(a) As used in this section:
(1) "College and career readiness" means the acquisition of the knowledge and skills a student needs to be successful in future endeavors, including:
(A) Successfully completing credit-bearing, first-year courses at a postsecondary institution; and
(B) Embarking on a chosen career; and
(2) "College and career readiness assessment" means a test that measures student readiness for postsecondary learning and is:
(A) Administered under this section; or
(B) Used by an institution of higher education as part of its admissions, placement, and scholarship processes.
(b) (1) (A) A public school that serves students in grade eight (8) shall administer a college and career readiness assessment approved by the State Board of Education to each student enrolled in grade eight (8) at the public school.
(B) A public school that serves students in grades ten through twelve (10-12) shall administer a college and career readiness assessment approved by the state board to each student before the student graduates from high school.
(2) Funding for the college and career readiness assessments listed in subdivision (b)(1) of this section may be paid by using Department of Education at-risk funding.
(c) (1) Each public school administering the college and career readiness assessments under this section shall use the college and career readiness assessments to:
(A) Assist students with college and career readiness skills, course selection in high school, and improved academic achievement; and
(B) Provide the basis for the counseling under § 6-16-603 concerning postsecondary preparatory programs.
(2) Each public school shall fully incorporate the results from college and career readiness assessments listed in subsection (b) of this section into the college and career planning process for each student.
(d) Data collection shall be maintained by the Department of Education for the purpose of:
(1) Increasing college and career readiness skills;
(2) Improving instruction;
(3) Enhancing school improvement plans;
(4) Reducing the college remediation rates of students; and
(5) Developing and implementing postsecondary preparatory programs under § 6-16-601 et seq.
(e) (1) The department shall report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education no later than December 31 of each year on the:
(A) Implementation and effectiveness of the Arkansas College and Career Readiness Planning Program; and
(B) Statistical analysis of postsecondary preparatory programs under § 6-16-601 et seq. for each postsecondary preparatory program.
(2) The report may be posted on the department's website with a notification to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education.
(f) The state board may promulgate rules to implement this section and shall monitor the use of college and career readiness assessments administered under this section to ensure public school compliance.
Section: Previous 6-15-428 6-15-429 6-15-430 6-15-431 6-15-432 6-15-433 6-15-434 6-15-435 6-15-436 6-15-437 6-15-438 6-15-439 6-15-440 6-15-441Last modified: November 15, 2016