An act CONCERNING THE SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas          As Engrossed: H3/17/25
2 95th General Assembly
                                   A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                             HOUSE BILL 1598

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5 By: Representative Brooks

6 By: Senator J. English

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8                            For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT CONCERNING THE SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM; TO

10  REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A

11  NEW ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO

12  REMOVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM SCHOOL RATINGS FOR CERTAIN

13  SCHOOL YEARS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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15

16                                       Subtitle

17                        TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

18                        TO ESTABLISH A NEW ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

19                        FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND TO REMOVE PUBLIC

20                        SCHOOLS FROM SCHOOL RATINGS FOR CERTAIN

21                        SCHOOL YEARS.

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23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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25  SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. TEMPORARY LANGUAGE.

26  (a) The General Assembly finds that:

27  (1) A change in the assessment system for public schools and

28 public school districts in Arkansas was necessary to align with the

29 educational priorities established by Acts 2023, No. 237, also known as the

30 "LEARNS Act";

31  (2) The development of a revised accountability system that

32 includes the new assessment system and better meets the needs of Arkansas

33 students is currently in progress; and

34  (3) A pause in new letter grade designations for the 2023-2024

35 and 2024-2025 school years under the existing school rating system will allow

36 the collection of necessary data to provide accurate and reliable

    *TNL243*                                                       03-17-2025 12:25:41 TNL243
    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1598

1 accountability information, which is essential for Arkansans to make informed

2 decisions regarding their children's education.

3   (b) The Department of Education shall not assign to public schools new

4 school ratings calculated under the current school rating system under � 6-

5 15-2105 for the 2023-2024 school year.

6   (c) The department shall:

7            (1) Establish a new accountability system; and

8            (2)(A) Issue all public schools, including open-enrollment

9 public charter schools, a letter grade for the 2024-2025 school year using

10 the new accountability system established under subdivision (c)(1) of this

11 section.

12           (B)(i) If a public school or an open-enrollment public

13 charter school does not improve or maintain its most recent letter grade

14 under the new accountability system established under subdivision (c)(1) of

15 this section, then the public school or open-enrollment public charter school

16 may request a review by the Division of Public School Accountability.

17                          (ii) The division shall review all applicable data

18 and information upon receipt of a request from a public school or an open-

19 enrollment public charter school under subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i) of this

20 section and make a determination regarding the public school's or open-

21 enrollment public charter school's letter grade.

22  (e) This section shall expire on June 30, 2026.

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24                             /s/Brooks

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