Act 730 of the 87th General Assembly (codified as Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-441) creates a college and career readiness planning program which includes the requirement that all public school districts administer college readiness assessments. Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, each public school that serves students in grade eight shall administer EXPLORE to each student enrolled in grade eight at that school. Each public school that serves students in grade 10 shall administer PLAN or the PSAT to each student enrolled in grade 10 at that school.
These assessments will be funded by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Districts serving students in grade 10 must decide which test, PLAN or PSAT, will be administered and funded as part of the requirements of Act 730. Only one of the tests will be paid for by the ADE.
Districts must complete the online survey at http://arkansased.org/educators/reg/plan_psat.htm by Friday, April 23, 2010, to indicate which exam will be administered in grade 10.