Smart Core/Core

Smart Core is the college- and career-ready set of courses that is the default curriculum for all Arkansas public high school students. Completion of Smart Core with a 2.5 grade point average is also one of the qualifications listed for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Because of this additional significance for completing Smart Core — and because we know how important it is to graduate all students ready to succeed in college and career — the Arkansas Department of Education has created new, separate Smart Core consent and waiver forms. They are available via the links on this right side of this page or via Commissioner’s Memo. Schools should use these forms to help explain to students and parents the importance of completing the Smart Core curriculum and also to provide appropriate information regarding potential negative consequences of waiving a student’s participation in Smart Core. (Pursuant to the ADE Rules Governing Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts; section 9.03.1 et seq.)

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Tracy Tucker, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Learning Services
Four Capitol Mall, Room 301-B
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-1991

Alphabetical List of Topics

Common Core