Act 1015 of 2007 is entitled 'An Act To Ensure A Rigorous And Efficient Curriculum For Arkansas High School Students; Concerning Public School Curriculum; and for Other Purposes.' According to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-214, an Advanced Placement (AP) or an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) course may count as a core curriculum course taught for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts under certain circumstances.
As set forth in the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Rules Governing Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts, Section 9.03.4.10, any school district may petition the ADE to consider an AP or IB course as being taught for one (1) of the specified required 38 unit courses in the subject areas of either mathematics, English, science or social studies as specified in the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts under the following conditions:
1. The public school district has a qualified teacher to the specified required 38 unit course:
2. No students enrolled in the specified required 38 unit course:
3. An AP/IB course in the same subject area as the specified required 38 unit course has students enrolled:
4. The public school district teaches all other specified 38 unit courses required by the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts; and
5. The public school district teaches the specified required 38 unit course to any student who enrolls in the public school district after the school year begins.
The public school district must notify the ADE of its intent to count an AP/IB course as one of the specified required 38 unit courses. (See School District Reporting Requirements below.)
Upon receiving the public school district's written notification after spring registration and verifying the information, the ADE shall permit the public school district to meet the requirements of the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts by teaching the AP/IB course in place of a specified required 38 unit course in the subject areas of either mathematics, English, science or social studies as specified in the Standards.
If a new student enrolls in the specified required 38 unit course, the public school district shall immediately notify the ADE.
School District Reporting Requirements:
After student registration in the spring prior to the beginning of the new school year, the public school district must provide the ADE with the following:
1. A letter notifying the ADE that no students registered for the specified required 38 unit course during spring registration and the public school district is seeking to meet the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts by using an AP/IB course.
2. A copy of the springs registration form showing course offerings for the new school year.
3. The name of the teacher and Teacher License Number (TLN) of the teacher available to teach the specified required 38 unit course that will not be taught.
4. A copy of the school's master schedule showing the time/period and room assignment for the specified required 38 unit course that will not be taught.
5. A copy of the letter mailed pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-16-103 to notify parents of the specified 38 unit courses required to be taught by the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts.
For an AP/IB course to be considered by the ADE as one (1) of the specified required 38 unit courses, the public school district must provide the ADE immediately after the school year begins with the following:
1. A letter notifying the ADE that no students registered for the specified required 38 unit course at the beginning of the school year.
2. The name of the teacher and Teacher License Number (TLN) of the teacher available to teach the specified required 38 unit course not being taught at the beginning of the school year.
3. A copy of the school's master schedule showing the time/period and room assignment for the specified required 38 unit course not being taught at the beginning of the school year.
4. A copy of the school's master schedule showing students enrolled in the AP/IB course to be considered by the ADE as one (1) of the specified required 38 unit courses showing all other specified required 38 unit courses with student counts.
5. The procedure for how the specified required 38 unit course will be taught by the district if a new student enrolls in the public school district after the school year begins.