Transcript Document

AAEA Legislative Update
ACT 37 of 2011
A driver of a motor vehicle shall not use a handheld wireless
telephone while operating a motor vehicle when passing a
school building or school zone during school hours or when
children are present and outside the the building, except for an
emergency purpose.
Act 46 of 2011
This Act extends, for two years, the provision that each public
school district provide a common spring break. A week-long
holiday for spring break shall be scheduled for five (5)
consecutive school days beginning on the Monday of the
thirty-eighth week of the school year.
Districts are not required to have a spring break but, if one is
scheduled, it needs to be during the thirty-eighth week.
An advisory committee shall report to the Senate and House
Committee on Education on any findings and recommendations
regarding the impact on the common spring break.
Act 65 of 2011
Under this new law, the first day of the school year for student
attendance in the public elementary and secondary schools of
the State of Arkansas shall begin on or after the Monday of the
week in which August 19 falls; not earlier than August 14; and
not later than August 26.
For 2011-2012, the earliest day for student attendance is
Monday, August 15.
Act 66 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act, sponsored by ATRS, allows members of the military
reserve and national guards from other states to also be able to
purchase ATRS service; on a one-year for one-year basis; at
acturial cost.
Act 69 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act requires ATRS members to purchase service
(out-of-state or private school experience) at the real
(actuarial equivalent of benefits) value to the member.
(Previously members received a 55% discount)
This Act also gives members a year to submit to ATRS a
reasonable payment plan to purchase the service.
This Act also limits the purchase of private school service to
15 years.
Act 138 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act limits the number of years to five (5) that the ATRS,
a benefit participant, or an employer may look back when
adjusting records, correcting overpayments, correcting
contribution calculations, or correcting benefit calculations to
the System.
Exceptions exist for fraud, criminal acts, and intentional
concealment.
Act 162 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act expands a ATRS member's options for distribution of
T-DROP upon retirement. Retirees now have the authority to
split their balance by leaving 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25% with
ATRS to become part of their monthly benefit and roll the
remaining balance to another retirement plan.
Act 163 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act states that an ATRS member shall not accumulate
additional service credit during the time that payments under a
contract buyout agreement or court-ordered payments are paid
to the member by the employer unless the member continues
to work on-site for the employer.
Used to prevent settlement spiking above what was actually
due the member.
Act 166 of 2011
This Act establishes the framework for the Positive Youth
Development Grant Program. This program would provide
funds, through competitive grants, for research-based afterschool and summer programs.
ADE, with advice and assistance from Division of Child Care
and Early Childhood Education, shall develop rules.
Preference shall be given to applications that are developed
collaboratively by schools and community based programs
such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and 4-H Clubs.
At present, there are no funds appropriated for this program.
Act 186 of 2011
This Act corrects a typographical error in a law passed in 2009
regarding teacher salary supplements.
Before this correction, a school district technically was
prohibited from paying a licensed employee additional salary
increases as a supplement to the salary schedule unless the
employee was employed an additional time period longer than
the period covered by the salary schedule or required to
perform duties in addition to the employee's regular teaching
assignments.
Example: Providing additional compensation to teachers in
fields where there is a shortage of applicants.
Act 196 0f 2011
This Act requires health insurance plans offered by the State
to include coverage for autism spectrum disorders, more
specifically coverage for the treatment known as "applied
behavior analysis."
• Annual limitation of $50,000.
• Limited to children under eighteen (18) years of age.
• This law does not affect any obligation to provide services
under an IEP according to IDEA.
• This additional coverage will cause health insurance
premimums to increase $3.50-$4.00 per month.
Act 204 of 2011
"The Athlete Agent Reform Act of 2011."
This Act reforms the athlete agent laws of Arkansas to protect
student athletes from unscrupulous actions by athlete agents.
• Notice shall be provided to the education institution by the
agent prior to contacting the student-athlete.
• Makes it a Class D felony to provide goods or services to the
student-athlete in exchange for a contract.
• Agent registration can be revoked for up to 5 years for
violations of the requirements of this law.
Act 224 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act repeals the right of a ATRS member to rescind
retirement, go back to work, and obtain additional service
credit.
However, retired ATRS are still able to return to work, under
certain limitations, and receive both a retirement check and a
paycheck.
Act 225 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act removes the anti-spiking provisions for a major gap of
employment under ATRS.
This Act attempts to bring fairness to this process by allowing
non-complete years to be used in the final average salary
calculation, and also provides that if there is an eight (8) or
more years difference between two of the salaries in the antispiking calculation, that the anti-spiking formula will not be used
to reduce the next salary.
Final salary shall not exceed 120% of base year, unless the
salary is $5000 or less.
Act 266 of 2011
This Act was "clean-up" legislation sponsored by the ADE to
incorporate the calculation of miscellaneous funds, as amended
in 2009, into the definitions in current Arkansas code relating to
bonded debt assistance.
Act 288 of 2011
This Act amends current school district textbook requirements
to include digital resources.
Under the old law, districts were required to provide traditional
textbooks. Under this new law, districts can choose to provide
instructional materials in digital format in lieu of traditional
textbooks.
Act 433 of 2011
This Act appropriates $300,000 for the School Bus Safety
Equipment Grant Program.
This appropriations bill continues the grant program (Act 1207
of 2009) to provide school districts with safety equipment
(cameras and electronic warning devices) for school busses.
The grant program is administered by the Arkansas Division of
Academic Facilities and Transportation. Watch for details in a
Commissioner's Memo.
Act 513 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
After July 1, 2011 colleges may only add new employees into
ATRS if the employee is:
• Already vested with ATRS.
• A full-time employee.
• Makes an irrvocable election to stay in ATRS while
employed at an public college in Arkansas.
This Act also prohibits stacking of salary at a college and a
public school for the purpose of boosting the final average
salary.
Act 557 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act clarifies the designation of option beneficiaries by
eliminating certain people who previously could be designated
as a beneficiary.
More specifically, this Act eliminates the provision that allows
for the retirant to name someone other than a spouse as
beneficiary unless that person is a dependant child of the
retirant that has been adjudged physically or mentally
incapacitated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Act 559 of 2011
An Act to authorize a statewide parcel mapping grant program
through the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems.
At least 40% matching funds from counties participating in the
project.
Matching funds may be provided by counties, affected school
districts, and affected cities.
Act 565 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act defines what "termination" is at it applies to eligibility
for ATRS retirement.
"A member of the ATRS shall terminate covered employment
and remain terminated during the member's applicable
termination separation period to become and remain eligible for
retirement."
Termination does not mean:
• Taking a leave of absence.
• Performing job duties or services with remuneration.
• Providing "volunteer" activities at an ATRS-covered
employer.
Act 586 of 2011
This Act establishes a superintendent mentoring program,
developed and sponsored by the ADE, for first-year Arkansas
superintendents.
All training that is currently required for first-year
superintendents shall be incorporated into this mentoring
program.
A first-year superintendent shall complete this mentoring
program within twelve (12) months of obtaining employment as
a superintendent to maintain his or her superintendent's
license.
Act 593 of 2011
This Act directs the Interim Senate Committee on Education
and the Interim House Committee on Education to jointly study
issues relevant to the adoption of an extended school year and
report findings to the House Speaker and Senate President Pro
Tempore not later than October 1, 2012.
The Act includes an outline of topics to be studied such as cost,
impact on school personnel, curriculum and instruction, impact
on the tourism and hospitality industry, expansion of current
curriculum, increased accountability, comparison of
instructional time with other industrialized nations, etc.
Act 600 of 2011
This Act requires that all civil actions brought against an
organization that regulates extracurricular interscholastic
activities in grades 7-12 in both public and private schools,
if the organization's main administrative office is located in
Pulaski County; and all other actions required by law, to be
brought in Pulaski County.
Act 613 of 2011
If a law enforcement officer, investigator from the Crimes
Against Children Division of the Arkansas State Police, or an
investigator from DHS requests to interview a student during
the course of an investigation of suspected child maltreatment
and a parent, guardian, custodian, or person standing in
loco parentis is named as an alleged offender, the principal
or principal's designee is prohibited from notifying the parent,
guardian, custodian, or person standing in loco parentis.
The investigator shall provide the school with written
documentation that notification is prohibited.
Act 633 of 2011
This Act requires, by January 31 of each year, each county
treasurer to provide an annual summary report of all proceeds
generated from ad valorem taxes and distributed by the county
to a school district for the period January 1-December 31 of the
preceding calendar year to the:
• State Treasurer.
• Department of Education.
• Superintendent of the school district to which the
URT proceeds are distributed.
There is a penalty for failure to comply.
This is an attempt to make the 98% calculations more accurate.
Act 701 of 2011
An Act to provide oversight of and accountability for state
desegregation funding.
Districts must categorize and describe revenues and
expenditures of those funds according to the uniform chart of
accounts.
Explanation of how each expenditure was necessary in order to
comply with the district's obligation under the federal court
order, settlement agreement, or court-approved remedial plan.
Act 725 of 2011
This Act requires the Education Adequacy Sub-Committee to
review legislation enacted and rules promulgated during the
biennium to determine the impact on educational adequacyrelated public school costs.
This Act also changes the deadline for submittal of the
educations adequacy recommendations from September 1 to
November 1.
Shall publish a draft report 14 days before report is submitted to
the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
Act 739 of 2011
This Act established performance ratings for education service
cooperatives.
• Each ESC shall be evaluated during the 2012-2013 school
year and at least once each five-year period.
• The report shall identify each ESC as being in one of five
category levels with Level 5 being an "ESC of excellence"
and Level 1 being an "ESC in need of immediate
improvement."
• An ESC that recives a Level 1 rating for two (2) consecutive
years shall have their base funding withheld or be taken
over by the ADE.
Act 743 of 2011
This Act establishes a framework in which the Department of
Career Education, in collaboration with ADE and ADHE, shall
develop college and career readiness program standards for
career and technical education program of study courses.
All public school students shall be provided a rigorous career
and technical education program of study. Frameworks for
these programs of study will include: professional
deveopment opportunities; accountability and evaluation
systems; clear content standards; comprehensive guidance
counseling and academic advisory systems; innovative/creative
instructional approaches; technical skills assessments.
Act 755 of 2011
This Act, sponsored by Governor Beebe, lowers the sales tax
on food and food ingredients from 1.875% to 1.375%.
Fiscal Impact: Loss of $20,000,000 in general revenue.
Act 757 of 2011
This Act creates a sales tax holiday for clothing (less than $100
each), clothing assessories or equipment (less than $50 each),
school supplies, school art supplies, and other school
instructional materials.
• Every year from the first Saturday in August through the
following Sunday. (the first Saturday/Sunday weekend)
• 2011 -- August 6-7.
Act 770 of 2011
This Act requires educators to receive teen suicide awareness
and prevention in-service training.
• Two (2) hours once every five (5) years.
• May be accomplished through self-review of ADE approved
materials.
• Counts towards the 60 hours of PD.
Act 772 of 2011
Jonathan's Law
A soccer goal in a public recreation area (this includes sports
fields and school playgrounds) shall be anchored according to
the Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety promulgated by
the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the
guidelines adopted by the Department of Health.
AR Department of Health will develop and adopt guidelines.
Note: There are severals options other than permanent
anchoring (i.e. sandbags).
Act 784 of 2011
This Act adds "school counselor" to the list of professionals that
the Child Abuse Hotline will accept a report of injury to a child's
intellectual, emotional, or psychological devemopment as
evidenced by observable and substantial impairment of a
child's ability to function normally.
The law listed "teacher" and "school nurse" before this
amendment.
Act 835 of 2011
This Act requires a school district to include in its student
discipline policies a provision prohibiting students from wearing,
while on the grounds of a public school during the regular
school day and at school-sponsored activities and events,
clothing that exposes underwear, buttocks, or the breast of a
female.
These provisions shall not apply to the costume or uniform
worn by a student while participating in a school-sponsored
activity or event.
School districts shall specify in policies the disciplinary actions
for violations of this law.
Act 871 of 2011
This Act phases out 40% pullback.
Districts that typically defer revenue receipts will convert to a
cash basis.
Districts that typically accrue revenue receipts will, beginning
with the 2011-2012 school year, begin a phaseout reduction. Pullback will be 36% in 2011-2012, 32% in
2012-2013, and so on.
Declining balances attributed solely to a school district's
compliance with the requirements of this law shall not be
considered an indicator of fiscal distress.
Act 878 of 2011
This Act increases the amount of time that the Arkansas
Department of Education Commissioner has to respond to a
school district that submits a resolution to contract with a school
board member or a family member from 10 days to 20 days.
Act 879 of 2011
This comprehensive Act makes several changes in current law
regarding "postsecondary preparatory programs."
• Revamps the current College Preparatory Enrichment
Program (CPEP) and gives priority for approval and funding
to a "postsecondary preparatory program" operated by a
partnership between a school district and institution of
higher education.
• Allows such programs to be operated during the summer, on
Saturdays, and before/after school hours.
• Allows NSLA funding to be used to operate a
"postsecondary preparatory program."
Act 899 of 2011
This Act allows to Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating
Board to consider "other criteria" in addition to the ACT to
determine what students will be required to take remedial
courses.
This Act also allows this Coordinating Board to establish
minimum scores and criteria to allow simultaneous enrollment
in college-level credit and remedial courses.
Act 902 of 2011
This Act is called the "Supplemental Educational Services
Transparency Act."
• Supplemental service providers shall submit an annual
report to the ADE showing improvement in student
achievement by race and gender, student attendance rates,
funds received per student, the total number of contracts
held with school districts, the total number of students
served, and the results of parent satisfaction surveys.
• School districts shall include the provider's report on the
district's web site.
Act 906 of 2011
Not later than the 14th day before the 1st day of school, a
parent of multiple birth siblings who are assigned to the same
grade level and school (PK-6) may request in writing that the
school place the siblings in the same or separate classrooms.
The school shall honor the parents' request unless the request
would require the district to add an additional class.
After 30 instructional days, the school can change the
requested placement if it has proven to be disruptive to the
child's or classroom's learning environment or the
school's educational or disciplinary environment.
Act 907 of 2011
This Act in an attempt to clarify Arkansas' antibullying policies.
• Bullying of a public school student or employee is prohibited.
• School administrators shall promptly investigate, make a
record of the investigation and any disciplinary action taken.
• School board shall adopy policies to prevent bullying.
• School districts shall provide training on compliance with
antibullying policies to all employees responsible for
reporting or investigating bullying.
Act 973 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
This Act clarifies that the onset of a disability must occur while
employed as an active member in order to qualify for disability
retirement under ATRS.
Act 974 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
The Act increases the number of days employed (from 120 to
160) to earn credited service under ATRS each fiscal year.
This Act also allows a contributory member who accrues less
than one-fourth (1/4) year of service credit in a fiscal year to
accumulate and carry forward days of service until the first
fiscal year in which the member accrues the minimum number
of days of service to receive one-fourth (1/4) year of service
credit.
At 976 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
Under this Act, a member or surviving spouse who elects to
receive a refund of member contributions also cancels all the
member's service credit, including noncontributory service
credit, in the ATRS system.
Act 977 of 2011 (Teacher Retirement)
Under this Act, if an ATRS member accrues a mininum of
15 years of actual, contributory service, regardless of
noncontributory service accrued in combination with the
contributory service, the member shall receive the maximium
lump-sum death benefit.
Under the old law, death benefits were calculated based on a
ratio established between contributory and non contributory
years of service.
Act 984 of 2011
Under this Act, a school district may create and implement a
program to authorize the parent of a child enrolled in the school
district to act as a monitor in a school bus.
Act 985 of 2011
This Act requires school districts to update school policies
when a law regarding child abuse and is a law that "relates to
public schools" is amended or added to the Arkansas Code.
Act 987 of 2011
Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, if the cap on the
number of charters available for an open-enrollment charter
school is within two (2) of meeting any existing limitation or cap
on available open-enrollment charters, the number of available
charters shall automatically increase by five (5) slots more than
the most recent existing limitation or cap on open-enrollment
charters.
Act 989 of 2011
This Act is ADE "clean up" legislation.
• A school district may not incur debt with the prior approval of
the ADE if the district is identified as having fewer than 350
students in the immediate preceding year.
• A school is deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of an
instructional day if the planned instructional time does not
average less than 6 hours each day of 30 hours each week.
• Personnel Policies now have to be posted on the district
web site by September 15 rather than sent to the ADE.
• Students who reside within the boundaries of the school
district but due to geographic barriers attend school out-ofstate under a tuition agreement may be included in ADM.
Act 996 of 2011
The purpose of this Act is to insure that isollated funding
follows the student when an isolated school area is part of a
consolidation or annexation, even if the ADM of the new
consolidated district exceeds 1,000.
Act 1000 of 2011
This Act requires the Annual School Performance Report to
include the number of students in grades 9-11 who took the
ACT and who participated in CPEP, or some other similar
college preparatory/remediation program.
The Annual School Performance Report shall be published on
the ADE web site and each school district's web site.
Act 1002 of 2011
This Act requires a school district to post their parental
involvement plan on their web site.
This Act also requires the ADE to periodically monitor each
district's implementation of the parental involvement plan and to
assess the plan effectiveness.
Act 1006 of 2011
This Act revises various provisions related to public school
facilities and school transportation.
• Master Plans will now cover a 6-year period rather than 10.
• The new wording required on school busses has been
reduced to say "Arkansas Law: Stop When Red Lights Are
Flashing."
• Allows the Division to appeal to the Commission a ruling
from the Review Board that will result in a greater level of
state financial participation.
Act 1039 of 2011
This Act establishes foundation funding and categorical funding
for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.
Total of $56 M new money for K-12 education.
• 2011-12 foundation funding:
• 2012-13 foundation funding:
• 2011-12 ALE:
• 2012-13 ALE
$4,145
$4,228.
$6,144.
$6,267.
Act 1039 of 2011 (continued)
• 2011-12 ELL:
• 2012-13 ELL:
•
•
•
•
•
•
2011-12
2012-13
2011-12
2012-13
2011-12
2012-13
$299.
$305.
NSLA:
90%+ schools:
NSLA:
NSLA: 70-89% schools:
NSLA:
NSLA:
-70% schools:
NSLA:
• 2011-12 PD:
• 2012-13 PD:
$1,518.
$1,549.
$1,012.
$1,033.
$506.
$517.
$51. (includes AETN allotment)
$52. (includes AETN allotment)
Act 1045 of 2011
This Act amends the current law concerning the enforcement of
ethics violations by AR educators.
• Under the current law, procedures for the investigation and
disposition of ethics violations were very broad and vague.
• This new legislation:
o
Defines an ethics violation. It also includes examples of
what is not an ethics violation.
o
Broadens the disposition options to include a "private
letter of caution."
Act 1045 of 2011 - cont.
Ethics complaint - States facts constituting an alleged
violation and is signed under penalty of perjury by the person
filing the ethics complaint.
Complaint may be filed through ADE, School District, or
Superintendent.
Allows educator copies of documents pertaining to complaint.
Sets specific timelines for investigation and appeal process.
Act 1118 of 2011
This Act amends current code regarding alternative learning
environments.
• If a student is educated in the ALE for fewer than 20 days,
the ADE may provide funding to a school district based on
the actual number of days attended if the student (1) leaves
the school district to transfer to another ALE or (2) is placed
in a residental treatment program.
• The ADE will develop measures of effectivess for ALEs that
measure the ALE's effect on the students' school
performance, need for intervention, and attendance/dropout
rate.
Act 1124 of 2011
The Act amends the Arkansas "Opportunity" School Choice Act
of 2004.
• Opportunity school choice options, under Act 35 and school
improvement guidelines, now are not subject to the race
restrictions of the school choice law.
• If any part of this legislation conflicts with the provisions
of a federal desegregation court order applicable to a
school district, the provisions of the federal desegregation
court order shall govern.
Act 1129 of 2011
This Act adds principal, athletic coach, or counselor to the list of
persons guilty of sexual assault in the second degree for sexual
contact with a student less than twenty-one (21) years of age
and enrolled in a public school.
The old law just listed "teacher."
Act 1160 of 2011
This Act prohibits "hazing" in connection with initiation into or
affiliation with an organization, extracurricular activity, or sports
program.
Act 1172 of 2011
This Act clarifies how a school counselor's time shall be spent
during the school year.
• Rather than 75% of work time each week spent on direct
counseling related to students and no more than 25% of
work time each week on administrative duties, the law now
reads each month during the school year for both of these
percentages.
Act 1178 of 2011
This Act amends the Arkansas Teacher Licensure and
Reciprocity Laws.
• Makes it easier for someone licensed in another state to
obtain an AR teaching license.
• Establishes procedures for completers of the Teach for
America program to receive an AR teaching license.
• States that the state board, ADE, or AR public college or
university may not impose any additional academic or
experience requirements in addition to those in this law.
• An individual that receives a three-year provisional teaching
license shall successfully complete a performance-based
assessment that includes student acheivement in order to
obtain a standard teaching license.
Act 1204 of 2011
This Act allows for the administration of Glucagon to a student
who is suffering from Type 1 diabetes by trained volunteer
school personnel designated as care providers in a plan
developed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as it existed on July 1, 2011, who has been trained by a
licensed nurse employed by a school district or other
healthcare professional to administer Glucagon to a child with
Type 1 diabetes in an emergency situation.
• Annual training required.
• Signed parental authorization required.
• The district, district employee, or trained volunteer shall not
be liable for any damages resulting from his or her actions.
Act 1209 of 2011
This Act establishes the Arkansas Teacher Excellence and
Support System (TESS).
• All districts will be required to conduct teacher evaluations,
beginning in 2014-15, using TESS unless an alternate
method is approved by the ADE.
• By September 1, 2012, the State Board shall develop the
evaluation framework, evaluation rubric, and all rules for
implementation of this Act.
• Sept 2012 - Sept 2013: All superintendents, administrators,
evaluators, and teachers will be trained in TESS.
Act 1209 of 2011 - continued
• 2013-2014 school year: The ADE shall implement a oneyear pilot program using TESS in one or more school
districts.
• TESS will contain an evaluation rubric using nationally
accepted descriptors that consists of the following four (4)
performance levels.
o
o
o
o
Distinguished.
Proficient.
Basic.
Unsatisfactory.
Act 1209 of 2011 - continued
• A critical piece of TESS will be the selection of "artifacts"
and "external assessment measures" for the evaluation
process.
• "Artifacts" are documented pieces of evidence chosen by
the teacher being evaluated, the evaluator, or both, that
relates to the evaluation rubric and represents output from
lesson plans, pacing guides, professional development,
classroom assessments, district/state/national assessments,
etc.
• "External assessment measures" are defined as measures
of student achievement or growth this are administered,
developed, and scored by a person or entity other than the
teacher being evaluated, accept that the teacher being
evaluated may administer the assessment if monitored.
Act 1209 of 2011 - continued
• In a tested content area, 1/2 of the artifacts considered by
the teacher and evaluator shall be external assessment
measures choses by the teacher and evaluator, or by the
evaluator if the teacher and evaluator are unable to agree.
• In a non-tested content area, 1/2 of the artifacts considered
by the teacher and evaluator shall be external assessments,
if external assessments exist.
• If an external assessment measure does not exist for the
non-tested content area, the ADE shall by rule determine the
type of artifact that may be used otherwise to satisfy the
external assessment measure requirement.
Act 1209 of 2011 - continued
• A teacher's professional learning plan shall require that at
least 1/2 of the PD hours required by law or rule for a
teacher are directly related to one (1) or more of:
o
The teacher's content area,
o
Instructional strategies applicable to the teacher's content
area; or
o
The teacher's identified needs.
Act 1213 of 2011
This Act changes the requirements for school board member
training to include how to read and interpret an audit report.
This training shall be conducted by a person licensed to
practice accounting in Arkansas and has prior experience in
conducting a school district financial audit.
The training may be conducted by the Division of Legislative
Audit at a statewide or regional meeting that is attended by
multiple school districts.
Act 1214 of 2011
Every three (3) years as part of the yearly PD requirements, a
person employed by a school district as an athletic coach shall
complete training on the recognition and management of the
following that may be encountered by students during athletic
training and physical activities.
• A concussion, dehydration, or other health emergency.
• An envirommental issue that threatens the health or safety
of students.
• A communicable disease.
This Act also entends the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on
Athletic Training through December 31, 2012.
Act 1215 of 2011
This Act clarifies the law on teacher sick leave by defining
"month or major portion thereof."
• "Month or major portion thereof" means twelve (12) or more
working days in a calendar month, including all PD days
required by the school district that count towards the annual
sixty (60) hours of required professional development for a
teacher.
• This Act also states that a school district shall credit one (1)
day of sick leave to a teacher if the teacher used one (1) day
of sick leave on a mandatory PD day and made up the
missed mandatory PD day on a con-contract day.
Act 1217 of 2011
This Act is ADE "clean up" legislation regarding procedures for
forming both interim and permanent boards of education in
consolidation or annexation situations.
• Establishes procedures for both "involuntary" and
"voluntary" consolidations and annexations.
Act 1220 of 2011
This Act establishes requirements for the carryover of state
categorical funds.
• By June 30 (starting in 2012), a school district shall spend a
mininum of 85% of its annual NSLA allocation.
• A district with an NSLA balance in excess of 15% of the
current allotment shall reduce its total NSLA balance by at
least 10% each year so that by June 30, 2022, a district has
a balance of no more than 15% of current allocation.
• Districts can ask for a one-year waiver from the ADE in
"unusual and limited circumstances."
Act 1220 of 2011 - continued
• Sanctions exist for failure to comply (withhold from next
year's allocation.)
• The ADE may redistribute amounts withheld to other
districts.
• On June 30 (starting in 2012), if the total aggregate balance
of all state categorical fund sources exceeds 20% of current
allocations, the school district shall reduce the total balance
by 10% each year until the aggregate balance is at or less
than 20% or current allocations.
Act 1223 of 2011
This Act amends provisions of the current law concerning
excessive student absences from public schools.
• Removes the term "unexcused" from the current language of
"excessive unexcused absences."
• Before a student accumulates the maximum number of
absences allowed by policy, the parent/guardian may
petition the administration for special arrangements to
address the student's absences. If special arrangements
are granted by the school, these arrangements will be
formalized into a written agreement of conditions and
consequences for not fulfilling the requirements. This
agreement is to be signed by a school administrator, parent
and student.
Act 1228 of 2011
This Act amends the requirement that funding for the
Department of Human Services Workers in Schools program
be targeted to schools with 90% or more of their children
eligible for free and reduced meals to 80%.
Act 1231 of 2011
This Act allows a student to receive high school graduation
credit for 1/2 unit of physical education and 1/2 unit of health
and safety for completing two (2) semesters of a Junior
Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
Act 1236 of 2011
This Act requires training in recognizing the signs and
symptoms of child maltreatment and the requirements of
the Child Maltreatment Act (12-18-101) for licensed school
personnel.
• Within 12 months of initial licensure and all subsequent
license renewals.
• The training obtained may be in-person or on-line.