(a)

1. (1)

   1. (A) Each public school district board of directors shall annually adopt and implement a written curriculum aligned to the Arkansas academic standards for the operation of the school district pursuant to:

(i) Arkansas law; or

1. (ii) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules.

   1. (B) Reading, writing, speaking, and personal success skills shall be incorporated into all curriculum areas. (D/C)

2. (2) For kindergarten through grade four (K-4), all students shall receive instruction annually in each of the following content areas (S/P):

   1. (A) English language arts;
   2. (B) Mathematics;
   3. (C) Social studies;
   4. (D) Science;
   5. (E) Fine arts; and
   6. (F) Health and safety education and physical education.

3. (3)

   1. (A) For grades five through eight (5-8), all students shall receive instruction annually in each of the following content areas (S/P):

      1. (i) English language arts;
      2. (ii) Mathematics;
      3. (iii) Science;
      4. (iv) Social studies;
      5. (v) Fine arts;
      6. (vi) Health and safety and physical education; and
      7. (vii) Career and technical education, including career awareness and exploration activities outlined in the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Rule Governing Career-Ready Pathways to Diploma, 6 CAR pt. 106.
   2. (B) A unit of Arkansas history shall be taught as a social studies subject at each elementary grade level in every elementary school in the state with greater emphasis at the fourth and fifth grade levels, and at least one (1) full semester of Arkansas history taught to all students at the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade level in every public secondary school in the state. (S/P)

   3. (C)

      1. (i) Upon approval by the division, courses taught in grades five through eight (5-8) may be offered for high school graduation credit.
      2. (ii) Courses shall have the same rigor as those taught in high school, but content for a single course may be taught over a two-year period.
      3. (iii) Teachers shall be licensed, or teaching under an approved licensure exception, in the course taught, with students participating in appropriate examinations. (S/P)

4. (4)

   1. (A) For grades nine through twelve (9-12), the following content areas shall be offered annually for a total of thirty-eight (38) units, except as otherwise allowed by law and this part.

   2. (B) The list of courses, approved by the State Board of Education for each content area, is posted annually on the division website (S/P):

      1. (i) English language arts — Six (6) units;
      2. (ii) Science — Five (5) units;
      3. (iii) Mathematics — Six (6) units;
      4. (iv) Computer science — One (1) unit;
      5. (v) Foreign languages — Two (2) units of the same language;
      6. (vi) Fine arts — Three and one-half (3 1/2) units;
      7. (vii) Social studies — Four (4) units;
      8. (viii) Health and safety education and physical education — One and one-half (1 1/2) units; and
      9. (ix) Career and technical education — Nine (9) units of career and technical education courses representing three (3) programs of study where each program of study represents at least three (3) units of sequenced courses.

   3. (C) Course offerings shall include advanced educational courses pursuant to:

      1. (i) Arkansas law; or
      2. (ii) Division rules. (S/P)

5. (5)

   1. (A) Following the course approval process, a public school may request to combine or embed the Arkansas academic standards from two (2) separate courses into one (1) combined course.
   2. (B) The public school must continue to teach the Arkansas academic standards for each separate course that is combined. (S/P)

(b) A high school unit of credit shall be awarded for a course that meets for a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) clock hours unless the public school district awards units of credit based on subject matter competency in compliance with the public school district’s approved plan under Arkansas Code § 6-15-216. (S/P)

1. (c) Each public school district shall establish procedures and monitoring processes to ensure that the content of each course offered by the district is consistent with the Arkansas academic standards. (D/C)

   1. (d)

2. (1)

   1. (A) Each public school district shall adopt a school calendar and provide planned instruction per day pursuant to:

      1. (i) Arkansas law; or
      2. (ii) Division rules.
   2. (B) By August 1, the school calendar shall be posted on the district website under State-Required Information. (D/C)
3. (2) Each public school shall provide a minimum of one hundred seventy-eight (178) days of student-teacher interaction time or the equivalent as allowed by Arkansas Code § 6-10-106 or § 6-10-117. (S/P)

4. (3)

   1. (A) Except where otherwise allowed by law, each public school shall provide a planned instructional day that averages no less than:

      1. (i) Six (6) hours per day; or
      2. (ii) Thirty (30) hours per week.
   2. (B) Any day in which fewer than six (6) hours of instructional time is provided to students shall be counted as one-half (1/2) of a school day if at least three (3) hours of instructional time is provided to students.
   3. (C) Any day in which fewer than three (3) hours of instructional time is provided to students shall not be counted as part of a school day. (S/P)
5. (4) At least forty (40) minutes of instructional time per school day shall be used for recess for students attending public elementary schools, in accordance with the division's nutrition and physical activity standards. (S/P)

(g) Each public school district shall adopt instructional material consistent with the:

1. (1) Public school district’s curriculum; and

2. (2) Arkansas academic standards and educational goals established by the state board pursuant to:

   1. (A) Arkansas law; or
   2. (B) Division rules. (D/P)