For purposes of this part, each term below shall be defined as follows:
- (1) “ACT” means the American College Test;
(2)
(A) “College and career readiness assessment” means a set of criterion-referenced measurements of a student’s acquisition of the knowledge and skills that the student needs to be successful in future endeavors, including:
- (i) Successfully completing credit-bearing, first-year courses at a postsecondary institution; and
- (ii) Embarking on a chosen career.
- (B) “College and career readiness assessment” includes any assessment approved by the State Board of Education;
(3)
- (A) “College and career readiness benchmark” means the minimum score on a college and career readiness assessment in mathematics, English, or reading indicating that a student has a high probability of success in entry-level postsecondary education.
(B) College and career readiness benchmarks shall be determined jointly by the:
- (i) Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and
- (ii) State Board of Education;
(4) “Designated College Readiness Course” means a regular instructional course taken during a student’s senior year of high school that is designated by:
(A) Local school officials to assist in the improvement of a student’s placement test scores for:
- (i) Mathematics;
- (ii) English language arts; or
- (iii) Reading; or
- (B) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Division of Higher Education as an appropriate course for college readiness;
- (5) “Division” means the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education;
(6) “Eligible student” means a public school student in Arkansas who:
- (A) Is enrolled in grade eight (8) or enrolled in grades ten through twelve (10-12);
(B) Is identified through a college and career readiness assessment as scoring below a college and career readiness benchmark in:
- (i) Mathematics;
- (ii) English; or
- (iii) Reading;
- (C) Receives the counseling required under 6 CAR § 94-103(e); and
- (D) Desires to enroll in postsecondary education;
(7)
- (A) “Placement test” means a test for entrance to postsecondary education that is either approved by the State Board of Education or designated by the Division of Higher Education.
- (B) For the purpose of this part, “placement test” includes without limitation the ACT; and
- (8) “Postsecondary preparatory program” means an intensive program approved under this part that is focused on preparing students for entry-level postsecondary work in the areas of mathematics, English, and reading based on identified needs for college enrollment and placement.