The bill aims to reform the school rating system in Arkansas by requiring the Department of Education to establish a new accountability system for public schools. It emphasizes the need for a revised assessment system that aligns with the educational priorities set forth by the LEARNS Act. To facilitate this transition, the bill mandates a temporary pause in assigning new letter grade designations to public schools for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. This pause is intended to allow for the collection of necessary data to ensure that the new accountability system meets the needs of Arkansas students and provides accurate information for parents.

Under the new provisions, the Department of Education will not assign new school ratings for the specified school years and will instead issue letter grades based on the new accountability system starting in the 2024-2025 school year. If a public school or open-enrollment public charter school does not improve or maintain its letter grade under this new system, it may request a review by the Division of Public School Accountability. The bill also includes a provision that this section will expire on June 30, 2026.