Get Smart! Complete The Smart Core

By Louisa Rook on Monday, September 19, 2011

The Smart Core Curriculum is the college preparatory curriculum suggested by the Arkansas Department of Education. Not only is this curriculum designed to ensure college and career readiness, it is required that students complete all courses in Smart Core in order to be eligible for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, funded by the Arkansas State Lottery. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years at all state colleges.

It is important that high school students and parents work closely with guidance counselors to monitor academic progress to meet the requirements of the Smart Core Curriculum, and it is particularly important to double check progress before the beginning of the senior year in high school, when any last minute schedule changes can be made.

Your parents do have the option to opt you out of the Smart Core, but it’s important to remember that students who don’t complete this curriculum will not be eligible for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and will be less ready for college coursework. Since the curriculum follows a four-year plan, it is very difficult to opt back in later in high school.

The requirements for Smart Core are as follows:
Smart Core Course Requirements (Applies to the graduating classes of 2012 and 2013)

English/Four Units
•    9th Grade English—One unit from 410000, 510010, 510020
•    10th Grade English—One unit from 411000, 510030, 511010, 511020
•    11th Grade English—One unit from 412000, 512010, 512020, 517030, 517200  
•    12th Grade English—One unit from 413000, 513010, 513020, 517040, 517200, 519900

Oral Communications/Half Unit from 414000, 414010, 514010

Natural Science/Three Units

•    Biology—One unit from 420000, 420020, 520010, 520030, 529030
Two units from the following three options:
•    Physical Science—423000, 523000
•    Chemistry—421000, 421020, 521010, 521030, 521040
•    Physics—422000, 422020, 522000, 522010, 522030, 522060, 522070

Mathematics/Four Units  
(One unit must be taken at 11th or 12th grade.)
•    Algebra I—One unit from 430000, 530010, 530020, 530030, 530090, 530110, 530120, OR BOTH 530100 and 530200
•    Geometry—One unit from 431000, 531010, 531020, 531030, 531040, 531070, 531080, 531090, OR BOTH 531100 and 531200
•    Algebra II—One unit from 432000, 532010, 532020, 532030, 532040, 532050, 532060
•    Beyond Algebra II—One unit from 433000, 434030, 439010, 439020, 439040, 439050, 439060, 439070, 439080, 439090, 439100, 439110, 533010, 533020, 533070, 533130, 533140, 533150, 533160, 534020, 534040, 534050, 534060, 539030, 539040, 539050, 539060, 539070, 539900

Social Studies/Three Units 

  • Civics or Civics/American Government—One unit from 472100, 472200, 572020
  • World History—One unit from 471000, 471030, 571010, 571020
  • American History—One unit from 470000, 470030, 570010, 570020

Students who do not complete this curriculum will not be eligible for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Source: Arkansas Department of Education