English Language Arts Standards and Courses

The Arkansas English Language Arts Standards represent the work of the educators from across the state. These documents include expectations for what all students should know and be able to do. The standards also include teacher notes, which will help all teachers across the state implement the new standards with fidelity. Full implementation of these standards began in the 2017-2018 school year.

Please Note: All educators instructing identified English Learners [including, core content, elective, and English Language Development (ELD) educators] are expected to teach toward both content standards and language proficiency standards (learn more here).

ELA Standards

The 2023 K-12 ELA Standards (grade level) are to be fully implemented in 2023-24.

Kindergarten thru Grade 12 (PDF/DOCX)

K-2 ELA Standards Resource Guide (DOC)
3-5 ELA Standards Resource Guide (DOC)
6-8 ELA Standards Resource Guide (PDF/DOC)
9-12 ELA Standards Resource Guide (PDF/DOC)
AR ELA Standards Side-by-Side (SHEETS)
English I-IV with Personal Communication (PDF)
English I-IV with Professional Communication (PDF)

English 0.5 Credit Courses

The 0.5 credit English courses are intended to serve as English credits that address the literacy needs of students interested in specific career pathways for Literature, Communications, and/or Technical Professions. Each pathway has a revised set of English Language Arts 11/12 standards that are tailored to the course. These courses are not designed to embed or supplant a required credit from another content area as each English course is only one-half credit. Districts that elect to offer these courses may enroll students in grades 9 through 12. These courses may also be offered as electives and would count as career focused credits. Please consider a teacher’s knowledge and expertise in implementing these courses. Students in grades 9 and 10 who elect to take these courses will still be required to take the ATLAS ELA Summative test which aligns to grade level standards for ELA I and II.

English Literature

English: Comparative Literature (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: Cross-Cultural Literature (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: Film as Literature (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: U.S. History Seminal Documents (0.5 Credit) (PDF)

Communications

English: Reading and Writing for Business Professions (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: Public Relations (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: Mass Communications (0.5 Credit) (PDF)

Technical Professions

English: Reading and Writing for Trade and Industry Professions (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: Entrepreneurship and Innovation (0.5 Credit) (PDF)
English: Reading and Writing for STEM Professions (0.5 Credit) (PDF)

Additional Electives

Academic Reading Grades 6-12 (2024) (PDF/DOC)
Academic Study of the Bible (PDF/DOCX) (also available: Guidance Document in PDF and DOCX formats)
Creative Writing - One Semester 0.5 Credit (PDF/DOCX)
Creative Writing - One Year 1 Credit (PDF/DOCX)
Debate I (PDF/DOCX)
Debate II (PDF/DOCX)
Debate III (PDF/DOCX)
Debate IV (PDF/DOCX)
Dramatic Literature (PDF/DOCX)
ELA Drama (PDF/DOCX)
Forensics I (PDF/DOCX)
Forensics II (PDF/DOCX)
Forensics III (PDF/DOCX)
Forensics IV (PDF/DOCX)
Journalism I (PDF/DOCX)
Journalism II (PDF/DOCX)
Journalism III (PDF/DOCX)
Journalism IV (PDF/DOCX)
Personal Communication (PDF/DOCX)
Professional Communication (PDF/DOCX)
Strategic Reading Grades 6-12 (2024) (PDF/DOC)
Transitional Literacy Course Information