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Arkansas Association of Curriculum and Supervision Development Legislative Review. Board Retreat. Act 71 – Cell Phones & Communication Devices. District may establish written student discipline policy and exemptions concerning possession and use by a student of a personal electronic device
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Arkansas Association of Curriculum and Supervision Development Legislative Review Board Retreat
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
Act 146 – Interstate Compact National program to help active military children to seamlessly complete their education including: • Timely enrollment • Student placement • Eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, participation in extracurricular, etc • On-time graduation • Uniform collection of information from state to state
Act 234 – Amends Arkansas AcademicChallenge Scholarship • Beginning 2013-2014 • Four-Year Institutions: • Freshman - $2,000 • Sophomore - $3,000 • Junior - $4,000 • Senior - $5,000 • Two-Year Institutions - $2,000 • Emergency Clause
Act 328 – Foreign Language • Schools may offer American Sign Language as a foreign language credit
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
Act 413 Nontraditional Teachers • Accelerated Teaching Program Includes: • Teach for America Program • Arkansas Teacher Corps Program offered by the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville • Others approved by ADE • Allows a method of obtaining a teaching license without traditional methods
Act 421 – Allow Waiver for EmbeddingCurriculum • 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
Act 454 – Amend Educator Licensure • Makes it easier to obtain a license from out of state if applicant has 3 years teaching experience • Non-traditional applicants are issued a 3 year nonrenewable license • Must complete 24 hour training in pedagogy • Summative evaluation each year • Score proficient of above on evaluation • Recommended for full licensure by Superintendent
Act 455 – Amend Background Checksfor Educators • Background check must be completed to renew license • No longer paid by ADE • Adds additional prohibited violations which would exclude license such as domestic battery, promoting prostitution, stalking, etc. • May receive waiver when prior to receiving license vs. waiting until you have a job offer
Act 459 – Master School Principal Program • Defines "high-need public school” • Principals completing the master principal program are eligible for $25,000 salary increase for taking a principal's job in a "high-need public school"
Act 484 – Safe School Initiative • District shall provide annual training for all employees and students to extent practicable in preventing and responding to acts of violence, terrorism, and natural disaster • Tornado safety drills (4 to 3) • Emergency plans for terrorist attacks • Active shooter drills and school safety assessments
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
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
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
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.
Act 601, continued • School council of innovation creates plan and eligible employees vote on plan • Must have 60% approval • Plan is approved by local board • Plan is sent to Commissioner for approval • Plan is approved for four (4) years
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
Act 601, continued • Instructional time may include: • on-site instruction • distance or virtual learning • work-based learning on nontraditional school days or hours
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
Act 696 – Rating System for Schools • Effective 2014-2015 • Schools and School Districts will be rated on an A-F grading system
Act 709 – Amends TESS • Categories to domains • "Evaluator" - licensed as administrator and is an employee of the school district • Gives additional information and options for tested and non-tested areas • Uses district created external assessment measures including formative assessments
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
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
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
Act 1073 – ADE Clean Up • Defines a week as Sunday through Saturday • Annual school performance report to be posted on district website as well as published the local newspaper
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
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
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
Act 1227 – School Choice • Districts shall participate unless exempted by ADE for enforceable desegregation order • Board shall adopt resolution with standards for acceptance which: • may include capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building. • shall include priority will be given for siblings • shall not include applicant's academic, athletic, English prof. or previous discipline
Act 1227, continued • School superintendent shall cause public announcement over broadcast media and either print media or the Internet • Parent submit application to nonresident district with copy to resident district • Form approved by ADE • Postmarked no later than June 1
Act 1227, continued • District notifies parent by August 1 if student : • Rejected - reason for rejection • Accepted - deadline when student shall enroll or acceptance is null; renewal procedures • 3% of a district's ADM maximum limit for choice less transfers • Siblings shall only count as 1 for the 3% calculation
Act 1227, continued • ADE shall report by June 1 to each district the net maximum school choice transfers for the current year • Parents may appeal district decision to State Board
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 – Cont. • 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
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
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
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
Act 1322 – Student Absences • Changes the excused/unexcused absences to what the law was prior to 2011 • Instead of excessive absences policy must now state unexcused absences
Act 1326 – Whole Child • Establishes a Whole Child - Whole Community Recognition Working Group • Group will consider indicators for educators, parent, and community in each of the following 5 tenets • Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle • Each student learns in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.
Act 1326, continued • Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and broader community. • Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults. • Each student is intellectually stimulated and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and participation in a global environment. • Report submitted by November 1, 2014 to the House and Senate Education Committee
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
Act 1423 – Parental Involvement Plans • Calls for placement of parent-friendly summary of parental involvementplan in student handbook
Act 1429 – School Recognition &Reward Program • $100 per student – If school is in top 10% of all public schools in AR in combined student performance, student academic growth, and, for a secondary school, graduation rate. • $50 per student – 11-20% range • Shall begin after 2012-2013 state-mandated assessments
Act 1467 – NSLA Discussion • Distribution method should change • Be revised to align more directly with student achievement • Differentiate between free and reduced • Only use funds for evidence-based programs directed at improving student achievement • Prioritize allowable uses of funds • BLR report that funding has not achieved desired results
Act 1467 – NSLA Discussion • House and Senate Education Committee in conjunction with BLR and ADE • Shall conduct a study and make following recommendations: • List of evidence-based program • New distribution formula that takes into account a sliding scale and additional weight for free kids vs. reduced kids • For consideration 2014 Fiscal Session