6 CAR pt. 7 | 6 CAR Part 7 — Rule Governing Arkansas Governor’s School

Chapter I

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

6 CAR § 7-101 Purpose {#sec-6-car-7-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-101}

6 CAR § 7-101. Purpose.

The purpose of this part is to establish the governing operation of the Arkansas Governor’s School.

6 CAR § 7-102 Definitions {#sec-6-car-7-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-102}

6 CAR § 7-102. Definitions.

As used in this part:

(1)(A) “AGS director” or “AGS directors” means the individual or individuals responsible for overseeing the onsite operation and management of the school for the duration of each AGS cycle.

(B) One (1) or two (2) staff member or members of the host institution shall be appointed to serve as an AGS director or AGS directors.

(C) The host institution must indicate in its proposal who will serve as AGS director or AGS directors, and, if the host institution chooses to use two (2) AGS directors, each of their responsibilities must be clearly outlined in the proposal;

(2)(A) “AGS faculty selection committee” means a committee formed annually by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education that is consistent with subdivision (6) of this section with respect to the population of the State of Arkansas.

(B) The AGS faculty selection committee is composed of no fewer than five (5) and no more than ten (10) members and includes:

(i) Personnel from the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children;

(ii) The AGS director or AGS directors;

(iii) Public school personnel; and

(iv) Postsecondary education personnel.

(i) Other Division of Elementary and Secondary Education personnel; and

(ii) Members of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education.

(D) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education shall annually approve this AGS faculty selection committee;

(3)(A) “AGS host institution selection committee” means a committee appointed by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education that is representative of the population of the State of Arkansas.

(B) The AGS host institution selection committee is composed of seven (7) or more members chosen from:

(i) School district administrators, teachers, and coordinators of gifted programs;

(ii) Members of the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children;

(iii) Higher education personnel;

(iv) Personnel from education service cooperatives;

(v) Parents; and

(vi) Community representatives;

(4)(A) “AGS student selection committee” means a committee formed annually by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education that is consistent with subdivision (6) of this section with respect to the population of the State of Arkansas.

(B) The AGS student selection committee is composed of at least fifteen (15) members, generally including:

(i) School district administrators and teachers;

(ii) Coordinators of gifted programs;

(iii) Members of the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children; or

(iv) Other comparable individuals.

(i) Reviewing student applications; and

(ii) Determining which students would most benefit from participation in AGS;

(5)(A) “Arkansas Governor’s School (AGS)” means a summer educational program with a residential component that provides enriched educational offerings for approximately four hundred (400) rising high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in a specific academic discipline.

(B) For purposes of this part, a rising high school senior means a student who will graduate from high school during the school year immediately following their attendance at AGS;

(6) “Diverse” or “diversity” means representation in a group based on one (1) or more of the following without limitation:

(A) Age;

(B) Country of origin;

(D) Disability;

(E) Economic status;

(F) Ethnicity;

(G) Geographic location within the state;

(H) Race;

(I) School district student enrollment; and

(J) Sex;

(7) “Faculty” means instructional personnel, including but not limited to educators hired to instruct in Area I, Area II, and Area III, as well as the AGS director or AGS directors;

(8) “Host institution” means a four-year college or university in Arkansas that:

(A) Serves as the physical location of AGS; and

(B) Is responsible for all administrative requirements for the operation of the program; and

(9)(A) “Staff” means all other personnel hired to operate AGS.

(B) This includes but is not limited to:

(i) Residential life assistants;

(ii) Security personnel;

(iii) Food service specialists;

(iv) Recreational specialists;

(v) Health services personnel; and

(vi) Office management personnel.

6 CAR § 7-103 Intent of Arkansas Governor’s School {#sec-6-car-7-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-103}

6 CAR § 7-103. Intent of Arkansas Governor’s School.

(a) The intent of AGS is to provide enriched offerings for students who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in a specific subject area, and to give selected students an opportunity to experience challenging concepts and theories in a collegiate setting prior to postsecondary education.

(b) The emphasis of AGS is to develop an engaged community of critical thinkers through conceptual and abstract learning experiences.

(c) AGS shall offer students the opportunity to develop and expand their ability to think abstractly, conceptualize, theorize, and explore the latest complex subjects in various disciplines.

6 CAR § 7-104 Program logistics {#sec-6-car-7-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-104}

6 CAR § 7-104. Program logistics.

(a) The host institution shall designate a staff member or members with appropriate experience, leadership capacity, and vision to serve as AGS director or AGS directors.

(b)(1) The program shall be in operation for a:

(A) Minimum of twenty-eight (28) days; and

(B) Maximum of thirty-eight (38) days.

(2) The host institution shall:

(A) Determine the length of the program; and

(B) Include the program length in their proposal.

(3) The length shall remain the same throughout the institution’s contract cycle.

(4)(A) A multi-day break may be included in the proposal.

(B) However, the duration of the break shall not:

(i) Exceed four (4) days; and

(ii) Count towards the program length.

(5) Students shall participate in structured activities scheduled by the host institution at least six (6) out of seven (7) days each week.

(c) A written plan developed by the host institution shall provide specific details of AGS activities and facilities usage, guaranteeing no other campus activity or its participants will interfere with any AGS activity or student.

(d) The host institution shall provide year-round operational support for AGS, including:

(1)(A) Recruiting students to attend AGS.

(B) AGS student recruitment by the host institution should aim to be representative of the population of the State of Arkansas, including increasing representation from underrepresented school districts.

(C) Traditional college or university recruitment activities by the host institution shall not be conducted during AGS, with the exception of hosting college fairs with participation from other institutions;

(2)(A) Recruiting candidates to serve as AGS faculty.

(B) The host institution shall actively recruit AGS faculty and staff and aim to be representative of the population of the State of Arkansas;

(3)(A) Developing, disseminating, and managing student and faculty applications.

(B) The applications shall be developed in consultation with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(C) The host institution and the division shall disseminate and promote the applications to ensure distribution to multiple stakeholders.

(D) The host institution shall provide the AGS student selection committee and AGS faculty selection committee members access to the corresponding applications while maintaining privacy and confidentiality of the contents of the applications; and

(4)(A) Communicating program information to:

(i) The public;

(ii) School districts;

(iii) Students; and

(iv) Families.

(B) The host institution shall maintain an AGS website.

(i) Educators;

(ii) Legislators;

(iii) Families; and

(iv) Alumni.

(D) The host institution shall publish and distribute an AGS yearbook to:

(i) Students;

(ii) Faculty; and

(iii) The division.

(e)(1) If the State Board of Education approves a transition to another host institution, the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children shall consult with the incoming host institution, including providing a review of the:

(A) Current host institution’s student and faculty recruitment; and

(B) Committees’ student and faculty selection processes.

(2) The division shall also assist with planning for and implementation of the next AGS session, including providing the incoming host institution with the annual evaluation reports submitted to the division for the current host institution’s five-year cycle.

(3) The incoming host institution shall be determined in accordance with the host institution selection process outlined in 6 CAR § 7-112.

(f) The division shall annually consult with and assist the host institution in program logistics prior to the start of each session in an advisory role.

6 CAR § 7-105 Curriculum {#sec-6-car-7-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-105}

6 CAR § 7-105. Curriculum.

(a) The curriculum shall be designed to:

(1) Focus on topics and issues relevant to current events and future developments in academics;

(2) Provoke curiosity and inquiry from the students;

(3) Engage students in critical thinking and analysis;

(4) Develop communication and civil discourse skills; and

(5) Fulfill the intent of the program as described in 6 CAR § 7-103.

(b) The curriculum is not intended to be an acceleration of high school nor anticipation of postsecondary curricula.

(1) Arkansas Code § 6-16-156; and

(2) Any related Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules.

(d) Curriculum content shall be age-appropriate for high school students who are under the age of eighteen (18).

(e)(1) The curriculum shall:

(A) Be divided into three (3) areas of study; and

(B) Maintain continuity through concerted efforts of all staff persons.

(2) All areas shall:

(A) Employ Socratic teaching; and

(B) Engage students in interactive higher-order thinking experiences.

(3)(A) Area I – Academic Development shall focus on the following academic disciplines:

(i) English language arts;

(ii) Mathematics;

(iii) Natural sciences;

(iv) Social sciences;

(v) Choral music;

(vi) Drama;

(vii) Instrumental music; and

(viii) Visual arts.

(B) The division may require an additional academic discipline not included above.

(D) An innovative integrated curriculum maintaining fidelity to the academic disciplines outlined in subdivision (e)(3)(A) of this section may be included in an individual institution’s proposal.

(4) Area II – General Conceptual Development shall focus on:

(A) How individuals process thinking;

(B) The assumptions that underlie thinking;

(D) Developments that influence thinking about truth and knowledge;

(E) Logic; and

(F) Means of thinking effectively.

(5) Area III – Personal Development shall foster personal skills that help people:

(A) Get along with others;

(B) Communicate in an effective and civil manner; and

(f) Materials and content shall expand the AGS experience by:

(1) Providing exposure to multiple perspectives;

(2) Acquainting students with the latest advances in each field of study; and

(3) Supporting the unique needs of gifted high school students.

(g) Faculties of Areas I, II, and III shall collaborate to create consistent student experiences, fostering engagement in the AGS community beyond the classroom setting.

(h) Investigation and inquiry of topics shall be accomplished through readings, lectures, individual studies, small group discussions, concerts, dramatic productions, exhibits, forums, films, and events in the school community.

(i) No credit or grades shall be given and any work at AGS shall supplement, not supplant, the general high school curriculum.

6 CAR § 7-106 Student selection {#sec-6-car-7-106 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-106}

6 CAR § 7-106. Student selection.

(a)(1) Rising high school seniors who are residents of Arkansas and attending any public school district, open-enrollment public charter school, or private high school, or who are enrolled in a home school, are eligible for nomination.

(2) Schools may nominate up to five (5) students or ten percent (10%) of their junior class, whichever is greater.

(3) The list of nominated students shall be representative of the rising high school senior student population and nondiscriminatory procedures shall be used to determine which students are nominated for AGS.

(b)(1) Student selection is based on multiple criteria that include but are not limited to:

(A) Student accomplishments, achievements, awards, and evidence of task commitment;

(B) Student responses to application prompts;

(D) Educator’s or educators’ recommendation or recommendations;

(E) Current assessment data;

(F) Grades; and

(G) The student’s transcript.

(2)(A) Public school districts, open-enrollment public charter schools, private schools, or parents or guardians of students enrolled in a home school submit applications to the AGS director or AGS directors or their representative at the host institution.

(B) Public school districts, open-enrollment public charter schools, private schools, or parents or guardians of students enrolled in a home school supply data, including current transcript and assessment data, that provides evidence of the suitability of the nominated student based on the criteria outlined above.

(i) Interests;

(ii) Achievements; and

(iii) Commitment to AGS.

(c)(1) The AGS student selection committee shall review submitted student applications.

(2) Each application is:

(A) Reviewed by multiple committee members; and

(B) Considered in its totality by each reviewer.

(3) Attention shall be given to selecting a group of qualified students that is consistent with 6 CAR § 7-102(6), including representation from all geographic regions of the state and student groups.

(d)(1) After reaching consensus regarding which students will be invited to attend AGS, the AGS student selection committee shall submit its decisions regarding the status of student applications to the AGS director or AGS directors.

(2) The AGS director or AGS directors shall communicate the status of each student’s application to the student and school in writing.

6 CAR § 7-107 Faculty selection {#sec-6-car-7-107 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-107}

6 CAR § 7-107. Faculty selection.

(a)(1) Faculty are hired for one (1) summer session, with the exception of the AGS director or AGS directors.

(2) Educators and other professionals may apply for faculty positions.

(3) A commissioner’s memo announcing the availability of faculty positions shall be posted by November 1.

(b) Faculty selection shall be made based on the applicant’s:

(1) Extensive knowledge of subject area;

(2) Familiarity with theories, concepts, and practices in the area or areas of expertise; and

(3) Ability to communicate effectively and facilitate discussion with gifted high school students.

(c)(1) Faculty applications are previewed by the AGS faculty selection committee to determine which applicants to interview.

(2) The AGS director or AGS directors are responsible for scheduling the interviews.

(3) Once the committee has reached majority consensus on the applicants, a list of recommended faculty is sent to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval.

(d) After approval of the recommended faculty list, the host institution shall ensure all recommended faculty applicants complete an annual criminal background check, including a Child Maltreatment Central Registry check, paid for using AGS funds awarded to the host institution.

(e) All recommended faculty applicants will be notified, and contracts will be issued by the host institution, subject to a satisfactory background check and approval by the division.

6 CAR § 7-108 Faculty professional learning {#sec-6-car-7-108 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-108}

6 CAR § 7-108. Faculty professional learning.

(a) A representative of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall participate in faculty professional learning.

(b) Professional learning content for all faculty shall include:

(1) Needs of gifted high school students;

(2) Socratic teaching and higher-order-thinking engagement techniques;

(3) Neutral facilitation of student-led learning and conversation;

(4) Unbiased lesson delivery that facilitates examination of multiple perspectives and student-led discourse free of prohibited indoctrination as defined by:

(A) Arkansas Code § 6-16-156; and

(B) Any related division rules;

(5) Role of faculty and staff in contributing to the AGS community beyond classroom instruction responsibilities;

(6) Ensuring the wellbeing of students and adherence to mandated reporting; and

(7) Consistent curriculum delivery across sections of each area of instruction.

(c) The AGS director or AGS directors should attend the National Conference of Governor’s Schools, paid for using AGS funds awarded to the host institution, to increase their knowledge about the functioning of governors’ schools across the country.

(d) Instructional staff shall be provided contracted time to collaborate within and across areas to ensure a consistent and cohesive AGS experience for learners.

(e) The AGS director or AGS directors shall provide classroom observation and feedback to ensure high-quality and appropriate instruction is occurring in each classroom.

6 CAR § 7-109 Residential life and student experience {#sec-6-car-7-109 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-109}

6 CAR § 7-109. Residential life and student experience.

(a)(1) Tuition, meals, housing, activities, fees, instructional supplies, books, and school medical services shall be furnished for the students.

(2) Travel to and from the program and unlisted personal expenses shall be furnished by the student.

(b) AGS yearbooks and program shirts shall be provided for:

(1) Students;

(2) Faculty; and

(3) Residential life personnel.

(c)(1) Recreation shall be provided by offering a well-rounded program of social and athletic activities as a part of the total school program.

(2) Participation in recreational activities shall be on a voluntary basis.

(d) The host institution shall employ AGS residential life personnel and ensure all residential life personnel complete an annual criminal background check, including a Child Maltreatment Central Registry check, paid for using AGS grant funds awarded to the host institution.

(e) Professional learning content for all residential life personnel shall include:

(1) Needs of gifted high school students;

(2) Basic first responder training:

(A) Standard procedures for responding to and reporting student needs; and

(B) Ensuring:

(i) The wellbeing of students; and

(ii) Adherence to mandated reporting;

(3) Neutral and unbiased facilitation of student discussions free of prohibited indoctrination as defined by:

(i) Arkansas Code § 6-16-156; and

(ii) Any related Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules; and

(4) The role of staff in contributing to the AGS community.

6 CAR § 7-110 Facilities and services {#sec-6-car-7-110 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-110}

6 CAR § 7-110. Facilities and services.

The host institution shall be responsible for providing instructional and ancillary facilities, services, and personnel throughout the duration of the program and shall:

(1) Provide appropriate classroom, laboratory, studio (art and music), auditorium, offices, and other instructional and administrative facilities to support Areas I, II, and III offerings;

(2) Provide dining facilities and personnel to supply three (3) meals a day for students, faculty, and residential life staff while AGS is in session;

(3) Provide separate housing or dormitory spaces for male and female students;

(4) Provide housing for residential life personnel and faculty;

(5) Employ a media specialist or media specialists to provide adequate media services and access to the library collection and facilities;

(6) Provide physical and mental health services while AGS is in session; and

(7) Provide other facilities and services, including:

(A) Recreational facilities;

(B) Technology support;

(D) Facility maintenance personnel.

6 CAR § 7-111 Evaluation {#sec-6-car-7-111 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-111}

6 CAR § 7-111. Evaluation.

(a) An annual evaluation report shall be submitted to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education by September 30 and shall include:

(1) An academic summary of AGS, including:

(A) A comprehensive summary of the program from the AGS director or AGS directors;

(B) A detailed summary of Area I, Area II, and Area III, including specific works read;

(C) Titles and summaries of guest speakers, lectures, concerts, dramatic productions, exhibits, forums, films, and other events in the school community;

(D) Student evaluations of:

(i) Faculty;

(ii) Staff;

(iii) Curriculum;

(iv) Special events and speakers;

(v) Residential life; and

(vi) The overall program;

(E) Faculty and staff evaluations of:

(i) Curriculum;

(ii) Special events and speakers;

(iii) Residential life; and

(iv) The overall program; and

(F) A calendar of events spanning the full AGS session, including the daily schedule; and

(2) An administrative summary of AGS, including:

(A) A summary of AGS student recruitment;

(B) A summary of student applicant and attendee data;

(D) A faculty roster, including:

(i) AGS teaching assignment;

(ii) Years of experience with AGS; and

(iii) Current or most recent employer;

(E) A summary of residential life;

(F) Cumulative statistical data reports for students and faculty;

(G) Copies of student, faculty, and staff codes of conduct; and

(H) A final financial summary.

(b) The AGS director or AGS directors shall present the annual evaluation report to representatives from the division, including the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, by November 30.

(c)(1) If an annual evaluation indicates the program is unsuccessful at the host institution, the division shall assist the host institution in developing action plans to help ensure success.

(2) If, after reasonable assistance from the division, the host institution is unable to achieve the goals of the program, the division may petition the State Board of Education to relocate AGS to another host institution.

(3) Selection of the incoming host institution shall be done in accordance with the host institution selection procedure outlined in 6 CAR § 7-112.

6 CAR § 7-112 Host institution selection procedure {#sec-6-car-7-112 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-7--6 CAR § 7-112}

6 CAR § 7-112. Host institution selection procedure.

(a)(1) The request for proposals to serve as AGS host institution shall be prepared by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and distributed to presidents of all four-year colleges and universities in Arkansas no later than February of the final year of the current grant cycle.

(2) Grant cycles are every five (5) years.

(3) In its submitted proposal, the host institution shall define a proposed budget based on availability of grant funds appropriated from the General Assembly.

(b)(1) The Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children shall facilitate the work of the AGS host institution selection committee.

(2) However, during all substantive discussions by the committee with respect to a host institution recommendation, representatives of the division shall not be present.

(d)(1) Each AGS host institution selection committee member shall actively participate in the site selection process.

(2) A committee member who fails to actively participate shall not vote for a host institution recommendation.

(e) Each member of the AGS host institution selection committee shall receive and review complete copies of all submitted proposals.

(f)(1) Any institution to be considered as host must receive a site visit.

(2) Site visits shall be conducted for each institution submitting a proposal, within the following provisions:

(A)(i) After review of all submitted proposals, the AGS host institution selection committee may elect to limit the number of site visits.

(ii) However, if the committee receives more than one (1) proposal, the committee shall conduct site visits for at least two (2) institutions;

(B) Each institution shall provide a private space for the AGS host institution selection committee to meet periodically throughout the visit;

(C) The proposed AGS director or AGS directors shall guide the AGS host institution selection committee throughout the course of the visit;

(D)(i) Each visit shall include introductions of AGS host institution selection committee members and institution personnel.

(ii) Institution personnel:

(a) Shall include the proposed AGS director or AGS directors; and

(b) May also include the president or chancellor of the host institution and any other university personnel, to be determined by the institution;

(E) Presentation of proposal highlights from proposed AGS director or AGS directors;

(F) Tour of facilities designated for use during AGS;

(G) A closing presentation from the host institution;

(H) Opportunity for the AGS host institution selection committee to ask questions; and

(I) Dedicated time for the AGS host institution selection committee to meet privately after the conclusion of the visit.

(g) The AGS host institution selection committee shall evaluate the following elements of the proposal for host institution selection:

(1) AGS program logistics, under 6 CAR § 7-104;

(2) Curriculum, under 6 CAR § 7-105;

(3) Faculty professional learning, under 6 CAR § 7-106;

(4) Residential life and student experience, under 6 CAR § 7-109; and

(5) Facilities and services, under 6 CAR § 7-110.

(h) In order to determine the AGS host institution selection committee’s recommendation for the host institution, these steps shall be followed at a committee meeting after the conclusion of the site visits:

(1) Each member shall individually evaluate each institution being considered using the factors in subsection (g) of this section;

(2) Committee members shall collectively discuss all institutions under consideration;

(3) Each member shall individually vote for a host institution based on their own independent evaluations as well as the collective discussion;

(4)(A) The votes shall be tallied by the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children.

(B) The institution with the most votes will be recommended as the host institution.

(5) The committee shall collectively prepare a rationale that supports its recommendation for the chair and co-chair to present to the State Board of Education;

(6) The committee’s recommendation shall be submitted by the Office for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education;

(7) The division shall notify the institutions of the committee’s recommendation; and

(8) The committee’s chair and co-chair shall present the host institution recommendation to the state board for approval.

6 CAR Part 7 — Rule Governing Arkansas Governor’s School