Arkansas Administrative Code Agency 203 - Commission for Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation
Here’s a structured overview of Arkansas Administrative Code — Agency 203 (Commission for Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation):
🏛️ Agency Mission & Scope
Agency 203 oversees policies and rules governing the planning, construction, maintenance, and financing of public-school academic facilities and transportation throughout Arkansas (regulations.justia.com).
Key Rule Categories under Agency 203
(Organized by subchapters in the Administrative Code)
Rule Title
Purpose
203.00.05‑001: Transitional Academic Facilities Program
Policies for temporary replacements, repairs, or interim facilities (regulations.justia.com).
203.00.05‑003: Specifications Governing School Bus Design (AFT 007)
Sets minimum standards for school bus safety, equipment, and design .
203.00.05‑005: Retirement & Bonded‑Debt Assistance (AFT 014)
Manages state support for debt service and millage incentives .
203.00.05‑006: Academic Facilities Partnership Program (AFT 015/028)
Framework for state/district cost‑sharing on new construction projects using the “academic facilities wealth index” .
203.00.05‑007: Academic Facilities Distress Program (AFT 011/025)
Assistance for districts deemed in “facilities distress” .
203.00.05‑008 & 009: Construction Delivery Methods (AFT 010/009)
Guidelines for design-build and construction management procurement .
203.00.05‑010: Public–Public Partnerships (AFT 017)
Establishes procedures for shared-use facility projects .
203.00.05‑011: Ten‑Year Facilities Master Plan (AFT 012/027)
District planning requirements for long-term infrastructure .
203.00.05‑013–016: Energy, Insurance, Catastrophic, Bus Maintenance Rules
Standards on energy measures, insurance coverage, disaster readiness, and bus inspections .
203.00.08 & 203.00.10 & 12
Reprints and updates of above rules — including AFT programs for partnership, master plans, appeals, catastrophic relief, self‑construction, and bus ops .
203.00.12‑003 (current)
Latest, comprehensive version of the Academic Facilities Partnership Program (as of March 2025). Defines authority, purposes, key definitions (e.g., “academic facility,” “wealth index,” “add‑ons”), financing mechanisms, appeals, and payment processes .
🔍 Spotlight: Academic Facilities Partnership Program
This central rule—203.00.12‑003 / AFT 028—details:
Authority & Purpose: Implements cost-sharing via a formula-based "wealth index" (regulations.justia.com).
Key Definitions:
“Academic facility” excludes admin, extracurricular, modular, co-op, and pre-K spaces (regulations.justia.com).
“Wealth index” shows district wealth relative to peers, based on assessed valuation per student (sos.arkansas.gov).
“Add-ons,” “alternative projects,” and funding calculation guidelines are included (sos.arkansas.gov).
Project Requirements: Eligible only for new construction (including add-ons); must adhere to state standards, allow variances, and follow appeals procedure (regulations.justia.com).
Funding & Appeals:
District financial participation capped at formula-determined percentage of total cost, plus possible incentives (regulations.justia.com).
State Division certifies, Commission reviews, and ADE handles payments (regulations.justia.com).
Districts may appeal Division decisions via the Commission or Review Board (regulations.justia.com).
✅ Next Steps You Can Take
💻 Visit the Official Division website for appendices (like the Facilities Manual) mentioned in the rules.
📂 Download the full text of AFT 028 for more regulatory detail.
📚 See related rules (AFT 011, AFT 012) for broader district responsibilities on master planning, debt, and distress.
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