§ 6-15-1005 - Safe, equitable, and accountable public schools. - Arkansas Statutes

6-15-1005. Safe, equitable, and accountable public schools.

(a) (1) Arkansas schools will have safe and functional facilities.

(2) All school buildings will meet existing state and federal requirements.

(3) Instructional facilities will be designed and structured to support learning.

(b) (1) The school climate will promote student achievement.

(2) Every school and school district will enforce school district policies to ensure the safety of every student during school hours at school-sponsored activities. These policies will include, at a minimum, policies on weapons, violence, tobacco, alcohol, other drugs, gangs, and sexual harassment.

(3) Every school and school district will enforce a code of behavior for students that respects the rights of others and maintains a safe and orderly environment.

(4) Every school and school district will have in place a policy on addressing disruptive students.

(5) (A) Every school and school district will offer appropriate alternative education programs organized to serve those students whose educational progress deviates from the standard expected for a successful transition to a productive life and those students whose behavior interferes with their own learning or the educational process of others.

(B) School districts may serve the needs of these students through regional or cooperative efforts with other school districts.

(c) Local schools will work with parents, families, and business and community members to incorporate responsibility, character, self-discipline, civic responsibility, and positive work habits into adult contacts with students and to promote student demonstration of these behaviors.

(d) Every school will offer opportunities for students to be able to study and participate in the visual and performing arts, health and physical education, and languages.

(e) All public schools will participate in the state school improvement process:

(1) (A) Every school will engage in the collection and analysis of perceptual, archival, and achievement data in order to establish school and school district goals to improve student academic achievement.

(B) Students shall not be surveyed on values and beliefs;

(2) Every school will develop and implement a data-driven school improvement plan based on these analyses that leads to increased student achievement and continuous school improvement; and

(3) Every school will monitor and adjust the plan of action as necessary to promote increased student achievement and continuous school improvement.

(f) (1) All public schools will have a program of parental involvement.

(2) Every school will have a plan for allowing parents to be involved in the education of their children. These plans will address communication with parents, volunteering, learning activities that support classroom instruction, participation in school decisions, and collaboration with the community.

(3) Every school will involve parents in developing school goals and priorities and evaluating the effectiveness of the school improvement plan.

(g) (1) All public schools will be accountable to the public they serve.

(2) All schools will participate in the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment, and Accountability Program.

(3) All schools will report to the parents the results of all assessments conducted to measure the achievement progress of their children.

(4) The highest performing schools will be recognized and rewarded. Schools reaching predetermined high levels of achievement will be granted charter status with approval of the charter petition by the Department of Education.

(5) Each school will issue a school achievement report to the community on all state-required assessments.

(h) (1) All public schools will be led by qualified administrators.

(2) All administrators will demonstrate content knowledge in leadership, finance, organization, school climate, curriculum, and evaluation.

(3) In order for administrators to be able to renew a license, they must have participated in a continuing education and professional development program based on their school improvement plans, performance evaluation results, and student achievement scores.