Policy Guidance:
Everything that is new in the policies is underlined in red. The portions that are to be removed from the policies
are struck through and are in blue.
Policies that are new are underlined in red.
Policies Changed or added:
1.2—BOARD ORGANIZATION and VACANCIES - What started out to be a simple deletion of an extra
"runoff election" in the first paragraph triggered an in depth examination of the policy resulting in a better, more
comprehensive policy that addresses vacancies as well as general board organization.
4.2—ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS—A legal reference was added. This does NOT change the policy
and does not require board approval.
4.5—SCHOOL CHOICE—Some tweaking was done to the body of the policy and substantial clarification
was made to the policy's first footnote.
4.5F--SCHOOL CHOICE CAPACITY RESOLUTION—We greatly simplified the Form. We
intentionally kept the strikethroughs (rather than sending our an all new version) so that if you prefer, you can
retain the individual grade capacity determinations.
4.5F2--SCHOOL CHOICE PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE LETTER—This Form was also amended
based on comments we received over the past year.
4.5F3--SCHOOL CHOICE ACCEPTANCE LETTER—An entry was added to the form explaining that
even the acceptance given by the letter could have to be withdrawn if the resident district's capacity
determination made the withdrawal necessary.
4.5F4--SCHOOL CHOICE REJECTION LETTER—A few tweaks were made to the Form.
4.29—INTERNET SAFETY and ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPUTER USE POLICY—This policy
was rewritten and reformatted to make it easier for districts the next time you have to submit your revised tech
plan. Some language was taken from the Student Acceptable Use Agreement for inclusion in 4.29 so that all of
the required language will now be in one policy. Additionally, for alignment purposes, "computer" was changed
to "electronic device" along with its definition as used in the cell phone policy.
4.29F—STUDENT ELECTRONIC DEVICE and INTERNET USE AGREEMENT—The title was
changed and "p" was amended in preparation for the next required submission of the tech plan along with the
transition to "electronic device" from "computer".
4.45—SMART CORE CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
CLASSES OF 2015, 2016, AND 2017—The title was changed due to the phase in of the digital learning
course requirement for the class of 2018 that is addressed in 4.45.1. Language was also deleted to align with
changes we made to 4.4.5.1. No substantive changes were made to the policy.
4.45.1—SMART CORE CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
CLASS OF 2018 AND THEREAFTER—This is fundamentally the same policy as 4.45 but with the digital
learning course graduation requirement added.
4.48—VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AND OTHER STUDENT MONITORING—We added one legal
reference, amended another one, and made a few grammatical changes to the footnotes. This does NOT change
the policy and does not require board approval.
4.55—STUDENT PROMOTION AND RETENTION—This is a new policy that both combines and
replaces what used to be policies 5.11 and 5.12. It also contains optional language laying out possible
repercussions for a student willfully refusing either to take a state mandated assessment or make a good faith
effort while taking such an assessment. There is also a background document that accompanies this policy
that is designed to help you be better informed about and understand the issues involved with the national
movement that has come to Arkansas to have parents opt their children out of Common Core State Standards
assessments.
4.56—EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – SECONDARY SCHOOLS—This is a new policy that
replaces what used to be policy 5.19. It also contains optional language laying out possible repercussions for a
student willfully refusing either to take a state mandated assessment or make a good faith effort while taking
such an assessment.
4.56.1—EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – ELEMENTARY—This is a new policy that replaces
what used to be policy 5.19.1. It also contains optional language laying out possible repercussions for a student
willfully refusing either to take a state mandated assessment or make a good faith effort while taking such an
assessment.
4.56.2—EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY ELIGIBILITY FOR HOME SCHOOLED
STUDENTS—This is the same policy as when it was the former 5.19.2 that was sent out on 7/24/13 after Act
1469's sponsor demanded our original policy be changed. The 7/24/13 version is NOT the one included in the
July 2013 CD because the CD went out in early July.
5.8—USE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS—This policy has been significantly expanded to
incorporate the requirements of the TEACH act governing digitally transmitted copyrighted material.
5.11—DIGITAL LEARNING COURSES—This is a new policy that covers the new digital learning course
requirements. The potential effects of Act 1280 on public education cannot be overstated. The policy attempts
to help districts discuss its implementation options.
5.12—PROMOTION/RETENTION/COURSE CREDIT FOR K-? SCHOOLS – Policy Deleted Language moved to new policy 4.55—This policy has been combined with the previous version of 5.11,
and moved to the student section as a new policy 4.55, which includes additional language relating to the
pushback against the Common Core State Standards that did not lend itself to a Section 5 policy. The
consolidation of the policies into the student section should also make it easier for districts to work from the
policy manual when generating your student handbooks. We will retain the number 5.12 as a place holder for
future model policy use.
5.16—GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS – Policy Deleted - Language moved to 4.45—This policy has
been deleted because it is covered by the student section policies 4.45 and the new 4.45.1. The consolidation of
the policies into the student section should make it easier for districts to work from the policy manual when
generating your student handbooks. We will retain the number 5.16 as a place holder for future model policy
use.
5.19—EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – SECONDARY SCHOOLS – Policy Deleted - Language
moved to new policy 4.56—This policy, 5.19.1 and the 7/24/13 version of 5.19.2 have been moved to the
student section as new policies 4.56, 4.56.1, and 4.56.2. Policies 4.56 and 4.56.1 include additional language
relating to the pushback against the Common Core State Standards that did not lend itself to a Section 5 policy.
The consolidation of the policies into the student section should also make it easier for districts to work from the
policy manual when generating your student handbooks. We will retain the number 5.19 as a place holder for
future model policy use but shall not retain the titles of 5.19.1 and 5.19.2 in the 2014 Master Manual.
5.19.1—EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – ELEMENTARY Policy Deleted - Language moved to
new policy 4.56.1—This policy, 5.19, and the 7/24/13 version of 5.19.2 have been moved to the student section
as new policies 4.56, 4.56.1 and 4.56.2. Policies 4.56 and 4.56.1 include additional language relating to the
pushback against the Common Core State Standards that did not lend itself to a Section 5 policy. The
consolidation of the policies into the student section should also make it easier for districts to work from the
policy manual when generating your student handbooks. We will retain the number 5.19 as a place holder for
future model policy use but shall not retain the titles of 5.19.1 and 5.19.2 in the 2014 Master Manual.
5.19.2—EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY ELIGIBILITY FOR HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS
Policy Deleted – Language of the 8-1-13 version moved to new policy 4.56.2— The 7/14/13 version of this
policy, 5.19 and 5.19.1 have been moved to the student section as new policies 4.56, 4.56.1, and 4.56.2. The
7/24/13 version of 5.19.2 is NOT the one included in the July 2013 CD because the CD went out in early July.
Policies 4.56 and 4.56.1 include additional language relating to the pushback against the Common Core State
Standards that did not lend itself to a Section 5 policy. The consolidation of the policies into the student section
should also make it easier for districts to work from the policy manual when generating your student
handbooks. We will retain the number 5.19 as a place holder for future model policy use but shall not retain the
titles of 5.19.1, and 5.19.2 in the 2014 Master Manual.
5.19.2F— HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS' LETTER OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN AN
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY This Form has been Deleted—This Form was deleted after it was
blended into the revised 5.19.2 that was sent out on 7/24/13 triggered by the legislator revolt against our original
policy. The 7/24/13 version of 5.19.2 is NOT the one included in the July 2013 CD because the CD went out in
early July.
5.26—ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS—Changes were made to the policy to bring it up
to date with Ark. statutes and current ADE Rules. Due to the large extent of the changes and reformatting of
much of the policy, the deleted language was struck and the policy is written in red as all new language.
5.27—ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS—The The legal references were updated. This does not
change the policy and does NOT require board approval.
5.28—NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT FUNDING EXPENDITURES—The legal references were
updated. This does not change the policy and does NOT require board approval.
6.4—VOLUNTEERS—For the sake of improved clarity, Options 1and 2 on the first page of the policy have
been changed to A and B to avoid confusion with the numbered options on the second page. This does not
change the policy and does NOT require board approval.
7.2—ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET—The first sentence in the last paragraph was deleted to give
districts more flexibility on budget adjustments.
7.13—MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF DISTRICT PROPERTY - Act 318 of 2013 requires
districts that have obtained school property through consolidation with another district to dispose of the property
if it has not been used for educational purposes for two years from the effective date of the consolidation. New
language was added to that effect and a few grammatical corrections were also made.
7.15—RECORD RETENTION AND DESTRUCTION - Act 608 of 2013 triggered a re-examination of
the policy. Definitions were added and the timeline for the retention of documentation related to the statutorily
controlled employment of board and/or staff member relatives was amended. Additionally, Act 444 of 2013
required districts to give a hiring preference to veterans. This necessitates districts retain application and hiring
determination records to protect it from potential law suits. Language was added to this effect. Language was
also added relating to the required IRS documentation contained in the new policy 7.23.
7.19—SERVICE ANIMALS IN DISTRICT FACILITIES - Questions received from a district triggered
changes to the policy in an effort to better explain parameters available and not-available to districts. We also
added two Arkansas statutes on service animals to the legal references.
7.21—NAMING SCHOOL FACILITIES—A footnote was added to explain how to interpret the policy.
This does NOT change the policy and does not require board approval.
7.22—PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP OF EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS - The increased popularity of
organizations wanting to do promotional events during athletic event half-times triggered the creation of this
policy. There is no statutory requirement for it, but it may become very useful to you when needing to respond
to requests.
7.22F—EVENT SPONSOR AGREEMENT—This is the form for activities taking place under policy 7.22.
7.23—HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT—This policy lays out
districts responsibilities regarding employee health insurance and especially the ACA.
7.23F—LICENSED PERSONNEL ELECTRONIC RECEIPT OF STATEMENTS CONSENT
FORM—This is the form employees can use to allow the district to send to employees the Affordable Care
Act's required paperwork in electronic format.