The bill amends the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act and the Public School Choice Act of 2015 by changing the deadlines for submitting applications for school transfers. Specifically, it establishes that requests for transfers must be submitted no earlier than January 1 and no later than June 1 of the school year preceding the intended transfer. This change applies to both general student transfers and those specifically for foster children. Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts notify parents or guardians of the acceptance or rejection of transfer applications by July 1 of the school year in which the transfer is sought.

Key amendments include the replacement of the term "another" with "a nonresident" in the context of school district transfers, and the adjustment of deadlines from May 1 to June 1 for various notifications and applications related to school transfers. The bill also clarifies the notification process for students enrolled in districts classified as needing intensive support and ensures that the opportunity to continue attending the new school remains until graduation. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the transfer process and provide clearer timelines for families seeking to change schools.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB167 Original - 1-31-2025 09:57 AM: 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(m), 6-18-233(d), 6-18-1904(f), 6-18-1905(a), 6-18-1905(e)
Old version SB167 V2 - 2-27-2025 01:02 PM: 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(m), 6-18-233(d), 6-18-1904(f), 6-18-1905(a), 6-18-1905(e)
Old version SB167 V3 - 3-12-2025 01:46 PM: 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(m), 6-18-233(d), 6-18-1904(f), 6-18-1905(a), 6-18-1905(e)
SB 167: 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(m), 6-18-233(d), 6-18-1904(f), 6-18-1905(a), 6-18-1905(e)
Act 563: 6-18-227(b), 6-18-227(d), 6-18-227(m), 6-18-233(d), 6-18-1904(f), 6-18-1905(a), 6-18-1905(e)