(a)Beginning with the ninth grade class of 2024-2025, a public high school student shall have the option to earn a high school diploma through a career-ready pathway.
(b)The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with other relevant state agencies and subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, shall develop a career-ready pathway to a high school diploma in Arkansas's high schools, which shall include:
(1)Challenging academic courses; and (2) Modern career and technical studies aligned with high-wage, high-growth jobs in Arkansas.
(c)A career-ready pathway shall be informed by the division's annual audit of the state's career pathways.
(d)The state board shall adopt course and curriculum requirements for career-ready pathways offered by public sc
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(a) Beginning with the ninth grade class of 2024-2025, a public high school student shall have the option to earn a high school diploma through a career-ready pathway. (b) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with other relevant state agencies and subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, shall develop a career-ready pathway to a high school diploma in Arkansas's high schools, which shall include: (1) Challenging academic courses; and (2) Modern career and technical studies aligned with high-wage, high-growth jobs in Arkansas. (c) A career-ready pathway shall be informed by the division's annual audit of the state's career pathways. (d) The state board shall adopt course and curriculum requirements for career-ready pathways offered by public school district boards of directors and open-enrollment public charter schools that are aligned with the requirements of this subchapter. (e) (1) A public school district shall issue a diploma to a student who successfully completes the requirements established by the state board for a career-ready pathway. (2) (A) A diploma issued to a student under subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall be given the same status and recognition for purposes of the Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability Act, § 6-15-2901 et seq., as is given a standard diploma issued by a public school district. (B) A public school district or open-enrollment public charter school shall not be penalized in any manner for students who are issued a diploma through a career-ready pathway.