§ 6-15-440 - Arkansas Leadership Academy School Support Program. - Arkansas Statutes

6-15-440. Arkansas Leadership Academy School Support Program.

(a) (1) There is created the Arkansas Leadership Academy School Support Program through which the Arkansas Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Department of Education and other leadership groups shall provide support to schools or school districts designated by the Department of Education as being in school improvement and other school districts who opt to participate.

(2) The program shall be designed, developed, and administered by the academy created under 6-15-1007.

(b) The program shall:

(1) Build the leadership capacity of the school and school district personnel;

(2) Train a diverse school leadership team, including, but not limited to, superintendents, school principals, and teachers;

(3) Provide a cadre of highly experienced, trained performance coaches to work in the school or school district on a regular basis;

(4) Work with the school and school district staff, school board members, parents, community members, and other stakeholders as necessary to provide a comprehensive support network that can continue the school's progress and improvement after completion of the academy's formal intervention and support;

(5) Ensure access to training programs and leadership skills development;

(6) Develop incentive programs for institutions and program participants;

(7) Assist in the development of partnerships between university leadership programs and school districts; and

(8) Work closely with the School Leadership Coordinating Council, the Department of Education, the Department of Higher Education, and the Department of Career Education to coordinate cohesive leadership goals.

(c) (1) The Department of Education and the academy shall develop criteria for selection of schools or school districts to participate in the program.

(2) Any school district that is in school improvement shall be eligible to participate in the program as provided in the rules of the State Board of Education.

(3) The academy and participating schools shall commit to continue participation in the school support program for no fewer than three (3) consecutive school years.

(d) (1) The number of schools participating in the program shall be determined by the amount of funding available for the program.

(2) The state board or the Department of Education may require a school district to fund a portion of the cost of the school's or school district's participation in the school support program if the Commissioner of Education determines that such participation is in the best interest of the students served by the participating school or school district.

(3) Subject to the approval of the state board, the commissioner shall determine the portion of the school district's financial obligation for participation in the program, if any.

(e) The state board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement the requirements of this section.

(f) (1) The state board shall have the authority to issue requests for proposals if the state board should determine to change the operator or the location of the academy.

(2) The academy shall maintain one (1) main office and, as needed, satellite offices partnered with institutions of higher education that have approved leadership programs and are strategically located in areas of the state identified by the Department of Education as having the greatest need for school leadership support.