This bill proposes the repeal of the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program, as indicated by the deletion of relevant sections in Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 25. In its place, the bill aims to create a new funding category specifically for students receiving special education services and establishes the Community Schools Act Fund. The repeal signifies a shift towards enhancing educational support for students with special needs, ensuring they receive necessary resources and promoting inclusivity within the Arkansas education system.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of Arkansas law to enhance the educational framework, including the introduction of a new funding structure that allocates $3,862 per student receiving special education services, effective from the 2025-2026 school year. It expands eligibility criteria for the educational freedom account program, allowing a maximum of 1.5% of total public school enrollment to participate starting in the 2023-2024 school year, with further expansions in subsequent years. The bill also includes provisions for the Department of Education to inform parents of their rights, mandates annual assessments for participating students, and streamlines the funding process for educational initiatives in the state.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1020 V2 - 1-16-2025 03:42 PM: 6-20-2305(b), 9-28-113(j), 19-5-1277, 19-4-301, 19-4-201, 01-16-2025
Old version HB1020 Original - 11-20-2024 02:32 PM: 6-20-2305(b), 9-28-113(j), 19-5-1277, 19-4-301, 19-4-201
HB 1020: 6-20-2305(b), 9-28-113(j), 19-5-1277, 19-4-301, 19-4-201