AR HB1733

Establishes the Achievement School District as an organizational unit within the Department of Education, administered by the Commissioner of Education to oversee public schools and school districts classified as academically distressed after state takeover and removal of local school boards.

Allows the Commissioner to directly operate achievement schools or contract with not-for-profit entities to operate them, with employees considered at-will workers exempt from teacher dismissal protections, fair hearing acts, and collective bargaining requirements.

Grants not-for-profit entities and conversion charter schools operating achievement schools exemptions from numerous state education laws including teacher licensure requirements, school start/end dates, salary minimums, and personnel policies.

Requires academically distressed schools to remain in the achievement district for a minimum of 3 years or initial term of 5 years, with removal only after demonstrating sufficient academic improvement for 2 consecutive years as determined by the Commissioner.

Permits improved achievement schools to transition to independent open-enrollment charter schools operated by not-for-profit entities, which may rent school facilities from the local district for $1.00 per year for up to 20 years.