2020 Arkansas Code
Title 6 - Education
Subtitle 2 - Elementary and Secondary Education Generally
Chapter 23 - Arkansas Quality Charter Schools Act of 2013
Subchapter 10 - Adult Education Charter School
§ 6-23-1001. Application for adult education charter school

(a)

1. (1) An eligible entity may apply to the authorizer for adult education charter school status for an adult education program that offers a curriculum that culminates in:

   1. (A) A high school diploma; and

   2. (B) An industry certification.

2. (2) An adult education charter school shall be recognized by the State Board of Education as an open-enrollment public charter school.

3. (3) An adult education charter school does not count toward the cap for open-enrollment public charter schools under § 6-23-304(c).

(b) A nonprofit entity's application for an adult education charter school shall include without limitation a:

1. (1) History of the nonprofit entity's success in providing education services, including industry certifications and job placement services, to adults eighteen (18) years of age and older whose educational and training opportunities have been limited by educational disadvantages, disabilities, homelessness, criminal history, or similar circumstances;

2. (2)

   1. (A) Pledge to commit at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the adult education public charter school, if approved.

   2. (B) Up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the commitment may be in-kind.

   3. (C) A nonprofit entity that is opening an additional adult education public charter school under this section is not required to commit one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the additional adult education public charter school if it has already pledged to commit at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) to an adult education public charter school under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section;

3. (3) Description of any partnership with a state-supported two-year institution of higher education, if anticipated;

4. (4)

   1. (A) Description of testimony from a public hearing in the community where the adult education charter school is planned.

   2. (B) A copy of the notice of the public hearing that documents that the notice was published in a newspaper having general circulation in the community where the adult education charter school is planned at least three (3) weeks before the date of the public hearing;

5. (5) Comprehensive plan of how the adult education charter school will meet the industry needs for a sufficiently trained workforce in the state;

6. (6) Strategy for engaging the community, including business leaders, in carrying out the goals and objectives of the adult education charter school;

7. (7) Description of the proposed performance criteria that will be used during the initial five-year period of the charter to measure the progress of the adult education charter school in meeting the industry needs for a sufficiently trained workforce in the state;

8. (8) Detailed budget and governance plan for the operation of the adult education charter school; and

9. (9) List of any specific state laws or rules of the State Board of Education from which the adult education public charter wishes to be exempt with an explanation of why the exemption is needed.