Arkansas § 6-23-108 - School for Agricultural Studies.

§ 6-23-108. School for Agricultural Studies.

The authorizer may designate a public charter school as a “School for Agricultural Studies”. To be designated as a “School for Agricultural Studies”, the applicant must include in its original application or charter amendment request: A request to be designated as a “School for Agricultural Studies”; The school's agricultural studies plan, which shall include without limitation: The type of agricultural industry in the school's local region; How the school will address the needs of that industry and the state's agricultural-based economy; and Anticipated support from the agricultural industry; and A written review of the agricultural studies plan from the Division of Career and Technical Education. A School for Agricultural Studies may petition the State Board of Education for creation of a new school district by detachment under § 6-13-1501 et seq. if the School for Agricultural Studies meets the conditions of this subsection. To be eligible to petition for detachment, the school shall: Complete three (3) academic years serving students as a School for Agricultural Studies; Not currently be classified in need of Level 5 — Intensive support, fiscal distress, or facilities distress; Not be in probationary status for violation of the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts; and Show evidence that the school is meeting its stated goals. A School for Agricultural Studies: Is exempt from the minimum student enrollment and square mileage requirements under § 6-13-1501(a)(2) and § 6-13-1502; and Shall not be approved to create a new school district by detachment with fewer than three hundred fifty (350) students as determined by a feasibility study included with the petition. Nothing in this section prohibits a public charter school from offering agricultural programming without the designation as a “School for Agricultural Studies”. A public charter school shall not refer to itself as a “School for Agricultural Studies” unless it is designated as a “School for Agricultural Studies” under this section.