AR HB1967

State Board of Education must immediately discontinue all efforts to endorse, adopt, rebrand, or implement the Next Generation Science Standards.

State board shall continue using current science standards and only revise them with nationally recognized standards superior to those already adopted.

Any comprehensive set of new standards requires review and approval by the State Board, Department of Education, Senate Education Committee, House Education Committee, and the public before implementation.

Bill cites Thomas B. Fordham Institute evaluation finding Next Generation Science Standards received a "C" grade due to insufficient math content, while Arkansas's current standards earned a "B" grade and are deemed "clearly superior."

Emergency clause makes the act effective immediately upon Governor approval, allowing no veto period, based on determination that current standards are superior and further adoption of Next Generation standards must be prevented.