Arkansas Committed to Adequate and Equitable K-12 Academic Facilities: Progress, Ongoing Needs, and Recommendations

In 2017, Act 801 was approved by the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Asa Hutchinson requiring the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation use an advisory committee to do a comprehensive review of academic facilities programs “to ensure that the most efficient and effective programs are in place.” The Act identified eight specific issues for review:
1. Long term viability of the program
2. Efficacy of the academic facilities wealth index
3. Project ranking and prioritization process of partnership program
4. Program funding cycles
5. Enrollment projections
6. Cost factors
7. Rules governing academic facilities programs
8. Degree of public school district compliance with Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

Following 12 months of work, this report contains the Advisory Committee’s recommendations on each of the eight issues and a suggested roadmap for the state’s role in school facility funding going forward. The report also provides basic information about Arkansas public school facilities and describes the progress made to deliver adequate and equitable public school facilities since 2004, when the Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program was established. Additionally, the report provides an estimate for what is needed to ensure adequate and equitable public school facilities in Arkansas.