§ 6-1-202 - Short title -- Legislative findings. - Arkansas Statutes

6-1-202. Short title -- Legislative findings.

(a) This section shall be known as the "Arkansas Delta Leadership Act of 2001".

(b) (1) The General Assembly finds:

(A) Teachers in the Delta are not provided adequate professional growth opportunities within the Delta region as may be necessary to improve their teaching and learning;

(B) An alignment of service providers is needed to ensure that gains made are monitored and maintained in the classroom;

(C) Delta teachers often do not participate in professional development opportunities designed to support underrepresented and underserved teachers of the Delta because of the travel requirements necessary for participation; and

(D) A program is needed to provide services for teachers in the Delta to connect them to their own geographical region, to provide a strong network of individuals that can communicate regional needs for students, and to focus on student achievement.

(2) The General Assembly further finds that such a program is expected to:

(A) Close the achievement gaps between Delta schools and the state average on student achievement;

(B) Create a network of teachers to communicate and network on issues related to academic standards;

(C) Provide knowledge and skill-building opportunities for career and new teachers that are directly related to areas of need as indicated by data;

(D) Provide professional development planning for the wise use and convergence of funding federally funded programs, state funds or programs, and local funds or programs; and

(E) Provide grant-writing expertise to school districts to help them access funding needed to improve the quality of their academic programs.

(c) (1) The Arkansas Leadership Institute for Teachers of the Delta is created and shall be known as "A-Lift".

(2) (A) A-Lift shall provide for professional development planning, training, and implementation of effective teaching strategies in Delta school districts.

(B) A-Lift shall also provide mentoring to teachers seeking National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.

(C) A-Lift shall target Delta school districts in Arkansas that are part of the counties identified as Delta counties by the Delta Regional Authority.

(3) (A) A-Lift shall be located in Helena-West Helena, Pine Bluff, or Monticello at an existing site with space available to house the institute.

(B) An existing site may be a two-year institution, a four-year institution, an education service cooperative, or other institution.

(C) Preference for location shall be given to four-year institutions or education service cooperatives in Helena-West Helena, Pine Bluff, or Monticello that have experience in professional development support mentoring, teacher licensure, and teacher quality.

(D) The State Board of Education shall have authority to issue the requests for proposals site selection, and the selection shall be based upon a response to a request for proposal issued through the state board.

(d) The state board may promulgate rules and regulations as necessary for the implementation of this section.