The bill amends the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act and the Public School Choice Act of 2015 to expand student transfer options by allowing transfers to any public school within a student's resident district, in addition to nonresident districts. Key provisions include clarifying that students can enter tuition agreements with nonresident districts and mandating that receiving districts accept credits from other districts. The bill also outlines parental responsibilities regarding student attendance and compliance with conduct codes, while ensuring that no student is denied transfer based on capacity unless specific criteria are met. Furthermore, it prohibits discrimination against transferring students based on factors such as residential address and streamlines the application process by eliminating the requirement for in-person filing.

Additionally, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for school districts to provide annual statistics on transfer applications to the Secretary of the Department of Education. It addresses the transfer process for students who are dependents of uniformed service members and allows for a hearing before the state board if a transfer application is rejected. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance educational opportunities and transparency in the school choice process, making it easier for families to navigate student transfers between public school districts.

Statutes affected:
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)
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)
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)