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Meeting Agenda
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I. Call to Order
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II. Moment of Silence
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III. Pledge of Allegiance
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IV. Recognition
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IV.1. Jaime Garcia — 2025 Milken Educator Award Winner
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IV.2. Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship
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IV.3. Stephanie Williams — 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year
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IV.4. Arijit Sarkar — StateScoop 50 Award Winner
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V. Changes to Agenda
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VI. Action Agenda
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VI.1. Standards Waiver Request for Employment of Superintendent by Rural Special School District
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VI.2. Request for Waiver - LA-26-001- Trina Grant
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VI.3. Consideration of Request to Release the Rules Governing Student Special Needs Funding for Public Comment
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VI.4. School Choice Appeal under Arkansas Code § 6-18-1901 et seq.
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VI.4.a. School Choice Appeal — 2026-001
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VI.4.b. School Choice Appeal — 2026-002
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VII. New Business
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VIII. Consent Agenda
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VIII.1. Minutes
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VIII.2. District Conversion Charter Application for the Global Innovation Academy (Fort Smith)
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VIII.3. Renewal of Existing Charter for the Future School of Fort Smith
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VIII.4. Renewal of Existing Charter for Arkansas Connections Academy
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IX. Reports
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IX.1. Board Liaison Reports
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IX.2. ATOY Report
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IX.3. Commissioner's Report
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X. Public Comments
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XI. Adjournment
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Agenda Item Details
Reload Your Meeting
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| Meeting: | June 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM - State Board of Education | |
| Subject: |
I. Call to Order
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| Presenter: |
Adrienne Woods
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| Subject: |
II. Moment of Silence
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| Presenter: |
Adrienne Woods
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| Subject: |
III. Pledge of Allegiance
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| Presenter: |
Adrienne Woods
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| Subject: |
IV. Recognition
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| Presenter: |
Secretary Jacob Oliva
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| Subject: |
IV.1. Jaime Garcia — 2025 Milken Educator Award Winner
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Description:
Created by philanthropist and education visionary Lowell Milken, the Milken Educator Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards to K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Jaime Garcia is the sole Arkansas 2025 Milken Educator Award Winner. Mr. Garcia is a former mathematics teacher and the current Dean of Academics at LISA Academy North Middle-High School.
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| Subject: |
IV.2. Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship
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Description:
The Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship is a nine-month program launched in summer 2025 to recognize and support some of the state’s top educators, particularly those earning merit pay, while highlighting exemplary teaching for the public. In its inaugural year, the Arkansas Department of Education selected 23 high-performing educators from across the state to participate.
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| Subject: |
IV.3. Stephanie Williams — 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year
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Description:
To recognize and celebrate excellent teachers, the Arkansas Department of Education coordinates the Arkansas Teacher of the Year program. The ATOY program is part of the National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) program that is coordinated by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Stephanie Williams, a K-4 music teacher at Mountain View Elementary, Benton School District, was named the 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year in October 2025. Ms. Williams will begin her year of service on July 1, 2026. |
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| Subject: |
IV.4. Arijit Sarkar — StateScoop 50 Award Winner
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Description:
StateScoop is a U.S.-based media and events platform focused on state and local government technology.
Arijit Sarkar, ADE Chief Information Officer, has been named a State Leadership Award winner by StateScoop. Mr. Sarkar was selected as a public sector disruptor helping government implement new technologies, secure systems, revolutionize operations, and make big changes. |
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V. Changes to Agenda
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| Presenter: |
Adrienne Woods
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| Subject: |
VI. Action Agenda
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| Subject: |
VI.1. Standards Waiver Request for Employment of Superintendent by Rural Special School District
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| Presenter: |
Hope Worsham, Assistant Commissioner
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Description:
The Rural Special School District is requesting a standards waiver for employing a full-time Superintendent.
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
VI.2. Request for Waiver - LA-26-001- Trina Grant
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| Presenter: |
Daniel Shults
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Description:
The Arkansas Department of Education received information that the educator was convicted of a disqualifying criminal offense. Per Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410, the State Board shall not issue a first-time license to 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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| Subject: |
VI.3. Consideration of Request to Release the Rules Governing Student Special Needs Funding for Public Comment
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| Presenter: |
Stacy Smith
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Description:
The division is requesting these rules be released for public comment. This amendment reflects changes made by Act 911 of 2025.
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| Subject: |
VI.4. School Choice Appeal under Arkansas Code § 6-18-1901 et seq.
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| Presenter: |
Daniel Shults
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Description:
The following agenda items are appeals filed by the families of public school students whose school choice applications were denied.
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| Subject: |
VI.4.a. School Choice Appeal — 2026-001
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Description:
This is an appeal of the Fort Smith School District's denial of an intra-district school choice application.
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
VI.4.b. School Choice Appeal — 2026-002
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Description:
This is an appeal of the Fort Smith School District's denial of an intra-district school choice application.
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
VII. New Business
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| Subject: |
VIII. Consent Agenda
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| Presenter: |
Adrienne Woods
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| Subject: |
VIII.1. Minutes
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| Presenter: |
Angela Scaife
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
VIII.2. District Conversion Charter Application for the Global Innovation Academy (Fort Smith)
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| Presenter: |
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
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Description:
On May 21, 2026, representatives of the Fort Smith School District presented a proposal for a District Conversion Charter for the Global Innovation Academy to the Charter Authorizing Panel. Questions and answers followed. It was moved by Mr. Phillip Baldwin to approve the charter application. Dr. John Bacon seconded Mr. Baldwin's motion, and it passed unanimously.
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
VIII.3. Renewal of Existing Charter for the Future School of Fort Smith
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| Presenter: |
Darrell Smith, Ed.D, Assistant Commissioner
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Description:
On May 21, 2026, the Charter Authorizing Panel recommended renewal of the charter for this Open Enrollment charter school located in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. Questions and answers followed. It was moved by Mr. Phillip Baldwin to recommend renewal of the charter through June 30, 2029, a period of three years. Dr. Crystal Beshears-Duncan seconded Mr. Baldwin's motion, and it passed unanimously.
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
VIII.4. Renewal of Existing Charter for Arkansas Connections Academy
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| Presenter: |
Darrell Smith, Ed. D., Assistant Commissioner
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Description:
On May 21, 2026, the Charter Authorizing Panel recommended renewal of the charter for this Open Enrollment charter school located in Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas. Questions and answers followed. It was moved by Dr. Crystal Beshears-Duncan to recommend renewal of the charter through June 30, 2031, a period of five years. Dr. Tina Moore seconded Dr. Beshears-Duncan’s motion, and it passed unanimously.
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
IX. Reports
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| Subject: |
IX.1. Board Liaison Reports
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| Presenter: |
Adrienne Woods
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| Subject: |
IX.2. ATOY Report
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| Presenter: |
Jeanie Wilcoxon
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Attachments:
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| Subject: |
IX.3. Commissioner's Report
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| Presenter: |
Secretary Jacob Oliva
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| Subject: |
X. Public Comments
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| Subject: |
XI. Adjournment
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