The Arkansas Department of Education unveiled its standards review process Tuesday, with tools the department said will increase transparency.
Education Commissioner Johnny Key said a website will be a "one-stop shop" for updates throughout the review process, including livestreams of team meetings.
Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin provided funding to help in the education department's transparency efforts, Key said.
"We are going to make every effort to make this process transparent," he said. "There will be periodic updates to the state Board of Education as we work through this timeline. Certainly, they will be an integral part of this process as we move forward."
The review will seek input from K-12, higher education and career education officials, as well as the public, Assistant Learning Services Commissioner Debbie Jones said.
Four education experts from across the state — two in mathematics and two in English language arts — will help, in addition to committees of educators, to analyze appropriate next steps for learning in their respective areas.
Those experts are: Allan Cochran, mathematics professor and trigonometry coordinator at the University of Arkansas; Shannon Dingman, associate mathematics professor at UA; Donna Wake, associate professor at the University of Central Arkansas; and Dixie Keyes, associate professor of middle level education at Arkansas State University.
According to the education department, 75 mathematics teachers and 75 English/language arts teachers from across the state will be chosen to work on committees.
Jones said the work will begin in October, with a completion target of summer 2016 for implementation during the 2016-17 school year.
The education department said revised standards will be available for public comment in March or April. A final draft will go to the state Board of Education in May or June.
The review process is conducted every six years to ensure that the education provided to K-12 students prepares them for colleges and careers after high school.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.