ADE Briefs

Charles Stein was named director of the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation by the three-member Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation Commission in a specially-called meeting at the Arkansas Department of Education on Thursday. Stein, who has served as the division’s assistant director since August 2005, replaces Doug Eaton, director of [...]

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette showcased the efforts of Oakdale Middle School in Rogers to increase students’ performance on math, science and literacy tests using 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant funds. Student teachers from the University of Arkansas will teach literacy in an after-school program targeted to students scoring at the basic and below basic [...]

This week, Dr. Kimbrell talks about Arkansas’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards. This is a historic moment in state and national education. You might notice the video seems a bit small as we’re experiencing some technical difficulties. (Don’t worry — it’s not your computer!) The video will be back to its regular size [...]

The Arkansas State Board of Education approved revisions to the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing Assessment and Accountability Program. Posted by JJT.

The Arkansas State Board of Education approved new rules regarding efforts to close the achievement gap among various subgroups of students in the state. Posted by JJT.

The Arkansas State Board of Education approved the following status report regarding the accreditation of Arkansas public schools for the 2009-2010 school year. Schools must meet minimum standards of offerings and performance to ensure that all children in the state have access to an adequate education. Schools placed in cited or probationary status must show [...]

The State Board of Education revoked the charter of Hope Academy after hearing a report concerning the financial status of Hope Academy Charter School in Pine Bluff. Last month, the department presented a report showing that as of May 31, the unrestricted operating fund of the school had a negative balance of more than $40,000, [...]

Scott Shirey of KIPP Delta Public Schools came before the State Board of Education to request amendments to their current charter. Included in the requested changes were: * a waiver from monthly board meetings because board covers both Blytheville and Helena-West Helena courses, * the flexibility to dismiss at 4 p.m. rather than 5 p.m. [...]

The Arkansas State Board of Education today adopted the Common Core State Standards, a voluntary, state-led set of learning standards in mathematics and English languate arts that were created by an initiative of the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association. Arkansas is the 24th state in the nation to formally [...]

The fiscal year ending in June 2010 was a difficult year, with three revisions lowering the state’s general education budget, ADE finance employee Ted Moore reported to the State Board of Education. Even so, the final close out of the budget includes a $35.5 million balance that will roll over to the next fiscal year [...]