§ 6-15-2906 — Academic standards

(a) (1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish academic standards that define what students shall know and be able to demonstrate in each content area. (2) Instruction in all public schools shall be based on the academic standards to prepare students to demonstrate the skills and competencies necessary for successful academic growth and high school graduation. (b) The division shall establish a schedule for periodic review and revision of academic standards to ensure that Arkansas academic standards are rigorous and prepare students for college, career, and community engagement. (c) The division shall include, at a minimum, the following elements in the periodic review and revision of Arkansas academic standards: (1) Review and input by Arkansas: (A) Educators from elementary, secondary, and higher education; and (B) Community members with professional experience related to the academic content area; (2) Study and consideration of academic standards at the national and international level, as appropriate; (3) Study and consideration of an evaluation of the academic standards from national groups or organizations, as appropriate; and (4) Public dissemination of revised academic standards. (d) (1) The division shall include in the academic standards a means by which a public school student may substitute comparable elective coursework pertaining to career and technical education for core academic classes that are required for graduation under the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts. (2) (A) When establishing the means required under subdivision (d)(1) of this section, the division shall create an approval process whereby comparable elective coursework pertaining to career and technical education may be substituted for core academic classes. (B) (i) For purposes of creating the approval process for substituting required core academic classes with comparable elective coursework pertaining to career and technical education as required under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section, there is established the Career and Technical Education with Embedded Academics Certification Committee. (ii) The committee established under subdivision (d)(2)(B)(i) of this section shall: (a) Consult with the division in order to establish the approval process required by subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section; (b) Include one (1) member from each of the education service cooperatives, who shall be appointed by the director of each education service cooperative; (c) Review academic standards and analyze the comparable career and technical education standards for embedded academic content that are or will be offered in the upcoming school year; and (d) (1) Produce a crosswalk document that shows the alignment of relevant core academic standards to the career and technical education standards. (2) Each alignment described by subdivision (d)(2)(B)(ii) (d)(1) of this section shall offer the rationale as to why a lesson concerning academic content may be substituted. (3) (A) The crosswalk document required under subdivision (d)(2)(B)(ii) (d)(1) of this section shall be provided to the division by December 15 of each year. (B) The division shall certify the alignments proposed in the crosswalk document required under subdivision (d)(2)(B)(ii) (d)(1) of this section as eligible to be substitute comparable elective coursework under this section each year by February 1.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 242,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1294, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1293, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1292, eff. 7/1/2019. Added by Act 2017, No. 930,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2017.