As we reflect on the many reasons we are grateful, we extend our appreciation to Arkansas school board members, the communities that support Arkansas students every day, and all who serve students across our state. Your service shapes brighter futures, and we are thankful for all you do!
ASBA offices are closed November 24-28 in observance of the holiday.
Wishing you and your family a safe, restful, and meaningful Thanksgiving!
#StudentFocusedLeadership
ASBA Policy Service Director Lucas Harder will break down the legal requirements, structure, and key responsibilities of PPCs, as well as answer your questions live. Any unanswered questions will receive a follow-up after the session.
✔️ No cost, No credit
✔️ Recording and summary available afterward
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/ppcwebinar25
Thank you for your understanding!
At their November 13 meeting, the Arkansas State Board of Education approved a resolution proclaiming 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 as 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬.
The resolution recognizes the more than 1,500 locally elected school board members who dedicate their time, expertise, and leadership to strengthening public education. Their service connects communities and classrooms, ensuring Arkansas’ public school students remain at the heart of every decision.
Thank you to the State Board for this acknowledgement and for your continued support of strong governance across our state. We look forward to celebrating school board members throughout January 2026 and beyond!
View and download the resolution at https://5il.co/3se6p. #StudentFocusedLeadership
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 🎓
Scholarship applications for 2026 are now open!
Since 1994, the ASBA Educational Foundation Scholarship Awards have recognized academic excellence and leadership potential. All scholarships are one-time awards for eligible Arkansas students and school board families.
🔹 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
Award: $2,500 each (4 scholarships – one per Arkansas congressional district)
Eligibility: Incoming freshmen at two- or four-year colleges, who are the sons, daughters, or legal wards of publicly elected Arkansas school board members who served during the 2025–2026 school year
🔹 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 (𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧) 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Award: $5,000
Eligibility: Overall statewide freshman winner selected from the ASBA Freshman Scholarship applicants
🔹 𝐉.𝐊. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Award: $2,500
Eligibility: Publicly elected Arkansas school board members, their spouses, children, grandchildren, or legal wards (Board member must have served during the 2025-2026 school year).
**Applicants must be 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 at an Arkansas institution.
📅 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞:
All applications must be submitted electronically by 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
🔗 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: https://www.arsba.org/article/2535610
📩 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
Contact Jessica Prothro at jprothro@arsba.org
or 501.492.4820.
Today, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of the men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces. Their commitment to protecting our freedoms and communities continues to inspire us every day.
Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice.
In observance of Veterans Day, ASBA offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11. We will reopen on Wednesday, November 12.
*Important Information for Potential Candidates:
• Act 503 requires that school boards transition to terms of either four (4) or six (6) years.
• Board members currently serving will see their terms adjusted to expire according to specific timelines laid out in Act 503. According to the language in the Act, terms that were set to expire in November 2025, Calendar Year 2026, or Calendar Year 2027 will now expire in 2026.
• The attached guidance document provides ASBA’s suggested method for balancing terms that become unbalanced due to the new law. The guidance states, “All positions that are currently scheduled to be up for election will be up for election at that time. The board members who are elected in 2026 would then draw lots to stagger future terms.”
Important Dates for the 2026 Election
• November 3, 2025 (noon): Candidate filing period opens
• November 12, 2025 (noon): Candidate filing period closes
• December 22, 2025: District deadline to submit millage information to county clerk
• January 1, 2026: District deadline to publish proposed budget
• February 2, 2026: Deadline to register to vote
• February 17, 2026: Early voting begins
• March 3, 2026: Election Day
• November 3, 2026: Run-off Election (if needed)
Please note that if a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it will advance to the next business day, per Ark. Code § 7-1-108. Accordingly, we have updated the voter registration deadline and the start date of early voting from our previous email.
Additional resources for candidates can be found on the ASBA Board Candidates page - https://www.arsba.org/page/board-candidates.
Your school’s performing arts groups have a chance to shine on a national stage! The 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 will be held 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟐–𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, at 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 in 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲, and is now accepting applications for 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐬, 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 to perform.
This is an incredible opportunity to showcase the talent of 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 in front of education leaders from across the country!
📅 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: March 12–15, 2026 (Pre-Conference Day – March 12)
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The Galt House, Louisville, KY
𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: December 5, 2025
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: by December 19, 2025
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: https://www.cossba.org/2026-student-entertainment-application
Help spread the word and encourage your schools to nominate their talented student groups for this exciting opportunity! Let’s see 𝐀𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 represented at 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔! 🇺🇸🎤🎷🎬
Our brand-new podcast is here! In the first episode, “All About ASBA,” we’re diving into who we are, what we do, and how we serve Arkansas school boards.
Each month, we’ll explore real questions and challenges facing Arkansas schools — featuring expert guests, practical insights, and conversations designed to strengthen governance and support student-focused leadership.
🎧 Listen now on our website: https://www.arsba.org/page/asba-boardcast
Or find us on your favorite platform:
👉 Spotify: https://bit.ly/spboardcast
👉 YouTube: https://bit.ly/ytboardcast
👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/49cWtIP
👉 Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/49cXKzB
#ASBABoardCast #StudentFocusedLeadership
Here are a few highlights you won’t want to miss:
•Creatures of Character – Cross County Elementary’s award-nominated values program is changing school culture.
• A Bond for Billies – How Monticello’s bond extension funded a new gym and high school addition without raising taxes.
• Serving with Heart – New board members share their passion for students at ASBA’s New Board Member Institute in Hot Springs.
• Understanding Act 902 – Lucas Harder breaks down what the public comment law means for school boards.
• Fall Leadership Insights – Board leaders reflect on vision, goals, and putting students first.
This quarter’s issue, as well as previous issues of Report Card, can be found on our website at https://www.arsba.org/page/report-card-magazine.
Thank you for staying connected with ASBA. We hope you find this issue informative and inspiring! #StudentFocusedLeadership
📣 Annual Conference registration is OPEN!
Join us for the 72nd ASBA Annual Conference on 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, at the Marriott-Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock!
This year’s theme, “𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬,” celebrates the vital role of school boards in shaping the future of education.
✅ Up to 𝟏𝟑 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 of 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 training credit
✅ Inspiring keynote speakers & breakout sessions
✅ Networking with peers & Commercial Affiliate exhibits
✅ Annual awards, student performances, and more
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬:
PLEASE NOTE: Start time for Wednesday's sessions is 10:30 a.m. this year.
All Access (3 Days): $545 members | $645 non-members (by Nov 21)
Day Access: Wed $285 | Thu $285 | Fri $145 (by Nov 21)
Virtual Access (Wed/Thu): $175 per day
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and strengthen your leadership!
👉 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: https://bit.ly/arboardconnect
👉 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: https://www.arsba.org/page/2025-asba-annual-conference
*Hotel information will be in your registration confirmation email.
#StudentFocusedLeadership #MissionPossible
2025 Fall Leadership Institute courses are now live in AR Board Ed!
This training equips board members and district administrators with practical tools to turn vision into action.
🎓 Take the full 6-hour course or individual 1.5-hour sessions:
🟢 Full Day – 6 hrs – $200
🟢 Vision in Action Panel – 1.5 hrs – $75
🟢 Making Data Make Sense w/ Hope Worsham – 1.5 hrs – $75
🟢 Planning with Purpose w/ Dr. Megan Duncan – 1.5 hrs – $75
🟢 Board Policy w/ Lucas Harder – 1.5 hrs – $75
🖥️ Log in to AR Board Ed to enroll anytime! - https://arsba.talentlms.com/plus/
#StudentFocusedLeadership
This October, join us for ASBA’s in-person 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬—hosted in each of our 14 regions! These dinner meetings are a chance to connect with fellow education leaders, share experiences, and discuss challenges unique to your community.
🍽️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
• Networking dinner & welcome
• Local legislators sharing their perspectives
• A panel of regional school board members discussing real-world challenges
• Valuable conversation and collaboration with peers
📅 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 & 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
Region 1 - Oct. 13 - Rogers
Region 2 - Oct. 20 - Yellville-Summit
Region 3 - Oct. 30 - Hillcrest
Region 4 - Oct. 23 - Clarksville
Region 5 - Oct. 7 - Dardanelle
Region 6 - Oct. 21 - Bald Knob
Region 7 - Oct. 6 - Harrisburg
Region 8 - Oct. 28 - North Little Rock
Region 9 - Oct. 6 - DeWitt
Region 10 - Oct. 2 - Arkadelphia
Region 11 - Oct. 9 - Watson Chapel
Region 12 - Oct. 16 - Horatio
Region 13 - Oct. 27 - Smackover
Region 14 - Oct. 14 - Hamburg
📍𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐩: https://5il.co/sge5
➡️ Can’t make your region’s meeting? You are welcome at any of the others!
🕠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
💵 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭: $60 per person (includes materials & dinner)
🎓 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭: 3 hours of 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐄-𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 Board Training Credit
🔗 Register now through the “Registrations/Publications” tab in AR Board Connect (https://bit.ly/arboardconnect). Be sure to register at least 7 days before your chosen meeting to help your host district prepare.
Let’s strengthen our community of student-focused leaders—we’ll see you in October!
#StudentFocusedLeadership
ASBA offices will be closed Monday, September 1 in observance of the holiday and will reopen Tuesday, September 2. Enjoy a safe and restful day! #StudentFocusedLeadership
𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐲 & 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧!
𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥"
What is the most important thing schools should give students — beyond academics — to prepare them for life? Explain why it matters and how it could shape students, schools, and communities for decades.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
• Cash prizes: $𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 (1st) • $𝟕𝟓𝟎 (2nd) • $𝟓𝟎𝟎 (3rd) • $𝟐𝟓𝟎 (Honorable Mention)!
• Present live at the ASBA Annual Conference (𝐃𝐞𝐜. 𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 • 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐭 – 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫)!
• Be featured on the ASBA website and in Report Card!
𝐖𝐡𝐨’𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞
• 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡–𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 from 𝐀𝐒𝐁𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬
• 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 (district chooses its selection process)
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 (𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)
• 600–750 word essay
• Video of you presenting the essay as a speech (4-5 minutes)
• Signed Parental Release Form (see rules)
𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝟒:𝟎𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. • 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: https://5il.co/3otb2
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: bit.ly/sscontest25
Know a standout student storyteller? Tag them! 🎤📚
#StudentFocusedLeadership
Her presence helped kick off the year on a positive note, highlighting the board’s commitment to students and staff!
#StudentFocusedLeadership #BoardsforBacktoSchool
The Arkansas School Boards Association is now accepting proposals for its 𝟕𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 — 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
We are seeking engaging sessions that inform, inspire, and equip Arkansas school board members to fuel success in their districts, centered on our theme: “𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 – 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬.”
Proposal deadline: 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: https://5il.co/3nvz3
𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥: https://bit.ly/acrfp25
Share your expertise and help shape conversations that advance student success across Arkansas!
#StudentFocusedLeadership #MissionPossible
With a focus on living out your district's vision and mission, this event is sure to be a good one. Get registered today at https://bit.ly/arboardconnect!
Learn more: https://www.arsba.org/article/2322162
View the agenda: https://5il.co/3nma3.
