Bill
HB 1672
HB 1672 replaces District of Innovation with a streamlined schools-of-innovation system, redefines processes, strengthens governance, and shifts charter authorization roles.
Note on sources: the supplied packet contains mixed and partially conflicting materials (texts and actions from multiple jurisdictions and bills). This summary focuses on the Arkansas engrossed version of HB 1672 (sponsored by Rep. McCollum and Sen. J. Boyd), which is titled to “create a more efficient system for public schools of innovation in Arkansas” and to amend aspects of the Arkansas Quality Charter Schools Act of 2013. The packet also includes a Fiscal Impact Statement (Arkansas Dept. of Education) reporting “No Fiscal Impact.”
Purpose and intent
- Repeal and replace the prior statutory District of Innovation framework and restructure how “schools of innovation” and charter authorization operate in Arkansas. The goal stated in the bill is to create a more efficient system to transform and improve teaching and learning in public schools of innovation, and to adjust charter authorization and oversight processes.
Key provisions and changes
- Repeals Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 15, Subchapter 28 (the District of Innovation subchapter) and replaces it with revised definitions and procedures governing schools of innovation.
- Definitions: clarifies terms such as “district of innovation,” “school of innovation,” “eligible employees,” and “innovation.”
- Application and approval:
- A school district must submit a school-of-innovation application, approved by its board, to the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Schools of innovation may be approved for four-year periods and renewed for successive four-year terms; the commissioner may revoke designation for failure to meet plan commitments, performance targets, or applicable law.
- Local planning and governance:
- Establishes a School Council of Innovation composed of teachers, classified staff, principal (or designee), parents, community members and at least two students; specifies election/selection methods and minority representation when the school has ≥10% minority enrollment.
- The council solicits, considers, and structures innovative proposals and determines the employee-voteable plan content/format.
- Oversight and rulemaking:
- State Board of Education tasked to adopt rules for application, evaluation, renewal, revocation, reporting, budgets, and evidence of stakeholder engagement and professional practices.
- Licensure exceptions:
- Updates language in Ark. Code § 6-15-1004(c)(5) to reference charter law and section 6-15-103 as licensure exception pathways (i.e., teachers may be allowed to teach outside their licensed area when authorized by these innovation/charter provisions).
- Charter-related amendments (per floor amendments included in the packet):
- Changes to the charter authorization process to increase the role of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the State Board of Education: the division becomes the primary authorizer; the State Board retains final approval on decisions/recommendations.
- Establishes notice, timing, and appeal procedures: the division notifies the State Board of charter authorizing panel recommendations; the State Board must accept or reject recommendations at its next meeting and, if rejecting, must state reasons and conduct a hearing; applicants may appeal panel recommendations to the State Board within 15 calendar days.
- Adds provisions for virtual open-enrollment charter waivers (waiver of laws/rules concerning physical student presence) and rules for reinstatement hearings following consecutive “F” letter grades and revocation.
Who would be affected
- Public school districts and individual schools seeking “school of innovation” designation.
- Teachers and classified staff at applicant schools (through licensure exceptions and plan approval by eligible employees).
- Parents, students, and local communities involved in councils of innovation and plan development.
- DESE (Division of Elementary & Secondary Education), the Commissioner, and the State Board of Education (increased rulemaking and oversight roles).
- Charter applicants, public charter schools, and charter authorizing entities/panels.
Fiscal impact and timelines
- Fiscal Impact Statement prepared by the Arkansas Department of Education: “No Fiscal Impact.”
- Schools of innovation are approved in four-year cycles; procedural timelines for application, renewal, and appeals are established in the bill and by rules to be adopted by the State Board.
Procedural status and caveats
- The metadata supplied at the top of your packet lists the bill as “Died In Committee” (introduced Dec. 18, 2024). However, the provided engrossed text and amendment forms show floor amendments and engrossment dates (H3/31/25, H4/7/25). The packet includes other unrelated legislative texts and action logs from other states, creating conflicting signals about final disposition.
- Recommendation: verify the bill’s official current status and enacted text using the Arkansas Legislature’s official website or the Secretary of State’s records before relying on the bill as enacted or operative.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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