This bill amends the Arkansas Code to enhance the creation of district strategic plans and the responsibilities of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. It mandates that each public school establish a parental involvement plan as part of its school-level improvement plan, thereby increasing parent and family engagement. Public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools are required to submit an annual district strategic plan that includes a literacy and mathematics plan, funding priorities, and support for schools needing assistance. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education will develop a comprehensive accountability system and work with educational service cooperatives to monitor these plans. Notably, the bill deletes previous requirements for enhanced student achievement plans and introduces a unified application system for state and federal funding submissions.

Additionally, the bill establishes a school nutrition and physical activity advisory committee tasked with integrating health and wellness goals into the district's strategic plan. This committee will focus on promoting nutrition and physical activity awareness, developing local policies, and implementing standards within the curriculum. The bill emphasizes the incorporation of nutrition and physical activity goals into annual planning and reporting, improving physical education quality, and increasing training for physical education teachers. It includes several insertions that strengthen the focus on health and wellness while removing outdated provisions that previously encouraged unhealthy eating habits.

Statutes affected:
HB 1938: 6-15-1702(a), 6-15-2904, 6-15-2914, 6-17-429(k), 6-17-429, 6-20-2305, 6-20-2305(b), 6-17-2403, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2908, 20-7-135(e)
Act 807: 6-15-1702(a), 6-15-2904, 6-15-2914, 6-17-429(k), 6-17-429, 6-20-2305, 6-20-2305(b), 6-17-2403, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2908, 20-7-135(e)