Section 6-15-902 - Grading scale - Exemptions - Special education classes(a) The following grading scale shall be used by all public secondary schools in the state for all courses, except Advanced Placement courses, approved courses for weighted credit, and courses offered under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: (b)(1) Each letter grade shall be given a numeric value for the purpose of determining grade average.(2) Except for Advanced Placement courses, approved courses for weighted credit, courses offered under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and honors courses, the numeric value for each letter grade shall be: (c)(1) The State Board of Education shall: (A) Adopt appropriate equivalents for advanced placement and college courses; and(B) Recommend a uniform grading structure for honors courses.(2) Weighted credit shall be allowed for advanced placement courses and courses offered under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme if: (A) The student takes the entire Advanced Placement course or the entire course offered in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in a particular subject;(B) The student completes the applicable test offered by the College Board for advanced placement courses at the end of the advanced placement course or the applicable test offered by the International Baccalaureate at the time prescribed by the organization; and(C)(i) A teacher of an advanced placement course meets Arkansas teacher licensure requirements and:(a) Attends at least one (1) of the following trainings no less than one (1) time every five (5) years: (1) College Board Advanced Placement Summer Institute;(2) College Board-endorsed training; or(3) Other similarly rigorous training approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education; or(b) Completes an additional training plan for Advanced Placement within three (3) years of commencing the additional training plan; or(ii) A teacher of a course offered under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme meets Arkansas teacher licensure requirements and attends the training required by the International Baccalaureate.(3) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may approve a course for weighted credit if the course: (A) Exceeds the curriculum standards for a nonweighted credit class; or(B) Meets or exceeds the standards of a comparable advanced placement class.(4)(A) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in collaboration with the Division of Career and Technical Education may approve a career and technical course within an approved career and technical pathway for weighted credit if the course: (i) Exceeds the curriculum standards for a nonweighted class; and(ii) Leads to an approved industry-recognized certification.(B) The Division of Career and Technical Education shall:(i) Review new and existing career and technical pathways to determine which courses within the career and technical pathways meet criteria for weighted credit; and(ii) Publish a list of approved career and technical pathways annually by January 1.(C) Criteria used to determine what courses within a career and technical pathway shall receive weighted credit shall include without limitation the consideration of career and technical pathways that:(i) Lead to high-value industry credentials; and(ii) Align to state and local workforce data.(D) Weighted credit awarded under subdivision (c)(4)(A) of this section shall be awarded for each course upon: (i) Completing the relevant career and technical pathway; and(ii) Earning the high-value industry credential aligned with the career and technical pathway.(5)(A) A local school district board of directors may adopt a policy to allow high school students in the public school district to take college courses for weighted credit equal to the numeric grade awarded in Advanced Placement courses, courses offered under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and honors classes.(B)(i) If a local school district board of directors adopts a policy under subdivision (c)(5)(A) of this section, the school district shall apply to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval.(ii) An application under subdivision (c)(5)(B)(i) of this section shall be reviewed for approval to assign a numeric grade value, which may include weighted credit, based on the following: (a) A letter from the superintendent of the public school district or principal of the public school describing how the course exceeds expectations for coursework required under the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts; and(b) The grade level or levels of public school students who will be enrolled in the course.(d) A public school district may use the grading scale in this section in the public school district's elementary schools.(e) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may promulgate rules to implement this section.Amended by Act 2023, No. 654,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023.Amended by Act 2019, No. 632,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1209, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2017, No. 745,§ 15, eff. 8/1/2017.Acts 1991, No. 1070, § 1; 1993, No. 1188, § 1; 2001, No. 1121, § 1; 2005, No. 2151, § 14; 2005, No. 2152, § 1. See Act 2023, No. 654, § 5.