Title 6 — Education

(1) A student who completes two (2) semesters of a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program shall receive credit for both of the following requirements for graduation from high school under the rules of the State Board of Education:(1) One-half (½) unit of physical educati…

(a) As used in this section, “American Sign Language” means the visual natural language recognized globally that is linguistically complete with unique rules for language structure and use, including without limitation phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse. (b) …

(a) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a public school student in grades nine through twelve (9-12) shall be trained in quality psychomotor skill bases in cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the student graduates from high school. (b) The course shall not be a certificati…

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Integration of the arts is an effective tool to reinforce the rigor and relevance specific to the newly adopted Arkansas State Standards;(2) Research indicates that:(A) An arts-infused curriculum offers a powerful tool to promote student ac…

(a) (1) The State Board of Education shall allow for an elective academic study of the Bible course or courses that consist of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics to be offered to students in …

(a) Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, every public elementary school shall teach cursive writing as a component of English language arts by the end of grade three (3). (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this section that shall address the requi…

(a) Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, a public high school or public charter high school shall offer at least one (1) computer science course at the high school level. (b) A computer science course offered by a public high school or public charter high school shall:(1) Be o…

(a) The following social studies or history courses offered in grades seven through twelve (7-12) include a relevant review of United States history from the period of colonization through 1890, specifically including the colonial period, the American Revolution, the foundations …

(a) (1) Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, in order to receive a high school diploma from a public school or a high school equivalency diploma from a state entity, a student shall:(A) Take a test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the …

A student in high school who enlists in a branch of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard through the military delayed entry program, the National Guard Split Training Option, or other similar early entry program and completes basic training before graduating from …

(a) The General Assembly finds that some students are unlikely to become reengaged in their education through the traditional high school pathway to a high school diploma because they have:(1) Failed multiple classes and are far behind their peers in accumulating credits to gradu…

(a) The Reengagement System and Differentiated Pathway to a High School Diploma Program is established. (b) The purpose of the program is to provide appropriate educational opportunities and access to services for students sixteen (16) years of age to twenty-one (21) years of age…

(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Eligible student” means a student who is:(A) At least sixteen (16) years of age;(B) Either:(i) Below the fifty percent (50%) of credits required for grade level and the minimum set of credits needed to complete a high school diploma from a publ…

(a) A school district may participate in the Reengagement System and Differentiated Pathway to a High School Diploma Program by entering into:(1) A model contract as specified under § 6-16-1505; or(2) An interlocal agreement as specified under § 6-16-1505. (1) A model contract as…

(a) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a model contract and model interlocal agreement that a school district can tailor to its needs for adopting a participating program in the Reengagement System and Differentiated Pathway to a High School Diploma Program. (b)…

(1) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement the Reengagement System and Differentiated Pathway to a High School Diploma Program, including without limitation rules addressing:(1) The eligibility of a student at least sixteen (16) years of age but less than nin…

For purposes of employment in the State of Arkansas or a political subdivision of the State of Arkansas, earning a high school diploma through the passage of a nationally recognized high school equivalency exam, such as the GED test, shall be treated the same as the receipt of a …

(a) As used throughout Title 6, unless otherwise provided:(1) “Extracurricular activity” means an intraschool activity not included in a regular curriculum, including without limitation sports and special interest clubs or groups;(2) “Interscholastic activity” means an interschoo…

(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Computer Science Education Advancement Act of 2021”. (b) (1) Beginning with the entering ninth grade class of 2022-2023, a public high school student shall be required to earn one (1) unit of creditin a Department of Educat…

(a) A public school or public school district may offer to its public school students in grades five through twelve (5-12) a hunting safety course as part of the public school's or public school district's physical education and health and safety curriculum. (b) A hunting safety …

(a) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, Holocaust education shall be taught in all public schools in a manner that:(1) Generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust;(2) Develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry,…

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) The proper means through which parents and legal guardians may influence curriculum, instructional materials, and the events and activities supplemental to instruction is with a public school district administration and local public school …

(a) (1) The Secretary of the Department of Education shall take established steps to ensure that the Department of Education and its employees, contractors, guest speakers, and lecturers are in compliance with Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-…

(a) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall:(1) (A) Enhance or adapt curriculum materials to assist public school personnel in providing instruction through a multidisciplinary approach on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abu…

(a) For purposes of this section, “water safety” means age-appropriate education that is intended to:(1) Promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water; and(2) Reduce the risk of injury or drowning. (1) Promote safety in, on, and around bodies of water; and (2) Reduce the risk…

(a) (1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may consult industry stakeholders, including without limitation the Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation in order to establish a pilot program to prov…

To raise awareness of mental illness, remove stigma and misunderstanding associated with mental illness, and provide support for those who experience mental illness, the first full week of classes in May in Arkansas schools shall be recognized as “Mental Health Awareness Week”.

This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring Pilot Program”.

There is established the Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring Pilot Program.

(1) Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall administer the Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring Pilot Program, which shall include without limitation:(1) Determining:(A) Program requirements;(B) Student eligibility criteria, which…

(a) Each participating public school district and open-enrollment public charter school shall:(1) Submit a plan for the administration of the Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring Pilot Program in the public school district or open-enrollment public charter school to the Division of Elem…

(a) (1) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each public school in the state shall provide instruction on adoption awareness to students enrolled in grades six through twelve (6-12) at the public school for a period of time not to exceed one (1) hour during each school year.…

(a) A public school or an open-enrollment public charter school may award a student enrolled in the public school or open-enrollment public charter school a high school diploma before the established graduation date if:(1) The student enrolled in the public school or open-enrollm…

(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to:(1) Protect Arkansas children from the accidental discharge of firearms by providing age-appropriate firearm education and instruction; and(2) Empower the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission to work with the Division of Elementa…

(a) Prior to the 2026-2027 school year, the Department of Education shall review and update current social studies standards for grades seven through twelve (7-12) in all public schools to include age-appropriate adjustments in order to ensure curricula, standards, materials, and…

(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the State Board of Education shall embed into existing social studies standards and courses for grades six through twelve (6-12) information that addresses the founding of the United States, including the Founding Fathers and their re…

(a) Beginning with the entering ninth grade class of 2025-2026, a student participating in a course credit recovery program in order to obtain credit toward high school graduation requirements shall not obtain more than ten (10) total credits in the course credit recovery program…

This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Course Choice Program”.

(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) (A) “Course provider” means an entity that offers individual courses in person or online, including without limitation:(i) An online or virtual education provider that is not a public school district or an open-enrollment public charter school;(…

(a) There is established the Course Choice Program. (b) To support student participation, not later than the 2026-2027 school year, the State Board of Education shall promulgate rules on the program, including a process that includes without limitation the following:(1) The deter…

(a) Each local school district board of directors shall establish policies and procedures for each eligible student, where the following shall apply:(1) Credits earned through a course provider shall appear on each eligible student's official transcript and count fully towards gr…

(a) (1) As used in this section, “per-course amount for a course provider” means the standard market rate as determined by a course provider and reported to the Department of Education that is up to eight percent (8%) of the per-pupil amount each year as determined by the foundat…

(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 s…

(a) (1) To prepare students for choosing a career option at the high-school level, in grades six through eight (6-8), each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school shall incorporate career awareness and exploration activities that expose students to career…

(a) A career-ready pathway to a diploma shall:(1) Provide a student with credentials of value in a desired high-wage, high-growth career and a strong academic core;(2) Be offered to each high school student;(3) Prepare students to:(A) Pursue either a degree or certification from:…

(a) To develop and implement a career-ready pathway program, public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools may:(1) Work as a system in developing a district-wide or school-wide program;(2) Work as individual schools in developing individual school programs;(3…

(a) A public school student who is in a work-based learning opportunity that is provided in coordination with a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school shall be covered by the workers’ compensation insurance of his or her employer as provided in the Worker…

(a) To ensure that a career-ready pathway to a diploma adequately prepares public school students for high-wage, high-growth opportunities within Arkansas, the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall develop a system for colle…

(a) (1) Beginning with the graduating class of 2026-2027, a public high school student shall complete a minimum of seventy-five (75) clock hours of documented community service in grades nine through twelve (9-12) in order to graduate.(2) (A) The community service hours required …

(a) (1) A public school district board of directors may grant a waiver of this requirement for extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.(2) Extenuating circumstances permitted under subdivision (a)(1) of this section may include without limitation:(A) A major illness ass…