March 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM - State Board of Education
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I. Call to Order
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
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II. Moment of Silence
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
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III. Pledge of Allegiance
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
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IV. National Anthem
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
Description:
A choir from the Sloan-Hendrix School District will perform the National Anthem.
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V. Recognition
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
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V.1. Ronald Reagan Oratory National Finals High School Competition Winner — Zander Schoultz
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
Description:
Zander Schoultz, a junior from Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, was named the winner of the high school portion of the 2nd Annual Ronald Reagan Oratory National Finals Competition. The competition was held at the Reagan Library on January 10, 2026. Zander showcased his talents by delivering a compelling presentation of one of President Reagan’s radio addresses.
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V.2. Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament Winners — Jack Liu and Shangyu Wu
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
Description:
Two juniors from Little Rock Central High School, Jack Liu and Shangyu Wu, made Arkansas history by becoming the first and only team from the state to win the Harvard University National Speech and Debate Tournament. The students traveled to Harvard University in February to compete as part of Central’s policy debate team. Entering the tournament ranked second in the nation, they earned a national championship and brought this prestigious title home to Arkansas. |
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V.3. Beloved Community Civic Leadership Award — Dr. DuShun Scarbrough
Description:
Dr. DuShun Scarbrough Sr., executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, received the Beloved Community Civic Leadership Award in February at a ceremony in Atlanta presented by The King Center.
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VI. Changes to Agenda
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
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VII. Action Agenda
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VII.1. Application for District Conversion Charter by the Little Rock School District at Hall High School
Presenter:
Dr. Jermall Wright
Description:
On January 29, 2026, representatives of the Little Rock School District provided a presentation to the Charter Authorizing Panel about the proposed district conversion charter for grades 9-12 as a blended learning environment operating at Hall High School.
During the February 12, 2026 State Board of Education, member Mr. David Peacock made a motion to pull the item from the consent agenda for discussion during the March 12, 2026 meeting. The motion was seconded by Randy Henderson and unanimously passed.
Attachments:
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VII.2. Consideration of the Arkansas Better Chance Program Renewal Grants for FY27
Presenter:
Ashelyn Abney, Education Division Director and Brandy Ishmon, Early Childhood Program Administrator
Description:
The Office of Early Childhood Education (OEC) requests approval for the Arkansas Better Chance Program Renewal Grants for the 2026-2027 school year, pending approval of legislative appropriation, and authorization for OEC to administer slot funding as needed in alignment with enrollment levels and program capacity.
OEC is also requesting to support foster children as well as homeless/displaced children as the need arises. ABC provides waivers for the identified children to receive immediate services. The placement of a foster child and/or displaced child in an ABC program would add a per child award above the total awarded number of slots for that program during the 2026-2027 year.
Attachments:
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VII.3. Request for Waiver - LA-25-004 - Jacqueline Mills
Presenter:
Daniel Shults
Description:
The Arkansas Department of Education received information that the educator was convicted of disqualifying criminal offenses. Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410, the State Board shall not renew an existing license and shall revoke an existing license not up for renewal of a person who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of an enumerated offense by a court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court in another state or by a federal court. The educator is requesting a waiver under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410(f)
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VII.4. Request for Waiver - LA-25-005 - Pamela Wyatt
Presenter:
Daniel Shults
Description:
The Arkansas Department of Education received information that the educator was convicted of disqualifying criminal offenses. Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410, the State Board shall not renew an existing license and shall revoke an existing license not up for renewal of a person who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of an enumerated offense by a court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court in another state or by a federal court. The educator is requesting a waiver under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410(f)
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VIII. New Business
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IX. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
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IX.1. Minutes
Presenter:
Melody Pettit
Attachments:
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IX.2. Renewal of School Charters
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel met to consider renewal of charters for eight (8) district conversion charter schools and one (1) open enrollment charter school at their February 19, 2026 meeting.
After discussion, Dr. Tina Moore moved that charters for all nine schools be renewed for 5 years. The motion was seconded by Ms. Edie Stewart, and passed unanimously. |
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IX.2.a. Cave City High School Career and Collegiate Preparatory School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in the Cave City School District (Sharp County, Arkansas).
Attachments:
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IX.2.b. Cave City Middle School Career and Collegiate Preparatory School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in the Cave City School District (Sharp County, Arkansas).
Attachments:
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IX.2.c. Cross County Elementary Tech Academy
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in Cherry Valley, Arkansas in the Cross County School District.
Attachments:
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IX.2.d. Cross County High School — A New Tech School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in Cherry Valley, Arkansas in the Cross County School District.
Attachments:
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IX.2.e. Fayetteville Virtual Academy — A District Conversion School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in the Fayetteville School District (Washington County, Arkansas).
Attachments:
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IX.2.f. Mountain Home Career Academies
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in the Mountain Home School District (Baxter County, Arkansas).
Attachments:
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IX.2.g. Southside Charter High School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in the Southside School District (Independence County, Arkansas).
Attachments:
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IX.2.h. Southside Junior High School
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this district conversion charter school located in the Southside School District (Independence County, Arkansas).
Attachments:
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IX.2.i. Westwind School for the Performing Arts
Presenter:
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
Description:
The Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) approved renewal of the charter for this open enrollment charter school located in North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.
Attachments:
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IX.3. Review of Loan and Bond Applications
Presenter:
Greg Rogers
Description:
Arkansas Code § 6-20-1205 states that a school district shall not sell bonds until the issue is approved by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, in its discretion and after considering the merits of each application, with the loan committee recommendation, may approve a school district bond application for the full amount of the proposed bond issue, approve the application for a lesser amount than requested, or disapprove the application.
Attachments:
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X. Reports
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X.1. Board Liaison Reports
Presenter:
Adrienne Woods
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X.2. ATOY Report
Presenter:
Jeanie Wilcoxon
Attachments:
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X.3. Commissioner's Report
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
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X.3.a. Academies of Math and Science — Blytheville Update
Presenter:
Katie Determan and Kristina Winters
Attachments:
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XI. Public Comments
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XII. Adjournment
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