Legislative Impact of Curriculum and Instruction
in Arkansas Schools
2013 AAEA Summer Conference
AACIA
Arkansas Association
Of Curriculum and
Instruction Administrators
Acts become law 90 days after close of session, unless emergency clause
ADE must decide which Acts need rules and regulations
*If needed, rules and regulations are developed, have public comment period, comment review process, seek approval from SBE
Seek approval of Legislative Rules and Regulations committee
Rule and regulation process must be complete before become effective
Rules/Legal Process
Curriculum
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 128 – Reporting Course Offerings
Repeals requirement for district to mail home letter of district's obligation to offer certain classes
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 328 – Foreign Language Schools may offer
American Sign Language as a foreign language credit
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 421 – Allow Waiver for Embedding Curriculum State Board may grant waiver to district for
combining or embedding curriculum from 2 separate courses into 1 combined course
Only applies in grades 5 through 12
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 511 – Amend Free Textbook Act Repeals ADE from making a list of "approved"
textbooks Provider shall not charge Arkansas schools a
price that exceeds the lowest contracted price currently bid in another state
Must sell products at same price for every school in Arkansas
Must submit prices to ADE District shall select "an instructional materials"
selection committee
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 585 – Council of Postsecondary Education Council shall consist of twelve (12) members Unified strategy to:
◦ Reduce remediation rate by 50% in 2020◦ Increase postsecondary graduation rates◦ June 30, 2014◦ Written plan to reduce remediation and postsecondary
graduation rates◦ Provide plan to committee on education, school boards,
higher education institutions
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 585, continued Transitional Courses
◦ High school shall provide one (1) or more transitional courses to students who do not meet college and career standards
◦ Course based on college and career standards◦ May be composed of digital modules◦ Higher Ed shall exempt placement exam for first time
entering freshman who meet criteria◦ High school shall award the same credit for a full
mathematics transitional course as it does for a fourth-year mathematics course
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 599 – Band, Music, and Visual Arts Credit A student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 shall
participate in:◦ Visual arts instruction, appreciation, and application;
OR◦ Performing arts instruction, appreciation, and
application
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 625 – Establish AP Training & Incentive Program Establishes the Advanced Placement Training
and Incentive Program Sets goals of increasing number of students
participating in AP and increase the number of 3, 4, and 5 on AP exam
District may fully participate in the program or they may participate on a limited basis
Districts shall pay a participation and service fee established by June 1 each year
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1016 – CPR Instruction Beginning 2014-2015 Students in grades 9-12 shall be trained in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation before student graduates
Not a certification program Shall follow standards established by the
American Heart Association Including instruction and use of automated
external defibrillators
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1108 – Arts-Infused Curriculum ADE administered grant program 5 year pilot program to implement an arts-
enriched curriculum, training, and research at 15 schools
Principal and 85% of the teachers must agree to participate
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1108, continued 5 schools shall begin three year training in
2014-2015 school year 1st year training is 7 days 2nd year training is 5 days 3rd year training is 4 days Report submitted to House and Senate Ed
Committees by September 1, 2020
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1280 – Digital Learning 2013-14 - Each district in the pilot program
shall offer at least one digital learning class 2014-15 - Entering 9th grade students must
have at least one digital learning class to graduate
Act 1280, continued Beginning in the 14-15 year, all school
districts shall provide at least one digital course to their students as either a primary or supplementary method of instruction
All digital learning courses shall be made available in a blended learning, online-based, or other technology-based format tailored to meet the needs of each participating student
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1440 – Academic Study of Bible Allows elective academic
study of Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics
District may offer such class upon approval of course curriculum by ADE
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1473 – Arts-infused Curriculum NSLA funds may be used to implement school-
wide evidence-based program intended to close achievement gaps with an arts-infused curriculum
Assessment
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1081 – Repeals High-Stakes Testing Replaces high-stakes end-of-course assessments
for Algebra I and English II with the next-generation assessments
Remedial activities and instruction shall not be in lieu of English, mathematics, science, history, or other courses required for graduation
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1294 -- Dyslexia Required screening and intervention Shall screen students in grade K-2 using
Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)
If DIBELS screens indicates a student has markers for dyslexia then student is referred to Response to Intervention (RTI)
If RTI committee concurs, student shall be evaluated for dyslexia
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1294, continued If dyslexia evaluation confirms, student shall be
provided therapeutic services Therapeutic services may be provided by tutor
who is highly qualified and trained interventionist
List instructional approaches ADE shall hire a dyslexia specialist by 2015 ADE shall ensure at least 1 staff member at each
co-op is trained as a dyslexia specialist
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1462 – ACT Assessment Universal ACT Assessment program may provide
students in grades 9-11 opportunity to take ACT Assessment without charge
Using school district funding, including NSLA Beginning 2014-2015
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1479 – College Remediation ADE and ADHE shall jointly study issues
concerning testing and remediation of entering college freshmen
Develop method to allocate cost of remediation to public schools, institutions of higher education, and entering freshmen
Report due November 1, 2013 to Joint House and Senate Education Committee
ACTS of 2013
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 71 – Cell Phones & Communication Devices District may establish written student
discipline policy and exemptions concerning possession anduse by a student of a personal electronic device
on school property school related events extracurricular activities instructional purposes Limit time/location
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 146 – Interstate Compact
National program to help active military children to seamlessly complete their education including:1.Timely enrollment2.Student placement3.Eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, participation in extracurricular, etc4.On-time graduation5.Uniform collection of information from state to state
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 330 – Electronic Transcripts Electronic transcripts shall be used K-12 as
developed by ADE Higher Ed shall use electronic transcripts as the
only method of accepting a transcript from an Arkansas public school
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 383 – Pilot for Breakfast Nutritional Programs $1,000,000
appropriation
Breakfast in the Classroom Program
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 414 – Ensuring Adequate School Nurses Listed job description and duties of school
nurses Creates Public School Health Services Advisory
Committee of 19 Members Study to determine:
◦ Best practices◦ Who is providing services◦ Which students are not being served◦ Existing nursing facilities
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 414, continued◦ Cost of providing on-campus services◦ Nurse related duties and non-health care duties◦ Advisory committee shall develop guidelines including:
number of nurses needed salary job requirements, etc.
◦ Submit report to Joint Adequacy Committee by September 1, 2014
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 576 – Require a Period of Silence
Public school shall observe a one (1) minute period of silence at the beginning of the day
Student may reflect, pray, or engage in a silent activity
Teacher or school employee in charge of classroom shall ensure that all students remain silent and do not interfere with or distract another student during the period of silence
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 601 – Districts of Innovation Allows schools to obtain from the Commissioner
necessary exceptions from laws, rules, and local policies to improve the educational performance of students
Establish a School Council of Innovation made up of parents, student, employees, etc.
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 601, continued Plan will address goals and targets which may
include:◦ Reducing achievement gap◦ Increasing student participation in curriculum◦ Expanding students' college and career readiness◦ Exploring innovative teaching and learning◦ Transforming a school's culture
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 696 – Rating System for Schools Effective 2014-2015 Schools and School Districts will be rated on an
A-F grading system
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 969 – Professional Development Amends professional development laws to place
certain required PD on rotating schedule Eliminates Lottery Training ADE shall establish the curriculum for the
rotating PD requirements 2 hours total but may have additional hours if
needed Technology may be required by ADE and
integrated
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 969, continued 2013-2014 - Mandated Reporter 2014-2015 - Parental Involvement 2015-2016 - Teen Suicide Awareness and
Prevention 2016-2017 - Arkansas History Required to have this training prior to becoming
licensed Not the responsibility of the district
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 969, continued Before receiving a building level administrator's
licenses the person must complete the teacher evaluation program
May complete the assessment before/after obtaining initial building level administrator's license
Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
Act 1285 – College & Career Coaches Establishes College and Career Coaches
Program Administered by the Department of Career
Education in partnership with ADE and ADHE Enabling legislation - no funding
Questions
http://www.theaaea.org
http://www.arkansased.org/
Dr. Megan Witonski, Assistant Commissioner –Learning Services [email protected]
Dr. Tracy Tucker, Director of Curriculum and Instruction [email protected]
Melody Morgan, Director of Student Assessment [email protected]
Contacts