. DESE Rule Governing Eligibility of Participating School Districts in the Traveling Teacher Program

V.7.c. DESE Rule Governing Incentives for Teacher Recruitment and Retention in High-Priority Districts

V.7.d. DESE Rule Governing Reimbursement by School Districts for Election Expenses

V.7.e. DESE Rule Governing School Board Zones and Rezoning 

V.7.f. DESE Rule Governing School District Duty to Report Student Criminal Acts

V.7.g. DESE Rule Governing the Succeed Scholarship Program 

V.7.h. DCTE Rule Governing Methods of Administration of Career and Technical Education Programs

V.8. Consideration of Request for Approval of Nominated Member for the Professional Licensure Standards Board to Replace Member Whose Term is Vacant or Expiring June 30, 2024 - Dr. Kimberley Davis

The board approved the nomination of Dr. Davis to the Professional Licensure Standards Board.

V.9. Consideration of Request for Approval of Nominated Member for the Professional Licensure Standards Board to Replace Member whose Term is Vacant or Expiring June 30, 2024 - Dr. Harold Jeffcoat

The board approved the nomination of Dr. Jeffcoat to the Professional Licensure Standards Board.

VII. Consent Agenda 

The board approved the consent agenda. Items included: 

VII.1. Minutes 

VII.2. Report on Waivers to School Districts for Teachers Teaching Out of Area for Longer than Thirty (60) Days, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309

VII.3. Review of Loan and Bond Applications

VII.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-123 - Dustin Moffitt

VII.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-106 - Rebecca Weliver

VII.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-113 - Kathryn Drake

VII.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-116 - Stephanie Davis

VII.11. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-183 - Jordan Duff

VII.12. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-157 - Linda Maples

VII.13. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-126 - Mary Oltmann

VII.14. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-160 - William Livingston

VII.15. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-068 - Xavier Diamond

VII.16. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-117 - Michelle Stanfield

VII.17. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for the School for Advanced Studies-Northwest Arkansas

VII.18. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools

VII.19. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas 

VII.20. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for Premier High Schools of Arkansas and Premier High School of North Little Rock

VII.21. Consideration of Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for LISA Academy

The following items were pulled from the Consent Agenda to be added to the June Action Agenda:

VII.4. Consideration of the Arkansas Better Chance Program Renewal Grants FY25

VII.5. Consideration of the Arkansas Better Chance Professional Service Grants FY25

VII.6. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 21-075 - Steven Shook

VIII. Reports

VIII.1. Earle School District Quarterly Report

No presentation was given.

VIII.2. Helena-West Helena School District Quarterly Report

No presentation was given.

VIII.3. Lee County School District Quarterly Report

No presentation was given.

VIII.4. Marvell-Elaine School District Quarterly Report

No presentation was given.

VIII.5. Pine Bluff School District Quarterly Report

No presentation was given.

VIII.6. Watson Chapel School District Update

Watson Chapel School District superintendent provided an update.

VIII.7. Board Liaison Reports 

VIII.7.a. Committee on Early Learning

Tonya Williams provided an update.

VIII.8. ATOY Report 

ATOY Capri Salaam provided an update.

VIII.9. Commissioner's Report 

No presentation was given.

As part of its regular schedule, the State Board generally convenes on the second Thursday and Friday of each month to address issues impacting the educational landscape. Each meeting aims to consider, vote on, or generate orders related to agenda items.

For more information and to access the agenda and documents for this meeting, please click here.

State Board of Education

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