Act 102, “An Act to require that each school district provide high school students with the opportunity to enroll in at least one (1) Advanced Placement course in the four (4) core areas of English, math, science, and social studies: and for other purposes” was passed during the 2003 Second Extraordinary Session. A public hearing was conducted on May 13, 2004, and the Arkansas Board of Education approved the Rule for this Act on June 14, 2004. The Rule is posted on the ADE Website with a link from “What’s New.”
Included in the Rule are requirements for receiving weighted credit. Students must take the applicable Advanced Placement (AP) examination and be taught by a trained AP teacher before the weight can be applied. The Arkansas Department of Education will be paying for student examinations for students desiring the weighted credit beginning with the May 2005 examinations. Details related to this will be forthcoming. There is also an Additional Training Plan (ATP) attached to this memo for districts to use if the AP teacher was unable to attend the required AP Summer Institute (APSI). Districts with teachers on the ATP will be able to allow students to receive the weighted credit.
For questions, please contact Ann Biggers at abiggers@arkedu.k12.ar.us, or 501-682-4224, or fax 501-682-4220.