3.01 Each public school will receive a performance category level designation or rating (hereafter collectively referred to as “rating”) of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” as described in Appendix A.

3.02 The Department will engage stakeholder groups in the school rating process and utilize feedback from the stakeholder groups to make a final recommendation to the State Board of Education (“Board”) for the total score range for each rating.

3.03 If a school district has an alternative learning environment (ALE) or an alternative education (AE) program and the ALE or AE has a local education agency (LEA) number, the school district shall, for purposes of a rating pursuant to these rules only, include the ALE or AE students in their respective area schools.

3.04 Each school's rating shall be included in the annual School Performance Report, which shall be posted on the Department's and school districts' websites.

3.05 For purposes of these rules only, the following entities shall be exempt from the designation of a school rating:

3.05.1 An open-enrollment public charter school whose mission and enrollment are primarily focused on students who have dropped out of high school or are identified as at risk of dropping out of school;

3.05.2 A conversion public charter school whose mission and enrollment are primarily focused on students who have dropped out of high school or are identified as at risk of dropping out of school;

3.05.3 An adult charter school serving students age 19 or older;

3.05.4 The Arkansas School for the Blind;

3.05.5 The Arkansas School for the Deaf; and

3.05.6 The Division of Youth Services System of Education.