§ 6-15-428 - Academic distress identification, notification, classification, and appeal.
6-15-428. Academic distress identification, notification, classification, and appeal.
(a) The school board president and superintendent of a school district identified by the Department of Education as being in academic distress shall be notified in writing by the department via certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall have a right of appeal to the State Board of Education.
(b) Any school district identified in academic distress may appeal to the state board by filing a written appeal with the Commissioner of Education via certified mail, return receipt requested, within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the written notice of academic distress status from the department.
(c) (1) The state board shall hear the appeal of the school district within sixty (60) days of receipt of the written appeal in the commissioner's office.
(2) The state board's determination shall be final except that a school district may appeal to Pulaski County Circuit Court under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, 25-15-201 et seq.
(d) Those school districts identified by the department as being in academic distress shall be classified as school districts in academic distress upon final determination by the state board.