Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104) › Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206) › Chapter 28 - ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021 (§§ 6-28-101 — 6-28-206) › Subchapter 2 - STATE COORDINATION (§§ 6-28-201 — 6-28-206) › Section 6-28-204 - Purpose and duties of Arkansas Council for Military Children

(a)
The purpose of the Arkansas Council for Military Children is to assist state and local education agencies, in collaboration with local military commands, in the promotion of the provisions of this chapter and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, §
6-4-301
et seq., in order to eliminate barriers to educational success faced by children of military families.
(b)
The duties of the council are to:
(1)
Assist state and local education agencies in the promotion and communication of the provisions of this chapter to inform public school district officials and uniformed services families;
(2)
Assist state and local education agencies with the orientation and training of district military education coordinators on provisions of this chapter;
(3)
Assist in the development and delivery of programs that inform uniformed services families of the need for self-identification in order to assure accurate accounting of children of uniformed services families enrolled in public school districts; and
(4)
Assist in the development and administration of programs recognizing education agencies, public schools, and leaders who have established or contributed to programs facilitating successful school transitions of children of uniformed services families.
(c)
(1)
The council shall meet at least quarterly or more frequently as decided upon by a majority of its members.
(2)
The Chair of the Arkansas Council for Military Children may call special meetings.
(d)
The council may:
(1)
Form committees to carry out its purpose; and
(2)
Enlist volunteer participation by knowledgeable individuals and organizations to assist in development and execution of programs.
(e)
(1)
A majority of all council members shall constitute a quorum at council meetings.
(2)
The absence of the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education or the Chair of the House Committee on Education or designees from each of the committees shall not count against a quorum.
(f)
At least annually, the council shall hold a virtual or in-person public forum in a military community to receive feedback from Arkansas uniformed services families regarding the effectiveness of the provisions of this chapter.
(g)
The council may provide recommendations to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding without limitation suggested:
(1)
Legislative initiatives amending this chapter; and
(2)
Rules applicable to the division and public school districts under this chapter.
(h)
The council shall provide annually a report to the Governor, the State Board of Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Education that includes without limitation the following:
(1)
Information regarding the achievements of the council and public school districts regarding the support provided to uniformed services families under this chapter;
(2)
Details of the reports provided to the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission;
(3)
The number of children of military families in each public school district transferring to or from another state or federal education agency in the previous year;
(4)
(A)
Summaries of cases elevated to the chair for counsel and assistance in resolving cases involving:
(i)
The transition of children of military families that were elevated by military families;
(ii)
United States Department of Defense officials; or
(iii)
Public school districts.
(B)
Information provided under subdivision (h)(4)(A) of this section shall be provided in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974,
20 U.S.C. § 1232g
, as it existed on January 1, 2021, and state student privacy laws;
(5)
Information regarding training that is provided to public school district personnel with respect to this chapter;
(6)
Details regarding plans for future engagement efforts with uniformed services families under this chapter; and
(7)
Any other information deemed relevant by the council.
(i)
The division shall provide administrative staff support to the Chair of the Arkansas Council for Military Children to assist with the achievement of the purpose and the administration of duties of the council.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 638,§ 6, eff. 8/1/2023.
Added by Act 2021, No. 1031,§ 2, eff. 7/28/2021.