The bill amends provisions of the Arkansas Code to grant school districts greater flexibility in establishing and managing alternative learning environments for students with disciplinary, social, or behavioral issues. Specifically, it modifies Arkansas Code 6-18-503(a)(1)(C) to allow districts to place students in alternative learning environments if such environments are provided by the district. Additionally, it changes Arkansas Code 6-48-102 to indicate that school districts may provide alternative learning environments rather than being required to do so, and outlines various methods for establishing these environments, including cooperation with other districts and partnerships with higher education institutions.

The amendments also require that any school district providing an alternative learning environment submit annual reports to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. These reports must include demographic information about the students in the alternative learning environment, as well as any additional information required by the division, along with a compliance assurance statement. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the ability of school districts to address the needs of students who require alternative educational settings.

Statutes affected:
HB 1903: 6-18-503(a)
Act 911: 6-18-503(a)