Section 6-15-2502 - Establishment of education renewal zones - Purpose - Organization(a) A public school, an education service cooperative, or an institution of higher education is authorized to enter into one (1) or more interlocal agreements through which they collaborate to improve public school performance and academic achievement.(b) Each interlocal agreement shall establish an education renewal zone.(c) The purpose of an education renewal zone shall include: (1) Identifying and implementing education and management strategies designed specifically to improve public school performance and student academic achievement throughout the State of Arkansas, with special focus on the public schools in need of the specialized support and services provided by education renewal zones;(2) Providing for collaboration among the state's smaller schools and school districts in order to achieve some of the advantages of economies of scale in providing educational and related activities;(3) Maximizing benefits and outcomes of public schooling by coordinating available resources to improve public school performance and student academic achievement through a collaborative, statewide effort; and(4) Enabling schools to make the best use of the latest cost-effective distance learning technology to enhance curricula and professional development opportunities.(d) Each education renewal zone shall consist of the following:(1)(A) A higher education partner.(B) The Office of Education Renewal Zones shall develop, publish, and disseminate guidelines for establishing an education renewal zone, including a process for selecting a qualified higher education partner in the education service cooperative areas in the state and in Pulaski County.(C)(i) A qualified higher education partner shall:(a) Be a school with a department of education or a comprehensive four-year teacher preparation program; and(b) Be capable of demonstrating a willingness and flexibility to restructure its programs and services to meet the needs of the participating grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) schools and school districts.(ii) The office shall give preference to qualified four-year higher education institutions located within the education service cooperative area.(D) If there is no qualified four-year higher education institution located within the education service cooperative area, the office may select:(i) A two-year higher education institution that in collaboration with a qualified four-year education institution located in another education service cooperative area provides a comprehensive four-year teacher preparation program; or(ii) A qualified higher education institution located in another education service cooperative area.(E) An institution of higher education may serve as the higher education partner for more than one (1) education service cooperative area;(2)(A) An education service cooperative.(B) The education service cooperative shall be a partner to support schools in student achievement and school improvement;(3)(B)(i) A public school identified by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education as being in need of the specialized support and services provided by education renewal zones shall participate in an education renewal zone if requested to do so by the division.(ii) The office shall provide a priority for education renewal zone participation by the schools described in subdivision (d)(3)(B)(i) of this section, which shall be contingent on the appropriation availability of funding for the renewal education zones; and(4)(A) A local advisory group.(B) Each education renewal zone shall form a local advisory group composed of a representative of the following groups:(i) The higher education partner;(ii) The education service cooperative that includes the area in which the education renewal zone is located;(iii) Each public school or school district participating in the education renewal zone; and(iv) Parents or community members, or both.(C) The membership and staff of local advisory groups shall be reflective of the diversity of the population of the state.Amended by Act 2021, No. 467,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.Amended by Act 2021, No. 134,§ 2, eff. 7/28/2021.Amended by Act 2019, No. 757,§ 23, eff. 7/24/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 757,§ 22, eff. 7/24/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 757,§ 21, eff. 7/24/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 757,§ 20, eff. 7/24/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1279, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1278, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1277, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1276, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1275, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1274, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1273, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2017, No. 745,§ 19, eff. 8/1/2017.Acts 2003 (2nd Ex. Sess.), No. 106, § 1.