The bill amends Arkansas Code 6-10-127 to establish new requirements for public school districts regarding the makeup of missed school days due to exceptional or emergency circumstances. It allows superintendents to add a minimum of sixty minutes to the beginning or end of a regular school day to compensate for missed days. Additionally, each public school district is mandated to include an additional five days or the hourly equivalent in their annual school calendar specifically for making up missed days. These additional days must be utilized before any extra student attendance days can be granted by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Furthermore, the bill outlines that if a public school district is closed for more than ten student attendance days due to exceptional or emergency circumstances, they must either make up the missed days or submit a request for additional attendance days if they have an approved alternative instruction plan. The definition of "exceptional or emergency circumstance" is expanded to include various unforeseen events, such as contagious disease outbreaks and active shooter threats. The bill also clarifies that attendance days authorized for alternative instruction during closures will count towards the required number of instructional days or hours for funding eligibility related to teacher salary increases.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1370 Original - 2-3-2025 11:35 AM: 6-10-127, 6-16-102, 6-17-2403(c)
Old version HB1370 V2 - 3-3-2025 10:22 AM: 6-10-127, 03-03-2025, 6-16-102, 6-17-2403(c)
HB 1370: 6-10-127, 6-16-102, 6-17-2403(c)