(a)

1. (1)

   1. (A) Each ALE program shall submit to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education every three (3) years, in electronic format, a program description documenting the program’s compliance with:

(i) Arkansas Code § 6-48-101 et seq.; and

1. (ii) This part.

   1. (B) Program descriptions are due before March 31 of the year assigned by the division.
2. (2) ALE programs operating in separate facilities, even if located within the same school district, are deemed to be separate individual programs requiring separate approval and separate reporting.
3. (3) Deviations from prior approved ALE program descriptions must be submitted to the division for review and formal approval.

(b) On or before March 31, according to a three-year cycle established by the division’s ALE Unit, each school district shall submit to the division in electronic format an assurance statement, signed physically or electronically by the superintendent of the district, that the school district is in compliance with:

1. (1) Arkansas Code § 6-48-101 et seq.; and

2. (2) This part.

   1. (c) On or before March 31, according to a three-year cycle established by the division’s ALE Unit, each ALE program operated by a consortium of school districts or by an education service cooperative shall submit to the division in electronic format:
3. (1) A list of all school districts participating in the ALE; and

4. (2) A copy of the contract agreement or memorandum of understanding governing the ALE program and entered into by:

   1. (A) The participating school districts; and

   2. (B) If applicable, the education service cooperative.

      1. (d)
5. (1) Annually, the division shall compile annual report data for each ALE program utilizing Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN) student management data.

6. (2) The data compiled shall include:

   1. (A) The number of students, subdivided by race, gender, and grade level, enrolled in an ALE program at any time during that school year;

   2. (B) The number of students enrolled in an ALE program who:

      1. (i) Returned to the regular educational environment;
      2. (ii) Dropped out of school;
      3. (iii) Graduated; or
      4. (iv) Received a high school equivalency diploma;
   3. (C) The number of high school students graduating in that school year who, over their entire grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) career, were enrolled in an ALE for a total of twenty (20) or more days;

   4. (D) The number of students:

      1. (i) Enrolled in an ALE program; and
      2. (ii) Participating in workforce/secondary career centers;

   5. (E) The number of students:

      1. (i) Enrolled in an ALE program; and
      2. (ii) Receiving special education services;
   6. (F) The number of students enrolled in an ALE program who had previously exited an ALE program in the second or third prior school year;
   7. (G) The total amount of all funds expended to operate the ALE program for that school year;
   8. (H) The total amount of ALE funding received for that school year;
   9. (I) The total number of ALE students per district with grade improvements after beginning the ALE intervention program;
   10. (J) The total number of ALE students per district with attendance improvements after beginning the ALE program; and
   11. (K) The total number of ALE high school students per district with improved credit attainment after participating in the ALE intervention program.

(f)

1. (1) To be eligible for ALE funding under 6 CAR § 272-206, an ALE program shall be approved annually by the division.
2. (2) Program approval shall be contingent on a satisfactory review of the program description, annual report data, and assurance statement submitted pursuant to this section.
3. (3) Program approval shall be for a term of up to three (3) years, running from July 1 or the date of program approval, whichever is later, through June 30 of the designated year.
4. (4) The division shall give notice of approval or disapproval of an ALE program no later than July 15 of the year of program approval according to the posted three-year cycle, contingent on the ALE program timely submitting all required information.

(g)

1. (1) Each school district shall submit a description of the ALE program or programs utilized by its students to the division.

2. (2) Each school district shall evaluate programs supported by ALE funds annually to ensure that the programs are providing a nonpunitive environment that:

   1. (A) Is conducive to learning;
   2. (B) Eliminates traditional barriers to learning; and
   3. (C) Complies with this part.
3. (3) The total ALE funds shall be budgeted in the school district’s financial management software.

(h) As part of the division’s accreditation review of each school district under Arkansas Code § 6-15-202, the division shall evaluate each ALE to ensure that the ALE is:

1. (1) Established and operated in compliance with:

   1. (A) This part; and
   2. (B) Arkansas Code § 6-48-101 et seq.; and

2. (2) Effective under the measurements established by the division.

   1. (i) The division shall identify a school district’s noncompliance on the school district’s annual report card.

(j) The division shall:

1. (1) Identify information concerning best practices for educating students in alternative learning environments; and
2. (2) Disseminate that information to teachers and administrators working in alternative learning environments.

(k) On or before September 15 of each year, the division shall provide to the interim House Committee on Education and the interim Senate Committee on Education a report on the:

1. (1) Information reported to it under this section; and
2. (2) Effectiveness of ALE programs evaluated by the division.