legislative impact of curriculum and instruction in arkansas schools

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


Act 328 – Foreign Language Schools may offer

American Sign Language as a foreign language credit


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


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 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


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


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 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 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


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 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


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


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


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 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 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


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


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: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


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 383 – Pilot for Breakfast Nutritional Programs $1,000,000

appropriation

Breakfast in the Classroom Program


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


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


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 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 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 696 – Rating System for Schools Effective 2014-2015 Schools and School Districts will be rated on an

A-F grading system


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 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

http://www.theaaea.org/

http://www.arkansased.org/

mailto:[email protected]







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