Course Code Management Changes 2026-2027

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Division of Career and Technical Education (DCTE) course code changes have been identified for the 2026-2027 school year. 

The SY26-27 Course Code Updates spreadsheet capturing the changes to be made to the Course Code Management System (CCMS) may be found on the Course Approvals web page under “Related Links.” Districts/schools should compare their master schedules with the changes found in the spreadsheet. Courses will be updated in the CCMS by June 15, 2026.  

Course Catalog 2026-2027 

The DESE annually releases the DESE Course Catalog as an official publication by the Office of Learning Services to inform all stakeholders of approved courses. Local communities, school districts, and open-enrollment public charter schools are encouraged to use the catalog in consultation with students and families to select challenging academic courses and to make informed decisions. DESE Course Catalog updates may include newly introduced courses, modifications to existing courses, or other adjustments.

The DESE Course Catalog is designed to inform stakeholders of the options available to students with regards to graduation pathways. Districts are encouraged to reference the catalog when developing Student Success Plans in partnership with parents and/or guardians and students. Please refer to the DCTE Programs of Study for additional information around career and technical pathways. 

This information is intended to support districts as they develop their Master Schedules and inform families regarding on AR Graduation Requirements. A slide deck and recorded overview of the updates will also be available on the DESE – Learning Services – Curriculum Support webpage. All changes will be implemented in the CCMS system by June 15, 2026.

Summary of Course Code Changes

There are many changes in the CCMS and course code listings this year. There are course deletions, additions, and multiple courses with changes such as corrections made to the name, licensure codes, grade band, state graduation requirement, credit, and/or class size. Changes are detailed below for your convenience: 

English Language Arts

Four new courses will integrate Research into English I–IV. These courses will teach the appropriate grade-level ELA standards in addition to the Research standards, allowing students to earn both their ELA credit and 0.5 Career Focus credit automatically. It is recommended that the ELA teacher consult with a Library Media Specialist in the teaching of the Research standards.

Mathematics

Reminder: The math course Quantitative Reasoning (Transitional) (439120) will be required to be offered in the 2026-27 school year as an option for the third math requirement. Offering the Quantitative Reasoning (Transitional) course prepares students for non-STEM careers and supports success in postsecondary Concurrent Quantitative Reasoning courses. The Quantitative Reasoning (Transitional) course also qualifies as the transitional mathematics course requirement. The prerequisite for Quantitative Reasoning (Transitional) is Algebra I (430000) or Pre-AP Algebra I (430300). 

Cambridge International

Cambridge International course codes have been added to CCMS to support schools that are beginning the implementation of Cambridge International programs. 

AR Required High School Courses

Districts are required to offer distinct courses to students in grades 9-12. The DESE and the State Board of Education (SBE) have provided flexibility in the AR Required High School Courses to ensure that districts are able to offer and teach viable courses to their students. Courses that can be used to fulfill AR graduation requirements can be found here in the Arkansas Graduation Course Code List.

Districts are to offer accelerated course offerings in the four content areas of math, science, ELA, and social studies. Accelerated courses could include Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge AICE, International Baccalaureate (IB), Concurrent Credit, and/ or a substantively similar course or program approved by DESE.

Essential Courses

The new Essential Courses are for IEP-eligible students with significant disabilities who need more support than a general education setting can provide but are on the regular pathway to graduation. Placement must be determined by the IEP team as the least restrictive environment for the student’s academic and support needs. 

Essential Courses should meet the following expectations:

• Instruction must be delivered by a content-licensed teacher and aligned to grade-level standards.
• Class size must be capped at 15 students to ensure individualized instruction and effective support.
• Special education services may be delivered through push-in or other approved service models.
• Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, 9th-grade students must receive instruction from content-licensed teachers in order to earn credit on the regular pathway.
• Please refer to the Meaningful Access Timeline for additional details.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

CTE course changes for the 2026-2027 school are reflective of the Pathway Revisions that were shared in the Spring of 2025. These changes include new pathways, merged pathways, and deleted pathways. Please review the pathways you offer to ensure you have the appropriate course code and course name for each level. 

The 2026-2027 CTE Pathway Guide can be found here and serves as a resource for the updated career cluster framework, durable skills, course standards, pathway charts, Secondary Career Center Guide, and pathway continuation courses.

Computer Science

The Graduating class of 2026-2027 will be the second cohort of students to require one credit of computer science to graduate. Year 1 computer science courses will no longer count towards a 4th math credit.

Students who have received credit for a Year 1 computer science course prior to the 2026-2027 school year will receive a 4th math credit for their computer science course. The following course codes are changing to accommodate this:

• Year 2 and Year 3 computer science courses will continue to count towards a 4th math credit. 
• All current computer science courses will continue to count towards a 3rd science credit. 
• View a complete list of computer science courses on the course grid here.

Accelerated Learning

Course codes for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, Cambridge Advanced (AICE), concurrent credit, and other DESE-approved accelerated learning courses are found within the Course Code Management System and 2026-2027 Course Catalog.  

Student Success Plans | LAUNCH for Students

To support career path completion, Student Success Plans (SSPs) shall be developed by school personnel, in collaboration with parent(s)/guardian(s) and student, and updated annually. The SSP is a dynamic, student-centered planning document that is regularly reviewed by the student and an advisor or mentor to monitor progress and ensure the student remains on track to graduate ready for postsecondary opportunities; SSP development is interconnected with accurate and personalized course selection to meet the enlistment, enrollment, and employment goals of each learner. 

The four required (A.C.A. § 6-15-2911) components of the SSP are: 

• Guiding the student along pathways to graduation;
• Addressing accelerated learning opportunities;
• Addressing academic deficits and needed interventions; 
• Including college and career planning components.

Together, these components ensure that each SSP is individualized, future-focused, and aligned with the student's evolving goals and needs. By integrating academic supports - including strategic course selection, career exploration, and postsecondary readiness planning, the SSP serves as a comprehensive roadmap that equips students to make informed decisions, to meet graduation requirements and successfully transition beyond high school.

LAUNCH for Students- Statewide Implementation 2026-2027

LAUNCH for Students is Arkansas’s new statewide platform designed to streamline college, career, and academic planning for each student. The system is designed to provide a unified and streamlined experience. LAUNCH for Students will give learners access to their Student Success Plans, personalized career exploration tools, graduation planning resources, and real-time information that supports meaningful goal-setting. 

As implementation expands beyond the pilot cohort, all districts must complete essential preparatory steps to ensure full functionality and a smooth experience for all users. All data powering LAUNCH for Students is pulled directly from eSchool. Districts need to ensure that:

• Emails for all students and staff are entered in eSchool - these credentials will drive user access, communication, and system notifications
• Roles are accurately assigned for counselors and advisors within eSchool. 

This document provides step-by-step instructions for completing this process.

Completing these steps in advance will help ensure reliable data flow, reduce technical issues during implementation, and support a successful LAUNCH for Students and educators across Arkansas. Additional information on LAUNCH for Students will be coming out soon. School leaders and counselors will be essential to the support of this platform.

This Commissioner's Memo will be updated as needed. Please contact Sarah Goodwin, at Sarah.Goodwin@ade.arkansas.gov or Amy Counts, at Amy.Counts@ade.arkansas.gov with any questions regarding course codes.