Arkansas Administrative Code

6 CAR § 60-113. Assessment data. (a)(1) Public school districts shall utilize multiple measures of student learning, including but not limited to state-provided and vendor-provided reports from the statewide student assessment system, to inform the cycle of inquiry regarding scho…

6 CAR § 60-114. Technical advisory committee. A technical advisory committee composed of nationally recognized experts and psychometricians shall: (1) Be selected by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education; and (2) Advise the Division of Elementary and Secondary Ed…

6 CAR § 60-115. Student performance levels. (a)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall recommend and the State Board of Education shall approve performance levels for each state-required assessment administered to meet federal reporting requirements. (2) The …

6 CAR § 60-116. Student-focused learning system. (a) Public school districts shall implement a student-focused learning system designed to support and promote student success based on equity for all students through personalized learning. (b) A student-focused learning system con…

6 CAR § 60-117. Student success plans. (a)(1) Each student who enters the eighth grade shall have a student success plan developed by the end of the eighth grade by school personnel in collaboration with parents and the student that is reviewed and updated annually. (2) The stude…

6 CAR § 60-118. Equitable access to excellent educators. (a) Public school districts are responsible for recruiting, hiring, retaining, and developing effective teachers and leaders by using programs provided by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, including withou…

6 CAR § 60-119. Levels of support for public school districts. (a)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall provide differentiated levels of support to all Arkansas public school districts. (2) The levels of support are cumulative and include: (A) Level 1 – Gen…

6 CAR § 60-120. Classification as in need of Level 5 – Intensive support. (a)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall notify in writing any public school district superintendent and president of the public school district board of directors of the recommendati…

6 CAR § 60-121. Public school district under authority of the State Board of Education. (a) For a public school district under the authority of the State Board of Education, the state board shall review quarterly the progress of the public school district toward improving the iss…

6 CAR § 61-101. Purpose. (a) This part is to: (1) Set forth the standards for accreditation to all public schools and public school districts; and (2) Apply the standards for accreditation to all public schools and public school districts for the purpose of determining accreditat…

6 CAR § 61-102. Definitions. As used in this part: (1) “Career-ready pathways” means a sequence of courses and activities to prepare students for success after high school that includes: (A) The minimum academic core; (B) A sequence of career and technical education courses in a …

6 CAR § 61-103. Biannual review and approval of the standards for accreditation. (a) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education: (1) Is responsible for the development of the standards for accreditation; and (2) Shall review these standards at least every two (2) years to…

6 CAR § 61-104. Cited status. (a) A public school district shall be assigned Cited status when it is deemed to have failed to meet any standard defined with a district cited status (“D/C”) in the standards for accreditation. (b) A public school shall be assigned Cited status when…

6 CAR § 61-105. Probationary status. (a) A public school district shall be assigned Probation status when it: (1) Is deemed to have failed to meet any standard defined with a district probationary status (“D/P”) in the standards for accreditation; or (2) Was in Cited status for t…

6 CAR § 61-106. Accreditation of public schools and public school districts. (a) A public school or public school district shall be: (1) Accredited based on compliance with the standards for accreditation; and (2) Identified as Accredited. (b) A material and substantial failure t…

6 CAR § 61-107. Specific time frame for citations or probations. (a) A public school or public school district may be placed in Cited or Probation status at any time if: (1) Any violation of the standards for accreditation has not been corrected; or (2) The appropriate documentat…

6 CAR § 61-108. Enforcement of standards for accreditation. (a)(1) The State Board of Education may, on its own motion or upon petition from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, take any number of the following actions listed in subsection (c) of this section to ad…

6 CAR § 61-109. Right of appeal. (a) In the event a public school or public school district believes the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education has improperly determined that any public school or public school district has failed to meet the standards for accreditation, t…

6 CAR § 61-110. Waiver authority. (a)(1)(A) Except as provided by Arkansas Code § 6-15-202(b)(2), the State Board of Education on its own motion or on petition from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education or from a district may, upon a showing of just cause in a public…

6 CAR § 61-111. Notification to the public. (a) When any public school or a public school district is determined by the State Board of Education to be in Probation or Corrective Action status for failure to meet the standards for accreditation, the public school district, after e…

6 CAR § 61-201. Standard 1 — Academics. The academic system of a public school district ensures all students have access to a guaranteed viable curriculum aligned to the Arkansas academic standards for all academic areas.

6 CAR § 61-202. Standard 1-A — Curriculum and instruction. (a)(1)(A) Each public school district board of directors shall annually adopt and implement a written curriculum aligned to the Arkansas academic standards for the operation of the school district pursuant to: (i) Arkansa…

6 CAR § 61-203. Standard 1-B — Academic policies. (a)(1) Each public school district shall engage parents, staff, and students in the adoption or review of the written discipline policies, including a code of student behavior, pursuant to: (A) Arkansas law; or (B) Division of Ele…

6 CAR § 61-204. Standard 1-C — Student performance. (a)(1) Each public school district must comply with Arkansas law and Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules regarding the statewide student assessment system. (D/P) (2) Each public school shall assess at least nine…

6 CAR § 61-301. Standard 2 — Student support services. The student support system of a public school district ensures that all students have equitable access to opportunities and supports to meet college, career, and community readiness.

6 CAR § 61-302. Standard 2-A — Equitable opportunities. (a)(1) All policies and actions of a school district’s board of directors shall be: (A) Nondiscriminatory; and (B) In accordance with: (i) State and federal laws; and (ii) The rules of the Division of Elementary and Secondar…

6 CAR § 61-303. Standard 2-B — Attendance and enrollment. (a) Each public school district board of directors shall: (1) Adopt a student attendance policy; and (2) Include the attendance policy in the student handbook. (D/C) (b) Each public school shall maintain accurate student a…

6 CAR § 61-304. Standard 2-C — Comprehensive school counseling plan. (a)(1) Each public school district shall develop and implement a written plan for providing comprehensive school counseling services to all students in the public school system pursuant to: (A) Arkansas law; or …

6 CAR § 61-305. Standard 2-D — Media resources for student support. Each public school district shall annually budget and expend sufficient resources to purchase and maintain an appropriate balance of print, nonprint, and electronic media that is adequate in quality and quantity …

6 CAR § 61-306. Standard 2-E — Health and safety services. (a) Each public school district shall provide a health services program under the direction of a licensed registered nurse pursuant to: (1) Arkansas law; or (2) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules. (D/C) …

6 CAR § 61-307. Standard 2-F — Special education services. (a) All public school district personnel, teachers, and administrators must comply with: (1) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.; (2) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s impleme…

6 CAR § 61-308. Standard 2-G — Gifted and talented services. Each public school district shall provide gifted and talented services pursuant to: (1) Arkansas law; or (2) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules. (D/C)

6 CAR § 61-309. Standard 2-H — Dyslexia services. (a) Each public school district shall provide screening and intervention for dyslexia pursuant to: (1) Arkansas law; or (2) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules. (D/P) (b) Each public school district shall comply w…

6 CAR § 61-310. Standard 2-I — Alternative education services. Each public school district shall provide appropriate alternative programs for students who are identified as requiring such programs to continue their education. (D/C)

6 CAR § 61-311. Standard 2-J — English learner services. (a) Each public school district shall conduct a home language usage survey for each student upon the student’s initial enrollment to identify students who need to be screened for English for Speakers of Other Languages serv…

6 CAR § 61-312. Standard 2-K — Career and technical education. Each public school district shall offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned with high-wage, high-demand jobs in Arkansas as determined by the annual list published by the Department of Education. (D/…

6 CAR § 61-401. Standard 3 — District operations and fiscal governance. The district operations and fiscal governance system of a public school district ensures alignment between: (1) Resource allocation; and (2) Meeting the needs of each student’s academic success and well-being…

6 CAR § 61-402. Standard 3-A — Operating policies, procedures, and training. (a)(1) Each public school district board of directors shall adopt and update written policies for the fiscal operation of the school district pursuant to: (A) Arkansas law; or (B) Division of Elementary …

6 CAR § 61-403. Standard 3-B — School-level improvement plans and reporting. (a)(1) Each public school in Arkansas shall develop, with appropriate staff and community participation, a school-level improvement plan. (2) School improvement plans should be aligned with district goal…

6 CAR § 61-404. Standard 3-C — Maintenance of records and reports. (a) Each public school and public school district shall develop and implement a records retention policy that retains all reports and records necessary for effective planning, operation, and education pursuant to:…

6 CAR § 61-405. Standard 3-D — Food service. Each public school district shall provide food services in accordance with: (1) Federal and state laws; and (2) The rules of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. (D/C)

6 CAR § 61-501. Standard 4 — Human capital. The human capital system of a public school district ensures recruitment, retention, and development of effective educators and support personnel to meet the needs of the whole child.

6 CAR § 61-502. Standard 4-A — Background checks. Each public school district shall not employ personnel, whether licensed or nonlicensed, who have not successfully completed background checks pursuant to: (1) Arkansas law; or (2) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education ru…

6 CAR § 61-503. Standard 4-B — Superintendent. (a) Each public school district shall employ a full-time superintendent or charter school executive officer to oversee all operations of the public school district. (D/P) (b) Each public school district superintendent shall meet the …

6 CAR § 61-504. Standard 4-C — Principals and other building and district administrators. (a)(1) Each public school shall employ at least a half-time principal or charter school campus director. (2) A full-time principal shall be employed when a public school's enrollment reaches…

6 CAR § 61-505. Standard 4-D — Teachers. (a) Each public school district shall employ classroom teachers who: (1) Meet the licensure requirements pursuant to: (A) Arkansas law; or (B) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules; or (2) Are teaching under a licensure exce…

6 CAR § 61-506. Standard 4-E — School counselors. (a) Each public school district shall employ school counselors who: (1) Meet the licensure requirements pursuant to: (A) Arkansas law; or (B) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules; or (2) Are working under a licensu…