This section offers information on rules currently in place, as well as information for proposed rules.

Process and Procedures for Developing and Filing Rules

The mandate for the State Board of Education to develop and implement a particular rule is created by state statute. Once it has been determined that a new law requires rules, the Commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) will assign the appropriate staff member the task of drafting the rules. After review and approval by the Department's attorney’s office, the proposed rule is then placed on the State Board of Education's agenda. This provides the Board an opportunity to review the proposed rule and offer comments and suggested changes.

The Board then votes on whether to place the proposed rule out for public comment. Once approved for public comment, a public hearing is scheduled. The hearing must be advertised in the newspaper for three consecutive days. Hearings must be held 35 days prior to the proposed rule being submitted for final approval to the Board. Interested persons can submit written comments either at the public hearing or to the Department's attorney’s office during the public comment period. The ADE staff is also required to file fiscal and financial impact statements concerning the proposed rule with the Bureau of Legislative Research.

After the public hearing is held, the proposed rule is then brought before the Board for final approval. If approved by the Board, the rule is then filed with the staff of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules and Regulations Subcommittee for the members to review. The legislative review process is usually held the month after the Board approves the new rule. After review by the Subcommittee, the final rule, along with the fiscal and financial impact statements, is then filed with the Secretary of State’s office and with the Bureau of Legislative Research. Copies are also filed with the Arkansas State Library.

For questions concerning rules, please contact:

Arkansas Department of Education
Legal Services Office
(501) 682-4227

If you have suggestions for additional content or problems accessing information, please contact:
Dauphne Trenholm, ADE Communications Program Support Manager.