(a) The following grading scale shall be used by all public secondary schools in the state for all courses, except advanced placement courses and courses offered under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program:

(1) A = 90-100;

(2) B = 80-89;

(3) C = 70-79;

(4) D = 60-69; and

(5) F = 59 and below.

(b) Each letter grade shall be given a numeric value for the purpose of determining grade average. Except for advanced placement courses, courses offered under the program, and honors courses, the numeric value for each letter grade shall be:

(1) A = 4 points;

(2) B = 3 points;

(3) C = 2 points;

(4) D = 1 point; and

(5) F = 0 points.

(c)

(1) The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate equivalents for advanced placement and college courses and shall recommend a uniform grading structure for honors courses.

(2) Weighted credit shall be allowed for advanced placement courses and courses offered under the program if:

(A) The student takes the entire advanced placement course or the entire course offered in the program in a particular subject;

(B) The student completes the applicable test offered by the College Board for advanced placement courses at the end of the advanced placement course, or the applicable test offered by the International Baccalaureate at the time prescribed by the organization; and

(C) (i) The teacher of the advanced placement course meets Arkansas teacher licensure requirements and:

(a) Attends a College Board Advanced Placement Summer Institute no less than one (1) time every five (5) years;

(b) Completes an additional training plan for advanced placement within three (3) years of commencing the additional training plan; or

(c) Attends College-Board-endorsed training at intervals recommended by the College Board; or

(ii) The teacher of the course offered under the program meets Arkansas teacher licensure requirements and attends the training required by the organization.

(3)

(A) The local school district board of directors may decide whether to adopt a policy to allow high school students in the school district to take college courses for weighted credit equal to the numeric grade awarded in advanced placement courses, courses offered under the program, and honors classes.

(B)

(i) If a local school district board of directors adopts a policy as set forth in subdivision (c)(3)(A) of this section, the school district must apply to the Department of Education through the Assistant Commissioner for Accountability for approval of courses to be designated "concurrent enrollment college courses".

(ii) The application shall be reviewed for approval to assign a numeric grade value, which may include weighted credit, based on the following:

(a) A letter from the superintendent of the school district or principal of the school describing how the course exceeds expectations for coursework required under the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts; and

(b) The grade level or levels of students who will be enrolled in the course.

(d) A school district shall have the option of using the grading scale in this section in the school district's elementary schools.