Katie Fite

Director of Communications

Arkansas Public School Resource Center

501-492-4300 | kfite@apsrc.net

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

LITTLE ROCK, AR - On Thursday, June 13th, 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. Waiver Request for Standards for Accreditation 1-A.4.1

The board approved the following waiver requests by districts impacted by severe weather on Memorial Day weekend:

V.1.a. Arkansas Arts Academy Standard 1-A.4.1 Waiver Request

V.1.b. Bentonville Standard 1-A.4.1 Waiver Request

V.1.c. Haas Hall Rogers Standard 1-A.4.1 Waiver Request

V.1.d. LISA Academy Rogers Standard 1-A.4.1 Waiver Request

V.1.e. Rogers Public Schools Standard 1-A.4.1 Waiver Request

V.2. Standards for Accreditation Status Recommendations for the 2023-2024 Accreditation Cycle

V.2.a. Recommendation of Final Accredited Status for Districts

The board approved the recommendation.

V.2.b. Recommendation of Final Accredited-Cited Status and Accredited-Probation Status for Districts

The board approved the recommendation.

V.3. Consideration of Boundary Change Petition by the Prairie Grove School District 

The board tabled until the July meeting the Prairie Grove School District petition to change its school district boundary pursuant to Arkansas Code § 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 can be found here.

V.4. Consideration of Request to Release Administrative Rules for Public Comment

The board approved releasing the following rules for public comment:

V.4.a. DESE Rule Governing Career-Ready Pathways to Diploma

V.4.b. DESE Rule Governing the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and Public School Districts

V.4.c. DESE Rule Governing the Documents Posted to School District and Education Service Cooperative Websites

V.4.d. DESE Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Rule Governing the Arkansas Better Chance Program

V.4.e. DESE Rule Governing Math Intervention

V.4.f. DESE Rule Governing the Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability Act (AESAA).

V.5. Consideration of Request for Final Approval of Administrative Rules

The board approved the following administrative rules for final approval following a 30-day public comment period. 

V.5.a. DCTE Rule Governing the Adult Diploma Program

V.5.b. DESE OEC Rule Governing the Requirements and Procedures for Obtaining an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential

V.5.c. DESE Rule Governing Background Checks

V.5.d. DESE Rule Governing the Code of Ethics

V.5.e. DESE Rule Governing Maternity Leave Cost Sharing

V.5.f. DESE Rule Governing Public School Policies Relating to Overnight Travel and Use of Public School Lavatories

V.5.g. DESE Rule Governing the Educational Freedom Account Program

V.5.h. DESE Rule Governing Professional Development

V.5.i. DESE Rule Governing School Transformation Contracts

V.5.j. DESE Rule Governing Emergency Response Equipment and Training in Arkansas Public Schools

V.5.k. DESE Rule Governing Water Safety Information Provided by Public Schools

V.6. Consideration of Final Approval of Request to Repeal Administrative Rules

The board approved the final approval of the request to repeal the following administrative rules following a 30-day public comment period:

V.6.a. DESE Rule Governing the Educator Compensation Reform Program

V.6.b. DESE Rule Governing Eligibility of Participating School Districts in the Traveling Teacher Program

V.6.c. DESE Rule Governing Incentives for Teacher Recruitment and Retention in High-Priority Districts

V.6.d. DESE Rule Governing Reimbursement by School Districts for Election Expenses

V.6.e. DESE Rule Governing School Board Zones and Rezoning 

V.6.f. DESE Rule Governing School District Duty to Report Student Criminal Acts

V.6.g. DESE Rule Governing the Succeed Scholarship Program

V.6.h. DCTE Rule Governing Methods of Administration of Career and Technical Education Programs

V.7. Request for Approval of Norm-Referenced Tests to Fulfill the Education Freedom Account Testing Requirement for Participating Students

The board approved the list of nationally norm-referenced tests presented for consideration of approval as testing options for Education Freedom Account participating students to meet the requirements of Arkansas Code §6-18-2509(a)(1)(B) and Education Freedom Account rule 12.01.2.

V.8. Request for Approval of Associations to Accredit Education Freedom Account Participating Private Schools

The board approved the list of accrediting associations presented for consideration of approval as accrediting organizations for Education Freedom Account participating schools to meet the requirements of Arkansas Code §6-18-2507(a)(1)(A) and Education Freedom Account rule 7.01.2.

V.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 21-075 Steven Shook

The board approved the recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 21-075 Steven Shook. At its regularly scheduled meeting on May 9, 2024, the State Board of Education requested the PLSB recommendation for Case 21-075 Steven Shook be moved from the consent agenda to June's action agenda. This hearing was scheduled, and Steven Shook's attorney was notified of the hearing date via certified mail.

V.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-075 Tyler Scott

The board approved and modified the recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-075 Tyler Scott. The educator objected to the Ethics Hearing Subcommittee's evidentiary hearing findings and recommendation of April 3, 2024, and requested a review by the State Board. 

V.11. Election of 2024-2025 State Board Officers 

The State Board of Education Nominating Committee, Randy Henderson, Lisa Hunter, and Adrienne Woods, met on June 4, 2024, and Ms. Woods presented chair candidate, Dr. Sarah Moore, and vice chair candidate, Kathy McFetridge-Rollins, for the 2024-2025 academic year. The term for newly elected officers begins July 1, 2024, and ends on June 30, 2025. The board approved the nominations.

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.4. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-165 Kara Lee

VII.5. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-052 Marian Candace Ashcraft

VII.6. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-054 Karen Eoff

VII.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-055 Megan Boyce

VII.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-134 Benjamin Liddle

VII.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-151 Mark Manry

VII.10. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for Friendship Aspire Academy North Little Rock

VII.11. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel's Decision for eStem Public Charter School 

VII.12. 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 - Wendy Peer

VII.13. 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 - Brenda Brown

VII.14. 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- Annette Hux

VII.15. 2024-2025 Embedded Courses

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

VII.3. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-111 Chase Utley

VIII. Reports

VIII.1. Marvell-Elaine School District Update

Dr. Phong Tran, Superintendent of Marvell-Elaine School District, provided an update on progress made in the district.

VIII.2. Watson Chapel School District Update

A monthly update on the progress made by Watson Chapel School District in correcting Standards for Accreditation violations and addressing other concerns noted by DESE was presented, as requested.

VIII.3. Board Liaison Reports 

SBE member Adrienne Woods provided an update on dyslexia services. 

VIII.4. ATOY Report 

ATOY Capri Salaam provided an update.

VIII.5. Commissioner's Report 

Secretary Oliva provided remarks.

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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