Dear Parents:

Each year, the Arkansas Department of Education publishes a Performance Report of the state's schools. Not to be confused with student report cards, this report provides parents and communities with information about each school and district including test performance, teacher qualification, retention, discipline and much more.

This report is designed to help open the lines of communication between schools, parents and the local community. Parents can use the report when visiting their child's school for conferences and other meetings to ask questions about how well the school is performing and what measures are in place for improvement.

We hope the information included in the 2012 Arkansas School Performance Report will encourage you to become more involved in your child's education. When parents are partners in their children's education, the results are improved student achievement, better school attendance and reduced dropout rates.

If you need additional information about this report, contact your local school administrator or visit: http://normessasweb.uark.edu/schoolperformance/beta/files/section1.pdf.

Arkansas schools are implementing the Common Core State Standards in grades K-8. Full implementation will be in place for all grades in 2014-15.

Common Core is an effort by states to align learning standards across the country. The new standards will ensure children - no matter where they live - have the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and the workforce.

Arkansas educators have high expectations for the children of this state. Common Core will help parents understand exactly what their children need to know. For more information, we encourage you to visit http://www.common corearkansas.org/

Tom W. Kimbrell, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Education