2026 Policy Agenda

The prevailing model of K-12 education measures instructional time rather than academic mastery — advancing students based on the number of hours they have spent in a classroom rather than on demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter. AFP Arkansas supports replacing arbitrary seat-time requirements with a competency-based framework that advances students when they demonstrate genuine mastery of skills and content, regardless of the time or setting in which that mastery was achieved. This approach empowers teachers to individualize instruction, keeps students engaged with appropriately challenging material, and produces graduates whose credentials reflect actual knowledge and capability.