§ 6-42-104 - Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children. - Arkansas Statutes

6-42-104. Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children.

(a) (1) There is established an Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, which shall advise and consult with the Commissioner of Education and the Administrator of the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children and which shall engage in other activities as set forth in this section.

(2) The advisory council shall be advisory only and shall have no administrative responsibility.

(b) (1) The advisory council shall consist of nine (9) members who are not officers or employees of state agencies and no more than four (4) of whom may be officers or employees of school districts.

(2) The advisory council shall be composed of persons interested in the education of gifted and talented children.

(c) (1) The Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, shall appoint the members of the advisory council for terms of three (3) years.

(2) A member may be eligible for reappointment for one (1) additional term.

(d) Vacancies that leave unexpired terms shall be filled in the regular manner for the unexpired period of time, and vacancies as a result of expiration of terms shall be filled in the regular manner for three-year periods.

(e) (1) The advisory council annually shall elect its own chair and vice chair.

(2) The administrator shall act as secretary to the advisory council.

(f) The Department of Education shall, within available personnel, facilities, and appropriations, furnish meeting facilities and staff services for the advisory council.

(g) The members of the advisory council may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with 25-16-901 et seq.

(h) The advisory council shall:

(1) Have an opportunity to comment on rules and regulations proposed for issuance pursuant to this subchapter;

(2) Consider any problems presented to it by the commissioner or the administrator and give advice thereon;

(3) Review state plans prepared by the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children prior to their submission to duly constituted authorities;

(4) (A) Make an annual report to the Governor, the General Assembly, the State Board of Education, and the commissioner, which shall be made available to the news media so that the general public may be informed regarding educational programs for gifted and talented children.

(B) (i) Funds for the publication of the annual report of the advisory council shall be made available by the department from its regular appropriations.

(ii) Available federal and state funds may be used for this purpose;

(5) Participate with the staff of the department in determining the need for educational programs to serve gifted and talented children to be operated by the department, in selecting the sites for educational programs, in establishing student selection criteria for participation in the programs, in selecting students to participate in the programs, and in selecting faculty and staff for the programs; and

(6) (A) Select on an annual basis not more than three (3) educational programs for gifted and talented students operated by school districts for recognition as outstanding programs.

(B) The programs so recognized shall be eligible to receive an award of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) from funds appropriated to the department for the purpose of making awards to outstanding educational programs.