Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104) › Subtitle 3 - SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (§§ 6-40-101 — 6-48-104) › Chapter 48 - ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS (§§ 6-48-101 — 6-48-104) › Section 6-48-104 - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education responsibilities

(a)
The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules to implement this chapter, including without limitation rules that establish:
(1)
(A)
The criteria for distributing state funding for alternative learning environment programs.
(B)
The criteria shall identify the characteristics of students who may be counted for the purpose of funding an alternative learning environment program including without limitation that a student is educated in the alternative learning environment for a minimum of twenty (20) consecutive days.
(C)
If a student is educated in the alternative learning environment for fewer than twenty (20) days, the division may provide funding to a school district based on the actual number of days the student is educated in the alternative learning environment if the student:
(i)
Leaves the school district to transfer to another alternative learning environment; or
(ii)
Is placed in a residential treatment program.
(D)
The division may provide funding in a proportionate manner and upon special request to the division by a school district for an alternative learning environment program in excess of the limit of six (6) hours per day for alternative learning environment programs that operate for more than twelve (12) hours per day;
(2)
(A)
The criteria for teacher training for teachers in alternative learning environments, including without limitation:
(i)
In-service training in classroom management; and
(ii)
Training in additional areas related to the specific needs and characteristics of students who are educated in alternative learning environments.
(B)
The division shall award professional development credit for the training under this subdivision (a)(2); and
(3)
Measures of effectiveness for alternative learning environments that measure:
(A)
For the students educated in the alternative learning environment the effect on the students':
(i)
School performance;
(ii)
Need for intervention; and
(iii)
School attendance and dropout rate; and
(B)
Any other characteristic of alternative learning environments deemed necessary by the division.
(b)
(1)
As part of the division's accreditation review of a school district under §
6-15-202
, the division shall evaluate each alternative learning environment to ensure that the alternative learning environment is:
(A)
Established and operated in compliance with this chapter; and
(B)
Effective under the measurements established by the division under this section.
(2)
The division shall identify a school district's noncompliance with this chapter on the school district's annual report card.
(c)
The division shall identify information concerning best practices for educating students in alternative learning environments and disseminate that information to teachers and administrators working in alternative learning environments.
(d)
Annually by September 15, the division shall provide to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education a report on:
(1)
The information reported to it under §
6-48-102
; and
(2)
The effectiveness of alternative learning environments evaluated under this chapter.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 572,§ 22, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1847, eff. 7/1/2019.
Acts 2011, No. 1118, § 4.