Section 6-16-159 - Agricultural education(a)(1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may consult industry stakeholders, including without limitation the Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation in order to establish a pilot program to provide for agricultural education in elementary schools in the State of Arkansas.(2) The pilot program required by this section may determine whether and how to implement an elementary agricultural education program statewide.(b)(1) The division, in consultation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and the department, may select via an application process a minimum of six (6) elementary schools for participation in the pilot program established by this section.(2) The local school district board of directors for each of the elementary schools selected under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall agree to: (A) Implement an elementary agricultural education program in its public school district for a minimum of three (3) years;(B) Continue to provide elementary agricultural education until the pilot program is either: (i) Implemented in public elementary schools statewide; or(ii) Terminated by the division, in consultation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and the department; and(C) Determine the method by which an elementary agricultural education program shall be implemented in the public school district.(3) The local school district board of directors for each of the elementary schools selected under subdivision (b)(1) of this section may employ an agricultural education teacher to provide the agricultural education program at its public school district.(c) The pilot program shall be based on the nationally recognized three-component model of school-based agricultural education, which includes without limitation: (1) Instruction in an organized classroom or laboratory environment;(2) Hands-on, real-world learning opportunities; and(3) Leadership and learning opportunities through participation in the Arkansas Division of the Future Farmers of America and an Arkansas 4-H Foundation, Incorporated program.(d) The curriculum for the elementary agricultural education program shall be fact-based instruction that shall: (1) Include without limitation equal portions of each of the three (3) components of school-based agricultural education, as specified under subsection (c) of this section;(2) Provide grade-appropriate, collaborative learning experiences through:(A) Instruction and inquiry;(B) Experimental learning activities; and(C) Personal and leadership development opportunities; and(3) Be established by the division, in consultation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and the department, with input from agricultural and general education teachers.(e) The division, in consultation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and the department, may: (1) Provide for a program evaluation regarding the success and impact of the pilot program established by this section upon completion of the third year of the pilot program; and(2) Report the results of the evaluation required by subdivision (e)(1) of this section to the: (A) House Committee on Education;(B) Senate Committee on Education; and(C) State Board of Education.Added by Act 2023, No. 243,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.