Katie Fite

Director of Communications

Arkansas Public School Resource Center

501-492-4300 | kfite@apsrc.net

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

LITTLE ROCK, AR - On Thursday, November 7th, 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. Lead Hill Class Size Waiver Request

The board approved the Lead Hill School District request for a waiver of Standard for Accreditation 1-A.5, pertaining to class size and teaching load.

V.2. Consideration of a Public School Waiver Request by the Osceola School District

The board approved the district requests, for a period of one (1) year, for waivers of the following laws, rules, and standard pertaining to Teacher Licensure:

• Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-15-1004, 6-17-309, 6-17-401, 6-17-418, 6-17-902, 6-17-908, 6-17-919
• Section 7 of DESE Rule Governing Educator Licensure, and
• Standard for Accreditation 4-D.1.

V.3. KIPP Delta Accreditation-Probation Status Recommendation

The board approved the Division's recommendation that the State Board of Education place KIPP Delta in Accredited-Probation status under the standards listed below with a report and reevaluation to be provided in December :

Standards 2-F.1 All public school district personnel, teachers, and administrators must comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 300, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-101 et seq., the laws of the State of Arkansas and the rules of the Department.

Standard 2-F.2 Each public school district shall offer a full continuum of special education services as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 300, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-101 et seq., the laws of the State of Arkansas and the rules of the Department.

V.4. Consideration of Boundary Change Petition by the Prairie Grove School District

The board denied the Prairie Grove School District petition to change its school district boundary pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1414. The affected school district is the Lincoln School District, which objected to the petition. The petition by the Prairie Grove School District, the response by the Lincoln School District, as well as maps detailing the affected area prepared by the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office are attached. 

V.5. Request to Release Administrative Rules for Public Comment

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

V.5.a. DESE Rule Governing Grading and Course Credit

V.5.b. DESE Rule Governing Distance and Digital Learning

V.5.c. DESE Rule Governing the First Connections Program Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

V.5.d. DESE Rule Governing Special Education (Section 18.00 -- Residential Placement)

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 Sixty (60) Days, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309

VII.3. Review of Loan and Bond Applications

VII.4. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-221 Kimberly Rodriguez

VII.5. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-265 LaDonna Oates

VII.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-257 Ashley Pickering

VII.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-258 Chelsea Lehman

VII.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-270 Dean Livingston

VII.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-274 Jason Moix

VII.11. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-283 Hannah Cantrell

VII.12. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-273 Jackson Poe

VII.14. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-215 Octavis Mitchell

VII.15. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 25-032 Jace Bradley

VII.16. Consideration of Iota Leadership Academy's Open Enrollment Charter School Application Requests

VII.17. Consideration of Unbound Academy's Open Enrollment Charter School Application Request

VII.18. Consideration of Newman Virtual Academy Arkansas's Open Enrollment Charter School Application Request

The following item was removed to be reviewed at the December meeting:

VII.6. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-135 Candace Roberson

VII.13. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-166 Abigail Jones

VIII. Reports

VIII.1. Board Liaison Reports 

SBE Member Leigh Keener provided an update on Local Leads.

VIII.2. Commissioner's Report 

Secretary Oliva provided remarks. 

As part of its regular schedule, the State Board generally convenes on the second Thursday 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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