The proposed bill seeks to repeal the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act and amend existing laws governing student transfers between public schools and districts. It specifically aims to eliminate Arkansas Code 6-18-227, which defines the Opportunity Public School Choice Act, while emphasizing the importance of providing students with enhanced educational opportunities by allowing transfers from underperforming schools to those meeting performance standards. The bill introduces amendments to the Public School Choice Act of 2015, establishing guidelines for notifying parents and students about transfer options, the application process, and school district responsibilities regarding capacity and transportation. It also mandates an annual report on student participation in public school choice programs to ensure transparency and accountability.

Additionally, the bill includes several key amendments, such as requiring resident districts to notify receiving districts if a student petitioning for transfer has been expelled or has pending expulsion. It allows school district boards to delegate approval authority for transfer petitions while maintaining the power to deny such petitions. The bill expands definitions related to the Public School Choice Act, including the definition of "parent" and updates the definition of "uniformed service member." It establishes that students enrolled in a nonresident district must adhere to that district's policies and outlines conditions for revoking transfers. The bill also streamlines the application process for K-12 students wishing to transfer, extends the application deadline to June 1, and introduces an appeal process for rejected applications, thereby enhancing educational options for students, particularly those who are dependents of uniformed service members or veterans.

Statutes affected:
SB 482: 6-18-227, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2915, 6-15-2105, 6-15-2106, 6-18-1901, 25-15-201, 6-22-101, 6-18-316(a), 6-18-316(c), 6-18-316, 6-18-1901(a), 6-18-1902(2), 6-18-1902(5), 6-18-1903, 6-18-1906, 6-18-510, 6-18-1904, 6-18-206, 6-18-1905