The bill amends the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act and the Public School Choice Act of 2015 to expand student transfer options, allowing students to transfer to another public school within their resident district as well as to nonresident school districts. Key changes include clarifying that students can enter tuition agreements with nonresident districts and establishing a structured application process for transfers, which must be submitted between January 1 and May 1 of the preceding school year. The bill also outlines conditions under which transfer requests can be denied based on school capacity and mandates that receiving schools accept credits from transferring students and award diplomas if graduation requirements are met.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes non-discrimination by school districts based on factors such as residential address and requires districts to inform parents about the public school choice program. It specifies that transfer students cannot be denied participation in extracurricular activities solely due to their transfer and introduces new language regarding the necessary signatures on the Changing Schools/Athletic Participation form. The bill also prohibits public school personnel and volunteers from recruiting students for athletic purposes and defines "recruiting" in this context, ensuring a fair and transparent process for student transfers and eligibility for extracurricular activities.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1945 V2 - 4-7-2025 10:45 AM: 6-18-202(g), 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(g), 6-18-227(i), 6-18-1901(b), 6-18-1903, 6-18-1906, 04-07-2025, 6-18-510, 6-18-1904, 6-18-206, 6-18-1901, 6-18-1905, 6-22-101, 6-18-1907(b), 6-18-1909(b)
Old version HB1945 Original - 3-31-2025 06:29 PM: 6-18-202(g), 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(g), 6-18-227(i), 6-18-1901(b), 6-18-1903, 6-18-1906, 6-18-510, 6-18-1904, 6-18-206, 6-18-1901, 6-18-1905, 6-22-101, 6-18-1907(b), 6-18-1909(b), 6-18-1909(e)
HB 1945: 6-18-202(g), 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(g), 6-18-227(i), 6-18-1901(b), 6-18-1903, 6-18-1906, 6-18-510, 6-18-1904, 6-18-206, 6-18-1901, 6-18-1905, 6-22-101, 6-18-1907(b), 6-18-1909(b), 6-18-1909(e)
Act 913: 6-18-202(g), 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(g), 6-18-227(i), 6-18-1901(b), 6-18-1903, 6-18-1906, 04-07-2025, 6-18-510, 6-18-1904, 6-18-206, 6-18-1901, 6-18-1905, 6-22-101, 6-18-1907(b), 6-18-1909(b)