Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators 2015 Legislative Session AAEA Staff 501-372-1691

Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators

2015 Legislative Session

AAEA Staff501-372-1691


Act 160 – Cursive Writing

• Requires all school districts to teach

cursive writing as a component of

English-Language Arts curriculum by

the end of 3rd grade

–Effective 2015-2016

–ADE to develop rules


Act 187 – Computer Science Course• Requires every school district to offer at least one

computer science course in high school beginning in 15-16 - Traditional or online setting

• Virtual Arkansas will provide two (2) online courses to meet this requirement


Act 187 – Computer Science, cont’d• Establishes a Statewide Task Force that will

recommend standards, frameworks, & best practices

• Must “offer,” not required to “teach” (Act 853)

• Does not increase the # of required graduation credits


Act 187 – Computer Science, cont’d• Commissioner’s Memo dated 4/15/2015

(LS-15-067)–Includes the 4 courses that have been approved by the ADE

–“Essentials of Computer Programming” and “Computer Science and Mathematics will be offered FREE by Virtual Arkansas for 15-16

–ASMSA will also assist districts with the “Essentials of Computer Programming” class


Act 187 – Computer Science, cont’d• Commissioner’s Memo includes a FAQs attachment

• While PD is not required for these courses, the ADE will be offering workshops through the educational cooperatives this summer

• Grant opportunity………..See CM LS-15-078, dated June 3, 2015.


Act 364 - Health Insurance Incentive• Regulates the eligibility of certain retirees to

participate in the state and public school life and health insurance program.

• Retirement insurance premium based off of active participation in the health insurance plan for new employees hired after December 31, 2015.Enrollment date Additional premium rate

1-3 years of employment 0%



After 23 years of employment 15%


Act 377 – 350 Waiver• District placed on consolidation list may “annually”

request a waiver within 30 days of published list by ADE (does not affect schools already consolidated)

• Waiver request to include:–ADM for current year–Statement of not being in probationary status–Current year budget and fiscal audit (2 yrs)–Not in academic, fiscal, facilities distress

•State Board has 45 days to render decision•State Board “shall” grant petition if criteria is met


Act 560 - School Choice• District must submit their desegregation order to

ADE if exemption is declared

• Capacity of program/school/class/grade level is determined to be 90%

• Parent shall apply no later than May 1. Non- resident district will notify resident district of the filing of an application


Act 560 – Choice, continued• Application shall be date & time stamped upon

receipt

• Applications shall be reviewed in order of receipt

• Parents shall be notified of acceptance or rejection by July 1

• The 3% cap still applies


Act 560 – Choice, continued• Cap will be determined by the enrollment as of

October 15

• Siblings all still count as one (1) student total

• By December 15 - ADE shall determine the 3% number for each district

• COM-15-062 (March 31)


Act 562 - Homeschool Teams• Allows AAA schools to play home school teams if

home school complies with certain AAA requirements such as:

–age, –semester, –scholarships, –physical exams, –foreign student eligibility, and –amateurs


Act 562 - Homeschool Teams• Home school teams are not allowed to participate

in conference tournaments, district, etc.

• Districts are not mandated to play homeschool teams


Act 739 - Charter Facility Funding• Gives Open Enrollment Charter Schools facility

funding based on a per student amount• Funding may be used for facilities or operation and

maintenance• Charters do not have to submit a plan or conduct a

facility needs assessment• Funding is not limited to “academic” facilities• Charters do not have to compete for facility funding


Act 788 - Registered Volunteers• Athletic volunteers shall meet AAA requirements• Must be at least 22 years old• Volunteer may not be member of the board of the

school district or the spouse of a member of the board in which he/she wishes to volunteer

• Shall not receive payment for services• Volunteer may act as the head coach in all varsity

junior and senior high sports administered by AAA Exceptions: football, basketball and track


Act 832 - Home School Testing• Repeals the provision of the law requiring

standardized assessment testing of home-school students

• Does not repeal the extracurricular eligibility requirements of the “T-Bow” law


Act 836 - School Board Meetings• Authorized school boards to adopt policies

permitting members who are unable to be physically present at a board meeting to attend the meeting remotely, under certain stipulations

–method of identification–clearly heard by the public in attendance–cannot attend an executive session or vote on any issue that was the subject of an executive session

–limited to 3 times per calendar year per board member


Act 843 - School Board Vacancies• Sets specific circumstances, with exceptions, that

create a vacancy on a school board and prescribes procedures for a hearing and filling the vacancy

–Moves outside the school district–Misses 3 consecutive meetings (exceptions)–Misses 6 meetings in a calendar year (exceptions)–Convicted of a felony–Called to active military duty –Resigns–Dies


Act 843 - Continued• If credible evidence of a violation is presented to

board president, VP or secretary, board shall:1. Vote on whether to appoint an independent

investigator to investigate2. Hold a hearing on the existence of a vacancy of the

school board

Follow due process and procedures for hearing


Act 853 - Standards• A course shall be considered to be “taught” if the

district made the course available to students as required but no students signed up to take the course

• This new law keeps schools from “recruiting” students into courses as to avoid accreditation issues


Act 854 - School Recognition• Revises the measurements or performance by

which recognition and funds are awarded through the Arkansas School Recognition Program

• Students/schools will be awarded for both growth and achievement

• Top 5% in performance and top 5% in growth will receive $100 per student

• Top 10% in performance and top 10% in growth will receive $50 per student


Act 863 - AAA• Requires the AAA to allow private school students

at AAA-member private schools to participate in spring semester sports at the high school the student will attend during the next school year

• Student meets participation requirements, except for attendance requirements, of the public high school

• Ineligible for 1 year if the student does not attend the high school the next year, unless makes a bona fide change of domicile


Act 892-Workforce Development• Creates a comprehensive statewide workforce

development system

• Coordinates various workforce development programs

• Creates a board to oversee career education and workforce development in the state (AAEA will be represented on this board)

• Creates an Office of Skills Development and a “Skills Development Fund” for competitive grants


Act 931 - Building Better Futures• Establishes the Building Better Futures Program for

high school students

• Allows students will intellectual disabilities to participate in comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs at public or private institutions of higher education

• Specific requirements for student eligibility and for institutional approval


Act 931 - Futures, continued• Student shall be a current student in a public high

school with an IEP

• Parents must notify IEP committee one year in advance of program’s application deadline of the parent’s desire for placement

• IEP team to determine “appropriate” placement

• IEP team to submit application to programs not more than 50 miles from resident school

• Companion legislation to Act 410


Act 936 - School Nursing Centers• Establishes requirements for school nursing centers

and requires, beginning with the 17-19 facility partnership funding cycle, that new schools or major remodeling projects that would normally house a nursing center meet these new requirements

• The project minimum required for partnership funding approval does not apply to construction projects with school nursing centers


Act 941 - School Bus Advertising• Authorizes, but not requires, school boards to allow

advertising on school buses

• Limits the use of advertising revenue to school transportation purposes

• Advertising must conform to rules adopted by the Facilities and Transportation Commission


Act 950 - School Safety Act 2015• Requires all public schools to have by Sept 1, 2015 a

panic button alert system that will connect the caller with 911 while simultaneously notifying designated on-site personnel

• Utilizes Smart911 system - smart phone app

• If funds are available - It was funded!!

• If funded, will require faculty training in the use of the Smart911 system


Act 952 - Violence Awareness• Creates a mandatory curriculum unit in grades 7-12

health courses that focuses on dating violence awareness

• To be taught in October or February, as part of a current health course curriculum and to align with national awareness campaigns

• ADE will provide a list of curriculum materials


Act 962 - School Facilities• Requires the Facilities Commission to annually

determine high-growth districts and report to the Joint Committee on Education

• Provides for review conferences to consider proposed funding projects

• Districts can submit project applications at least 60 days prior to March 1 deadline. The Division is required to meet and inform the districts of any errors or omissions. A corrected application can then be resubmitted by March 1.


Act 989 - ASPIRE• District shall either administer: EXPLORE (8 grade),

PLAN or PSAT (10 grade), ACT (10, 11, or 12 grade) or

• Administer the Aspire Assessment System to each student in at the appropriate grade level, including the ACT in 10, 11, or 12 grade.

• ADE may designate alternative assessments other than EXPLORE, PLAN, PSAT or ACT or Aspire Assessment System to satisfy purposes of this section.


Act 994 - Partnerships • Expands public school partnering with higher ed

institutions• Allows NSLA or state categorical funds to be spent

on providing concurrent courses or technical education options to students.

• ALE programs that partners with a state-supported institution of higher education and technical institutes to provide concurrent courses or technical education options for academic learning to students in grades 8-12. (Check Rules)


Act 995 - Health Insurance• Requires SDs to increase their contributions to

employee health insurance premiums by the same % they increase the base teacher salary

•A change to the local contribution rate, required by this Act, is effective for the health insurance plan year after a board “adopted” change of the licensed salary schedule.


Act 995 - Health Insurance, continued• Exceptions:

–Not required if the salary increase is due to an increase in the minimum salary schedule

–District has a participation rate of 75% or more–District has a local contribution rate of 125% or more of the minimum health insurance premium contribution rate


Act 995 - Legislative Intent• Example: Teacher Base Salary $35,000, Health

Insurance contribution amount $175 per employee, Proposed increase to base salary $700

–2% raise to base salary (35,000/700)–Adopted by local school board–Apply same % to contribution amount - $175 X 2% = $3.50. New contribution amount $178.50.

–Contribution amount increases effective • Same scenario as above but different adoption date of

then contribution amount increase would be effective

October 15, 2015

January 1, 2016

February 1, 2016January 1, 2017


Act 1048 - Contractors• Increases from $20,000 to $50,000 the threshold

cost of construction projects that require a contractor’s license


Act 1074 - Common Core/PARCC• PARCC will be given in 15-16• ADE may not enter into a multi year contract (doesn’t

change practice)• Changes may need to be made for 16-17 and the work

of the Governor’s Council on Common Core Review will be taken into consideration when making any decisions regarding testing

• Prevents state from releasing any individually identifiable student data to the feds


Act 1078 - Concealed Carry• Authorizes concealed carry licensees to carry

handguns onto public school property (parking lots and drop-off/pick-up zones) and the State Capitol grounds if the handgun is left in his or her locked and unattended motor vehicle on the publicly owned parking lot


Act 1079 - Physical Education• Reduces the P.E. requirement from 60 minutes per

week to a “at least” 40 minutes per week

• Allows districts to schedule the classes in equal periods if desired

• Does not require a district to change current schedule


Act 1089 - Background Checks• Requires “pre-service” teachers to apply for a

statewide and nationwide criminal records check and a Child Maltreatment Central Registry check

• The school board shall require as a condition for supervised clinical practice that a “pre-service” teacher seeking to conduct his or her supervised clinical practice shall authorize the release to the ADE the results of the criminal records background check and Child Maltreatment Central Registry check required by law


Act 1090 - Teacher Licensure• Amends teacher licensure provisions

–An individual whose license is suspended or revoked by the SBE is not eligible to be employed at a school district or charter school, including as a sub teacher employed by district or through a company that provides substitute teaching services to school districts


Act 1090 - Licensure, continuedThe ADE may refuse to admit for enrollment in the non-traditional licensure program, a person who has been dismissed from a teacher education program Person seeking licensure (traditional, non-traditional, reciprocity, adding endorsement) must complete 3 hours Arkansas History (offered through Ark IDEAS)


Act 1090 - Licensure, continued• Five (5) hours of credit for professional

development shall be given for each one (1) hour of college credit for graduate-level course

–Up to fifteen (15) hours may be credited to the PD requirement for licensure and

–Hours in excess of fifteen (15) may be credited to any remaining requirements for PD generally, if approved by the school district in a PD plan


Act 1091 - Teacher Evaluation• Allows a teacher in a virtual environment to be

observed by appropriate technology• References to “professional learning plan” are

changed to “professional growth plan” into the law–PGP is a familiar term

• Repeals the use of external assessments in teacher evaluations

• Replaces the old language with the method for assigning an annual overall rating that includes student growth as determined by the ADE


Act 1091 - Evaluation, continued• Requires administrators to assure to the ADE that

evaluators are trained and have passed the credentialing exam required under TESS

–Statement of Assurance–All evaluators who conduct summative evaluations must be credentialed

–ADE will provide accounts to new administrators–Higher Ed Prep programs are planning to embed this training and assessment into leadership programs for future candidates


Act 1091 - Evaluation, continued• Amends the number of years for summative

evaluations from 3 to 4 –At least once every 4 years–May conduct a summative eval. more often –Reduces the obligation for informal observations during a summative evaluation year and makes them permissive - informal observations now optional for teachers in a summative track


Act 1105 - Scholarship• Modifies eligibility requirements for the Academic

Challenge Scholarship–Deleted the Smart Core Curriculum requirement and 2.5 GPA option

–Requires a 19 on the ACT or proficient or higher on all state-mandated end-of-course assessments

–Starting 16-17 for 4-year institutions: $1000 for freshmen, $4000 for sophomores and juniors, and $5000 for seniors (full-time students)

–2 year institutions: $1000 first year, $3000 second


Act 1131 - Workforce Training• Creates a three-phase process by which the ADHE

implements continuation grants designed to align workforce training programs with employer needs

• Establishes $100,000 planning grants (K-12 eligible)


Act 1131 - Workforce, continued• RFPs should include an education and employer

alignment plan that includes state-approved, employer-driven career pathways that are supported by a secondary center than awards concurrent credit course that can be applied to technical certificates or degrees


Act 1135 - Health Insurance• Recommends, rather than requires, that an active

employee in a consumer-driven health insurance plan option establish an HSA if the active employee is eligible to establish an HSA under federal law

• Clarifies that FICA savings sent to EBD is generated from health insurance pre-taxed premiums only

• Deleted language stating health premiums would be deducted one month in advance since some districts now deduct current month


Act 1178 - Vouchers• Designated for students with IEPs

• Pays up to foundation funding amount annually to private schools approved by the ADE

• Students must be enrolled in a public school one full year before transferring


Act 1178 - Vouchers, continued• Funded separately from the Public School Fund

• Parent will sign a waiver releasing the resident school district from any legal obligation to provides services to students participating in the program

• Begins in the 2016-2017 school year


Act 1216 - Student Assessment• Deletes the requirement schools must use the

EXPLORE, PLAN, or PSAT in student assessment, specifying instead they use a college and career readiness assessment approved by the State Board of Education


Act 1240 - Waivers• School districts may request, from the SBE, all or

some, the waivers granted to a charter school that draws students from the district

• The SBE will grant, in full or in part, or deny the request within 90 days

• The waiver(s) are valid for as long as the charter school has the waiver(s)

ARVA


Act 1268 - Dyslexia• Amends various sections of the current law

–Under definitions, gives examples of employees that could be “dyslexia interventionists”

1. Dyslexia therapist2. Dyslexia specialist3. Reading interventionist4. Certified teacher, or5. Tutor or paraprofessional working under the

supervision of a certified teacher


Act 1268 - Dyslexia, continued• Further defines “Dyslexia Program”

–Direct instruction that is systematic, sequential, cumulative, and researched based–Follows a logical plan of presenting the alphabetic principle that targets specific needs of the student–Offered in a small group setting–Delivered with fidelity (as the author intended)


Act 1268 - Dyslexia, continued• Further defines “dyslexia specialist”

–Housed at each co-op or school district with specific expertise and working towards an endorsement or certification–Specialist shall be fluent in RTI process and provide training in administering screenings, analyzing and interpreting data, determining appropriate interventions


Act 1268 - Dyslexia, continued• Establishes, but does not specifically define, three

(3) levels of screening (Could look like below)–Initial (universal)- DIBELS or equivalent screener–Level I - Administered to students at risk, additional assessments based on possible deficit areas–Level II - Follow the Dyslexia Resource Guide for these assessments


Act 1268 - Dyslexia, continued• Follow your district’s protocol in designing

interventions based on specific areas of need• Act re-defines a committee for the purpose of

developing and updating the AR DRG, committee includes, among others, reps from:– AAEA– Education Service Cooperative administrator– 3 PS professionals who are knowledgeable in

dyslexia screening and interventions– Committee work due July 1, 2015


Act 1281 - School Elections• Allows school board elections to be in September,

where they are now, or November, same date as the general election

• Decision made by the local school board

• Still leaves other issues unanswered regarding school elections being held in November


Bills That Did Not Become Law• HB 1346, the “highway robbery” bill that would

have diverted general revenue to highways $2.2B

• HB 1422 would have moved school board and millage elections to primary/general election dates

• HB 1444 would have required RNs on every school campus with no additional funding


Bills That Did Not Become Law• SB 847 would allow charter schools to claim

“unused” or “underutilized” public school facilities• SB 851 would have revised and limited the use of

NSLA funds (sent to interim study) • SB 878 would have required the US Naturalization

Civics test for HS graduation• HB 1539 would have allowed a waiver for students

with August birthdays to start K


Bills, continued• HB 1733 privatization of distress schools/districts

• HB 1745 tax credit towards private tuition

• HB 1958 would have diverted 2% of NSLA funds to the Positive Youth Development Grant Program

• HB 1054 would have required recording of school board executive sessions


Bills, continued• HB 1009 that would have required annual public

notice of district’s intent to receive RFPs for construction management services

• HB 1596 that would have required a district to provide up to 10 ”legislative days”per years for teachers

• 114 bills tracked by AAEA did not become law• 120 bills did become law

AAEA Website For the Full Presentation go to:

www.theaaea.org

Resources

Resources Directory A to Z

You will see the power point of 157 slides and a document that cross references all the Acts of 2015 to bill numbers


Questions

2015 Legislative SessionAAEA Staff

501-372-1691

Documents

Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators 2015 Legislative Session AAEA Staff 501-372-1691