Commissioner's Memos: Approved Memos http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/AllItems.aspx RSS feed for the Approved Memos list. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:17:58 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 Commissioner's Memos: Approved Memos /memos/_layouts/images/homepage.gif http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/AllItems.aspx 2013 Annual School Election Timeline http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=924 Memo Number: FIN-13-080
Memo Date: 5/16/2013
Attention: Co-op Directors, Superintendents, General Business Managers
Memo Type: Informational
Response Required: No
Section: Fiscal & Administrative Services
Regulatory Authority: A.C.A. § 7-5-304, 6-14-102, 6-4-118, 7-5-407, 26-80-110, 6-13-622, 6-14-111, 6-13-616, 6-13-630, 6-14-109, 7-5-418, 6-14-106, 6-14-121
Contact Person: Yvonne Williams
Phone Number: 501-682-4485
E-Mail: yvonne.williams@arkansas.gov
Memo Text:
School districts are required to hold an annual school election and must comply with various legal requirements concerning budget publication, school tax rates, and school elections. The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) provides suggestions to assist school districts in meeting the requirements, including sample budgets and sample ballots.
 
The 2013 annual school elelction requirements and timelines, sample budgets, and sample ballots are attached to this memo. 
Attachments: http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/Attachments/924/2013-Election Timelines.pdf
]]> Danita Hyrkas (ADE) Thu, 16 May 2013 19:46:15 GMT http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=924 Website Requirements Act 228 of 2013 http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=923 Memo Number: RT-13-010
Memo Date: 5/15/2013
Attention: Co-op Directors, Elementary Principals, Middle School Principals, High School Principals, Superintendents
Memo Type: Regulatory
Response Required: No
Section: Research & Technology
Regulatory Authority: §
Contact Person: Jim Boardman
Phone Number: 501-371-5005
E-Mail: jim.boardman@arkansas.gov
Memo Text:

Act 228 of the 2013 Regular Session is designed to simplify the accessibility of data on public school websites.  According to Act 228, a direct link to the required information shall be easily identifiable on the homepage under a link titled “State–Required Information.” Under that link the school district shall subdivide the information by categories.  The homepage link titled State–Required Information should lead to another link with two title choices:

1.    Current Comprehensive Financial Data Reports

2.    School District Personnel Policies

Information included under Current Comprehensive Financial Data Reports should be subdivided into the following ten categories:

A.   Local and state revenue sources

B.   Administrator and teacher salary and benefit expenditure data

C.   School district balances, including legal balances and building fund balances

D.   Minutes of regular and special meetings of the school district board of directors

E.   The school district budget for the ensuing year, which shall be posted on the website within thirty (30) days following the date required to be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education

F.    A financial breakdown of monthly expenses of the school district

G.   Salary schedules for all school district employees, including extended contract and supplementary pay amounts

H.   Current contract information for all school district employees. Social security numbers, telephone numbers, personal addresses, or signatures shall not be published.

I.      The annual budget of the school district

J.    The annual school district statistical report.

The information and data required to be made available and easily accessible on the school district's website is the actual data for the two previous school years and the projected budget information for the current school year.

A copy of Act 228 is attached for reference and additional information regarding the website requirements that Act 228 amended is available in Arkansas Code 6-11-129.

Attachments: http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/Attachments/923/Act228.PDF
]]> Linda Carter (ADE) Wed, 15 May 2013 15:06:50 GMT http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=923 Electronic Transcripts Act 330 of 2013 http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=922 Memo Number: RT-13-008
Memo Date: 5/14/2013
Attention: Co-op Directors, High School Principals, Superintendents
Memo Type: Regulatory
Response Required: No
Section: Research & Technology
Regulatory Authority: §
Contact Person: Jim Boardman
Phone Number: 501-371-5005
E-Mail: jim.boardman@arkansas.gov
Memo Text:

Act 330 of 2013 Regular Session requires several changes in the electronic transcript system that is currently required for public schools and most institutions of higher education.  Specifically Section 2 (b)(2) states:  “Electronic transcripts shall include a designation for students who have completed the core curriculum with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.”

The Department will work with Triand, the transcript provider, to make modifications in the current system so that this designation can be included on the electronic transcripts.  Section 2 (a)(3) requires institutions of higher education to transmit electronic transcripts to the Arkansas Department of Education.  Also, Section 2 (C)(2) requires public schools to transmit electronic transcripts to the Department.

A copy of Act 330 is attached for reference.

 

Attachments: http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/Attachments/922/Act 330 transcripts.pdf
]]> Linda Carter (ADE) Tue, 14 May 2013 16:59:36 GMT http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=922 Military Dependents Act 514 of 2013 http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=921 Memo Number: RT-13-009
Memo Date: 5/14/2013
Attention: Co-op Directors, Elementary Principals, Middle School Principals, High School Principals, Superintendents, Teacher Center Coordinators
Memo Type: Regulatory
Response Required: No
Section: Research & Technology
Regulatory Authority: §
Contact Person: Jim Boardman
Phone Number: 501-371-5005
E-Mail: jim.boardman@arkansas.gov
Memo Text:

Act 514 of 2013 requires the Arkansas Department of Education to report the enrollment of students that are military dependents.  Therefore, beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, schools will be required to report if a student is a military dependent and resides in the household of a person who is on active duty or serving in the reserve component of a branch of the United States Armed Forces.  A data collection system is being designed that will allow schools to enter this information through APSCN or an alternative if the school is not on APSCN.

A copy of Act 514 is attached for reference.

Attachments: http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/Attachments/921/Act514.PDF
]]> Linda Carter (ADE) Tue, 14 May 2013 18:41:31 GMT http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=921 Course Code Management System (CCMS)/Curriculum Update CIV, May 23 http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=920 Memo Number: LS-13-059
Memo Date: 5/9/2013
Attention: Co-op Directors, Middle School Principals, High School Principals, Superintendents, Secondary Counselors, District or Secondary Building Student APSCN Field Specialists
Memo Type: Informational
Response Required: No
Section: Learning Services
Regulatory Authority: §
Contact Person: Dr. Tracy Tucker
Phone Number: 501-682-1991
E-Mail: tracy.tucker@arkansas.gov
Memo Text:

In order to provide important information about graduation requirements, course approvals, and updates to the Course Code Management System, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Curriculum and Instruction Unit will host a training via compressed interactive video (CIV) Thursday, May 23. The training, scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., will begin with roll-call at 8:30 a.m. The training will be broadcast at each local education service cooperative, Arkansas Public School Resource Center (APSRC), the tri-district sites and the ADE studio at Four Capitol Mall in Little Rock. 

 

Presentation materials will be posted at http://www.arkansased.org/divisions/learning-services/curriculum-and-instruction  by noon Wednesday, May 22. Participants are asked to either download or print the presentation materials and bring them to the session. 

 

School staff responsible for scheduling, data entry, course approvals and graduation requirements are encouraged to attend this session to receive these important updates. The session will be recorded and posted for future viewing for staff unable to attend the training May 23. To pre-register, contact the local education service cooperative, APSRC, or the local district if in the tri-district area. 

 

Please direct questions to Dr. Tracy Tucker, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, at tracy.tucker@arkansas.gov or 501-682-1991.

]]> Angela Scaife (ADE) Thu, 09 May 2013 20:56:44 GMT http://adesharepoint2.arkansas.gov/memos/Lists/Approved Memos/DispForm2.aspx?ID=920