(a) A first-time entering freshman at a state-supported institution of higher education who is admitted to enroll in an associate or a bachelor's degree program shall be tested by the admitting institution for purposes of placement in either college-level credit courses in English and mathematics or remedial courses in English composition, reading, and mathematics.

(b) Remedial courses shall not provide credit toward a degree.

(c) (1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall determine the:

(A) Test or other criteria to be used;

(B) Testing procedures and exemptions;

(C) Minimum scores or criteria below which students at all state-supported institutions of higher education must take remedial courses; and

(D) Minimum scores or criteria to allow simultaneous enrollment in college-level credit and remedial courses.

(2) The board shall base these decisions on:

(A) Consultation with representatives of the state-supported institutions of higher education;

(B) Analysis of the placement procedures presently used by institutions in the state;

(C) Statewide placement testing programs in other states; and

(D) Pilot projects involving testing of entering freshmen at selected institutions in the state.

(3) The board, in collaboration with state-supported institutions of higher education, shall develop by institution uniform measurable exit standards for remedial courses that are comparable to the ACT or SAT equivalent required for college-level enrollment in credit courses to be implemented no later than the fall semester of 2010.

(d) (1) The board shall work with state-supported institutions of higher education to:

(A) Develop innovative alternatives to traditional instruction and delivery methods for remedial courses; and

(B) Provide professional development opportunities to help remedial education faculty gain knowledge in best practices and trends in the instruction and delivery of remedial education.

(2) The board shall report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education by February 1, 2010, on the progress made in addressing the requirements in subdivision (d)(1) of this section.