Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 01 - Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services
Rule 005.01.17-004 - Rules Governing Professional Learning Communities

1.01 These rules shall be known as the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Rules Governing Professional Learning Communities.

1.02 The State Board of Education enacted these rules pursuant to its authority as set forth in Act 427 of 2017.

2.01 "Professional Learning Community" means an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. Professional learning communities operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous job-embedded learning for educators.

3.01 Additional funding provided for professional development above the amount set forth in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(5)(A) shall be used by the ADE for the development and administration of professional learning communities for the benefit of public school districts.

3.02 The ADE may partner with or choose a person, firm, corporation, or education service cooperative to provide the knowledge, skills, experience, and expertise for the development of a research-based process for the implementation of professional learning communities.

4.01 Any public school within Arkansas is eligible to apply for this funding.

4.02 Schools will be selected through an application process established by the ADE. Criteria for selecting schools for this project will include readiness, appropriateness, commitment, and other relevant factors.

4.03 Schools selected for the Project will receive intensive onsite professional development services to support the full implementation of Professional Learning Communities.

4.04 Continued participation in the project is contingent upon meeting the expectations established in the application process.