Summary

Arkansas SB 66 (Open States or Arkansas Legislature) establishes the District of Innovation program to encourage new or creative alternatives to the existing instructional and administrative practices in Arkansas schools in order to improve academic performance and learning for all students.

Legislative Analysis

SB 66 establishes the District of Innovation program in order to encourage new or creative alternatives to the existing instructional and administrative practices. The purpose of this program is to improve academic performance and learning for all students. Within these designated districts, schools can seek approval to become schools of innovation. Their school of innovation plan may request exemptions from local policies and specific laws and rules approved for exemption or modification by the State Board of Education.

This legislation impacts digital learning by increasing schools’ ability to institute innovative practices. Schools of innovation are required to provide instructional time that meets or exceeds the instructional time requirement adopted by the state board unless granted an exception by the Commissioner of Education. Instructional time may include on-site instruction, distance or virtual learning, and work-based learning on nontraditional school days or hours.

Legislative History

Detailed Vote History: Legiscan |  Open States

Approved by Governor Mike Beebe on 4/4/2013