The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) would like to remind all district personnel that Act 787 of 1997 requires one unit of Arkansas history be taught as a social studies subject at each elementary grade level in every public school in the state, with greater emphasis at the fourth and fifth grade levels. In addition, at least one full semester of Arkansas History shall be taught to all students at grades seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, OR twelve in every secondary public school in the state. Arkansas history courses shall follow the Arkansas History Curriculum Framework for content to ensure that the courses represent the most accurate and historically sound account of the prehistory and culture of Arkansas. Furthermore, districts may extend the instruction and learning of Arkansas history by including additional student learning expectations not identified in the Arkansas History Curriculum Framework.
In addition, Act 2095 of 2005 requires that every district in the state provide two hours of substantive and meaningful in-service in Arkansas history each school year for teachers teaching Arkansas history. The in-service hours will count toward satisfaction of the required sixty hours of professional development.