(a) Pursuant to the Arkansas Quality Charter Schools Act of 2013, Arkansas Code § 6-23-101 et seq., and this part, an eligible entity may apply to the authorizer to grant adult education charter school status for an adult education program that offers a curriculum that culminates in:

1. (1) A high school diploma; and
2. (2) An industry certification.

(b)

1. (1) An adult education charter school shall be recognized by the State Board of Education as an open-enrollment public charter school.
2. (2) However, an adult education charter school is not eligible for state funding intended for elementary and secondary districts, schools, or programs, including but not limited to state foundation and categorical funding.

(d)

1. (1) The authorizer shall adopt an application form, schedule, and a procedure that must be used to apply for an adult education charter school.
2. (2) The state board shall adopt any applications, forms, schedules, and procedures that are required to be promulgated through the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, Arkansas Code § 25-15-201 et seq.

(e)

1. (1) The authorizer shall adopt, in conjunction with the application form adopted under subsection (d) of this section, a scoring rubric that shall constitute criteria to inform the authorizer’s approval of a program for which an adult education charter may be granted.
2. (2) The state board shall adopt any rubric that is required to be promulgated through the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act.

(f)

1. (1) The application to the authorizer for an adult education charter school shall be made in accordance with a schedule approved by the authorizer.
2. (2) The state board shall adopt any schedule that is required to be promulgated through the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act.

(h) 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:

   1. (A) Educational disadvantages;
   2. (B) Disabilities;
   3. (C) Homelessness;
   4. (D) Criminal history; or
   5. (E) Similar circumstances;

2. (2)

   1. (A) Pledge to commit at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the adult education charter school, if approved, with up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the commitment allowed to be in-kind.
   2. (B) A nonprofit entity that is opening an additional adult education public charter school under Arkansas Code § 6-23-1001(b) 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 charter school under Arkansas Code § 6-23-1001(b)(2)(A);
3. (3) Description of any partnership with a state-supported two-year institution of higher education, if anticipated;
4. (4) Description of testimony from a public hearing in the community where the adult education charter school is planned;
5. (5) Copy of the notice of the public hearing that documents that the notice was published, at least three (3) weeks before the date of the public hearing, in a newspaper having general circulation in the community where the adult education charter school is planned;
6. (6) Comprehensive plan of how the adult education charter school will meet the industry needs for a sufficiently trained workforce in the state;
7. (7) Strategy for engaging the community, including business leaders, in carrying out the goals and objectives of the adult education charter school;
8. (8) 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;
9. (9) Detailed budget and governance plan for the operation of the adult education charter school; and
10. (10) List of any specific state laws or rules of the state board from which the adult education public charter wishes to be exempt with an explanation of why the exemption is needed.