§ 6-16-901 - Legislative findings -- Procedures. - Arkansas Statutes

6-16-901. Legislative findings -- Procedures.

(a) The General Assembly finds and acknowledges that a system of evaluation is needed to justify expenditure of state resources on effective instructional programs and to eliminate state funding of ineffective instructional programs. The General Assembly further finds that an evaluation system to examine instructional programs administered by the Department of Education must be implemented by the Commissioner of Education in order to make a recommendation regarding continuation or termination of any mandated instructional program administered by the department.

(b) (1) Beginning in 1997-1998 and each year thereafter, the program performance audit of these instructional programs enacted by the General Assembly shall determine whether the continuation of these instructional programs is justified.

(2) Each instructional program administered by the department shall be formally reviewed by a program performance audit every four (4) years to evaluate purposes, activities, duties, accomplishments, and resources required to implement the program.

(3) Upon completion of the program performance audits, the commissioner shall make a recommendation to the General Assembly regarding the continuation or termination of any program enacted by legislative action.

(4) The program performance audit shall include:

(A) The extent to which the instructional program has served the original purpose of the legislation;

(B) The extent to which the instructional program has complied with all laws, rules, and regulations defining its powers and duties;

(C) The extent to which operations of the instructional program have been impeded or enhanced by available resources;

(D) Any formal critique filed regarding the instructional program;

(E) Recognition by professional organizations regarding the effectiveness of the instructional program;

(F) A statistical analysis of the instructional program regarding the populations served, the costs of the program, staff requirements, and improved student achievement; and

(G) Justification for the continued existence or termination of the instructional program.

(5) A written evaluation report on each mandated instructional program, which includes the formal recommendation, will be provided to the General Assembly.