{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-6-16-1803","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 6-16-1803","heading":"Career-ready pathway requirements","body":"(a) A career-ready pathway to a diploma shall: (1) Provide a student with credentials of value in a desired high-wage, high-growth career and a strong academic core; (2) Be offered to each high school student; (3) Prepare students to: (A) Pursue either a degree or certification from: (i) A institution of higher education; (ii) An industry-based training or certification; (iii) An apprenticeship; or (iv) The military; or (B) Immediately enter a career field; and (4) Be primarily designed for students who are seeking stackable credentials to be successful in a career. (b) (1) Each public school district shall develop and offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned to state and regional workforce demands, according to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. (2) Each open-enrollment public charter school may develop and offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned to state and regional workforce demands, according to state board rules. (c) Public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools, in partnership with local business and industry leaders, local economic development agencies, and postsecondary education leaders, shall: (1) Review career-ready pathways offered by the public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools; and (2) Expand offerings as appropriate, including without limitation: (A) Courses offered through articulation; (B) Concurrent enrollment courses; (C) Industry training programs; and (D) Digital learning opportunities. (d) A public school student in a career-ready pathway shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses or an approved training program that leads to an approved, industry-based credential in a high-wage, high-growth field. Added by Act 2023, No. 237,§ 20, eff. 3/8/2023.\n\n(a) A career-ready pathway to a diploma shall: (1) Provide a student with credentials of value in a desired high-wage, high-growth career and a strong academic core; (2) Be offered to each high school student; (3) Prepare students to: (A) Pursue either a degree or certification from: (i) A institution of higher education; (ii) An industry-based training or certification; (iii) An apprenticeship; or (iv) The military; or (B) Immediately enter a career field; and (4) Be primarily designed for students who are seeking stackable credentials to be successful in a career.\n\n(1) Provide a student with credentials of value in a desired high-wage, high-growth career and a strong academic core;\n\n(2) Be offered to each high school student;\n\n(3) Prepare students to: (A) Pursue either a degree or certification from: (i) A institution of higher education; (ii) An industry-based training or certification; (iii) An apprenticeship; or (iv) The military; or (B) Immediately enter a career field; and\n\n(A) Pursue either a degree or certification from: (i) A institution of higher education; (ii) An industry-based training or certification; (iii) An apprenticeship; or (iv) The military; or\n\n(i) A institution of higher education;\n\n(ii) An industry-based training or certification;\n\n(iii) An apprenticeship; or\n\n(iv) The military; or\n\n(B) Immediately enter a career field; and\n\n(4) Be primarily designed for students who are seeking stackable credentials to be successful in a career.\nation; (ii) An industry-based training or certification; (iii) An apprenticeship; or (iv) The military; or\n\n(i) A institution of higher education;\n\n(ii) An industry-based training or certification;\n\n(iii) An apprenticeship; or\n\n(iv) The military; or\n\n(B) Immediately enter a career field; and\n\n(4) Be primarily designed for students who are seeking stackable credentials to be successful in a career.\n\n(b) (1) Each public school district shall develop and offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned to state and regional workforce demands, according to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. (2) Each open-enrollment public charter school may develop and offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned to state and regional workforce demands, according to state board rules.\n\n(1) Each public school district shall develop and offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned to state and regional workforce demands, according to rules adopted by the State Board of Education.\n\n(2) Each open-enrollment public charter school may develop and offer at least one (1) career-ready pathway that is aligned to state and regional workforce demands, according to state board rules.\n\n(c) Public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools, in partnership with local business and industry leaders, local economic development agencies, and postsecondary education leaders, shall: (1) Review career-ready pathways offered by the public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools; and (2) Expand offerings as appropriate, including without limitation: (A) Courses offered through articulation; (B) Concurrent enrollment courses; (C) Industry training programs; and (D) Digital learning opportunities.\n\n(1) Review career-ready pathways offered by the public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools; and\n\n(2) Expand offerings as appropriate, including without limitation: (A) Courses offered through articulation; (B) Concurrent enrollment courses; (C) Industry training programs; and (D) Digital learning opportunities.\n\n(A) Courses offered through articulation;\n\n(B) Concurrent enrollment courses;\n\n(C) Industry training programs; and\n\n(D) Digital learning opportunities.\n\n(d) A public school student in a career-ready pathway shall complete an academic core of courses and a career and technical sequence of courses or an approved training program that leads to an approved, industry-based credential in a high-wage, high-growth field.","path":["AR Code","Title 6","Chapter 16","Subchapter 18"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"5c8aea059095817c3fec9af3e71f95f7f290b66222feaa33b722886cb76bff6e","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-6-16-1802","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-6-16-1804"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}