Six Arkansas school districts that are failing under new standards face an ultimatum from state education officials: Show progress, or risk state intervention.

"These F's need to go away when we issue grades next summer," state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva told the leaders of those districts during a state Board of Education meeting.

The Watson Chapel, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Lafayette County, Crossett and Fordyce school districts all received F letter grades under a new accountability system approved by lawmakers earlier this year. The districts' superintendents and board presidents, as well as the leaders of their respective education cooperatives, presented improvement plans to the state board Thursday.

The leaders also provided signed statements of assurance that they woul

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