005.22.04 Ark. Code R. § 002 - ADE 198 - Placement Courses in the Four Core Areas in High Schools

Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing Advanced Placement Courses in the Four Core Areas in High School

October 2004

1.00 Purposes of Rules

1.01 To ensure that each school district provides high school students with the opportunity to enroll in at least one (1) College Board Advanced Placement course in the four (4) core areas of English, math, science, and social studies, and to outline teacher training requirements.

2.00 Regulatory Authority

2.01 These regulations shall be known as the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Rules Governing the availability of Advanced Placement (AP) Courses in the four (4) core areas in high school.

2.02 The State Board of Education enacted these rules pursuant to its authority under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-11-105, § 6-16-201, and Act 102 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2003.

3.00 Definitions

3.01 "A Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP)" course means a middle school, junior high school, or high school level course that specifically prepares students to enroll and to participate in an Advanced Placement course.

3.02 "Advanced Placement (AP)" course means a high school level preparatory course for a college Advanced Placement test that incorporates all topics specified by the College Board and the Educational Testing Services on its standard syllabus for a given subject area and is approved by the College Board and Educational Testing Service.

3.03 "Concurrent Enrollment" course means a college level course or courses offered by an institution of higher education, which upon completion would qualify for academic credit in both the institution of higher education and a public high school.

3.04 "Vertical Team" means a group of educators from different grade levels in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students from diverse backgrounds acquire the academic skills necessary for success in the Advanced Placement Program and other challenging courses.

3.05 "Additional Training Plan" (ATP) requires AP and Pre-AP teachers to attend appropriate College Board training. Teachers in the plan have up to three (3) years to complete this requirement.

3.06 "Weighted Credit" means additional quality points for designated AP courses that will be contingent upon the teacher having obtained or is currently participating within the ATP program as required by Section 4.01 and 4.02 of this rule and as defined in the Uniform Grading Scale Rule. Students desiring weighted credit must also take the applicable AP examination.

4.00 Teacher Training

4.01 A teacher of an AP course must meet Arkansas Teacher Licensure requirements and must attend a College Board Advanced Placement Summer Institute. Teachers must attend no less than once every five (5) years to stay current on curriculum and program developments.

4.02 A teacher of an AP course who has not obtained the required training as stated in 4.01, will complete an Additional Training Plan (ATP) for Advanced Placement. The teacher will have three (3) years to complete the required training. Students enrolled in classes of teachers on an ATP earn the weighted credit contingent upon taking the appropriate AP exam (3.06).

4.03 A teacher of a Pre-AP course must meet Arkansas Teacher Licensure requirements and must attend a College Board sponsored or endorsed training institute or workshop in the teacher's content area. Pre-AP teachers must attend a College Board sponsored or endorsed training institute, or workshop in the teacher's content area no less than once every five (5) years to stay current on curriculum and program developments.

4.04 A teacher of a Pre-AP course who has not obtained the required training as stated in 4.03, will complete an Additional Training Plan (ATP) for Pre-Advanced Placement. The teacher will have three (3) years to complete the required training.

4.05 Weighted Credit for designated AP courses will be contingent upon the teacher obtaining training as outlined in 4.01 and 4.02.

5.00 Required Advanced Placement Courses

5.01 Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, it is required that districts begin phasing in, over the next four (4) school years, AP courses with a minimum of one course per year in the four (4) core courses to have fully implemented the required four (4) core courses in English, math, science, and social studies by the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year.

5.02 AP teachers should begin attending AP summer institutes when available in order to be ready for the 2008-2009 course implementation deadline.

5.03 In order to prepare students for the rigor inherent in AP courses, it is recommended to begin with the 2004-2005 school year by offering Pre-AP courses to prepare students for the demands of AP coursework. Aligned with the four (4) required AP courses, the Pre-AP courses will be fully operational by the 2008-2009 school year.

6.00 Concurrent Enrollment Course Approval Panel

6.01 There will be a panel known as the "Concurrent Enrollment Course Approval Panel" that will consist of six (6) members, each knowledgeable regarding AP coursework or Concurrent Enrollment coursework and a resident of the State of Arkansas at the time of appointment and throughout the term.

6.02 The six-member panel shall consist of three (3) persons appointed by the Director of the ADE and three (3) persons appointed by the Director of the Department of Higher Education (ADHE). Members shall serve at the pleasure of the director making the appointment.

6.03 If a vacancy occurs in an appointed position for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the director of the department that made the original appointment.

6.04 The Directors of the ADE and the ADHE shall alternate each year naming a person to serve as chairperson of the panel.

6.05 The Directors of the ADE and the ADHE shall draw lots to determine which director shall first appoint a chairperson.

6.06 The panel shall meet at times and places the chairperson deems necessary, but no meetings shall be held outside of the State of Arkansas.

6.07 A majority of the members of the panel shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business.

6.08 All action of the panel shall be by a majority of the full membership of the panel.

6.09 For the purpose of access and equity, the panel shall make recommendations to the ADE and the ADHE regarding the rules for offering of AP courses, or Concurrent Enrollment courses, or both.

6.10 The ADHE shall provide staff and office space for the panel.

6.11 Members of the panel shall serve without pay, but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with Arkansas Code § 25-16-902; to be paid by the ADHE to the extent money is available.

7.00 Exemption

Any high school offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program shall be exempt from the provisions of this rule.

Notes

005.22.04 Ark. Code R. § 002

11/9/2004