Boost Knowledge

School board members make decisions that have significant and long-term consequences for their students, schools and communities. To equip school board members with the necessary knowledge to fulfill their responsibilities, the Arkansas General Assembly requires board members to receive and report annual training.

The complex challenges of education require policymakers and administrators to address problems from multiple perspectives and across disciplines. As a result, school board members benefit from instruction in the following areas:

• School laws and regulations

• Improving student achievement

• School finance

• Community relations

• School operations

• Effective governance
  

ASBA develops seminars, conference sessions, and customized training programs that provide information on these and other topics.

In 2009, the Legislature revised the statute outlining the powers and duties of school board members. Click here for § 6-13-620 which describes what board members may do in their elected roles. In 2011, the Legislature passed a requirement that school board members receive training in how to read and interpret an audit. That law, now Act 1213, is linked here. The law that addresses board training and reimbursement is  6-13-629, which is linked here. In 2019, Act 1029 (linked here) was passed by the Arkansas Legislature. It requires that board members must receive training in school safety and student discipline. Act 182 of 2021, linked here, required that the training on school safety and student discipline be included in the initial nine (9) hours of training board members receive.

Required Training

A.C.A. § 6-13-629 requires annual professional development for Arkansas school board members:

Recognizing the important role the school board has in maintaining the school district’s fiscal status, the Arkansas General Assembly requires that the initial nine (9) hours of training a board member receives include training related to how to read and interpret a school audit. Act 182 of 2021 also requires that all board members receive training in student safety and student discipline during their initial nine (9) hours of training.

ASBA hosts numerous conferences and seminars every year which provide board members with approved training credit to meet the state requirement. Please visit the Conference & Workshop Opportunities page for a wide range of professional development opportunities or the Upcoming Events page.