AR SB524

All public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools must prepare a three-year teacher and administrator recruitment and retention plan by August 1, 2022, replacing the prior requirement that only applied to districts with more than 5% minority students.

Plans must set goals for recruiting and retaining minority teachers and administrators whose diversity reflects the racial and ethnic composition of students, and for increasing minority student pursuit of education careers.

School districts must review plans annually, post them on websites by August 1 each year, and report progress on meeting established goals including data on teacher and administrator demographic composition over three years.

Each district must designate an employee to coordinate plan implementation, with the Equity Assistance Center providing technical assistance and support to districts and charter schools.

The Department of Education's Division of Higher Education must develop a strategic plan by July 1, 2022, with recommendations to educator preparation programs for increasing minority teachers and administrators and identifying college-educated individuals to enter the teaching profession.