Section 6-16-1703 - Course Choice Program(a) There is established the Course Choice Program.(b) To support student participation, not later than the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall promulgate rules on the Course Choice Program, including a process that includes without limitation the following: (1) The determination regarding whether each: (A) Proposed course provider complies with the law and state board rules;(B) Proposal submitted by a proposed course provider is valid, complete, financially well-structured, and educationally sound;(C) Proposal submitted by a proposed course provider provides a plan for collecting data; and(D) Proposal submitted by a proposed course provider offers the potential for fulfilling the purposes of this subchapter;(2) The provision for an independent evaluation of each proposal submitted by a proposed course provider by a third party with educational, organizational, legal, and financial expertise; and(3) The provision for an agreement between the State Board of Education and course provider that shall include without limitation a plan for implementing or providing the following: (A) Administration of state assessments as required by the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq.;(B) The public school districts in which the course provider will operate;(C) Proposed courses offered, alignment of the courses by the course provider with the Arkansas academic standards, and the designated length of each course offered;(D) Alignment of the courses offered by the course provider with approved Arkansas diploma requirements; and(E) Assurances that the course provider shall, to the best of its ability, collaborate and coordinate with a local public school district in which an eligible student is enrolled full time.(c)(1) The initial authorization of a course provider shall be for a period of three (3) years.(2)(A) After the second year of the initial authorization period, the State Board of Education shall conduct a thorough review of the course provider's activities and the academic performance of the eligible students enrolled in courses offered by the course provider in accordance with the school rating system.(B) If the performance of the eligible students enrolled in courses offered by the course provider does not meet performance standards set by the State Board of Education under the school rating system, the State Board of Education shall place the course provider on probation.(d) After the initial three-year authorization period, the State Board of Education may reauthorize a course provider for additional periods of not less than three (3) years nor more than five (5) years after thorough review of the course provider's activities and the achievement of students enrolled in courses offered by the course provider.(e) The State Board of Education shall monitor and evaluate the course provider in accordance with performance expectations set forth by the State Board of Education in which student achievement is the predominant criterion.(f)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create a process for: (A) Common course numbering of all courses listed in the course catalog; and(B) Determining whether courses are in compliance with Arkansas state academic standards.(2) For courses offered by postsecondary educational institutions that are authorized course providers, the division shall consult with the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.(g) Prior to the 2025-2026 school year, the division shall create a course catalog for all courses offered by a public school district.(h) The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to administer the program.Added by Act 2023, No. 237,§ 20, eff. 3/8/2023.