Act 996 of 2007 amended Ark. Code Ann. § 6–21–811 by establishing an additional parameter by which school districts may be considered for the Academic Facilities Distress Program. The amended code stipulates that a school district may be identified as being in academic facilities distress if there is a material failure to plan and progress satisfactorily toward accomplishing the priorities established by the division and the approved school district master plan.
The code further stipulated a procedure for reviewing master plans for noncompliance and for identifying school districts which did not apply for state funding for necessary facilities to meet adequacy requirements.
The division will be amending the rules for the academic facilities distress program and soliciting public comment.