Enrollment or re-enrollment in local schools

  1. Law
  2. Arkansas Code
  3. Education
  4. Elementary and Secondary Education Generally
  5. Educational Standards and Quality Generally
  6. Home Schools
  7. Enrollment or re-enrollment in local schools

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  1. (a) A local public school district:

    1. (1) Shall afford a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school the same rights and privileges enjoyed by other public school students; and

    2. (2) Shall not deny a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school any of the following solely on the basis of having attended a home school:

      1. (A) Award of course credits earned in the home school;

      2. (B) Placement in the proper grade level and promotion to the next grade level;

      3. (C) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a diploma or graduation;

      4. (D) Participation in any academic or extracurricular activity;

      5. (E) Membership in school-sponsored clubs, associations, or organizations; or

      6. (F) Scholarships.

  2. (b) To enroll or re-enroll in a public school, a home-schooled student shall submit to the public school:

    1. (1) A transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school; and

    2. (2) A portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation:

      1. (A) Curricula used in the home school;

      2. (B) Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and

      3. (C) Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress.

  3. (c) A public school shall place a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in the public school at a grade level and academic course level equivalent to or higher than the home-schooled student's grade level and academic course level in the home school:

    1. (1) As indicated by the home-schooled student's:

      1. (A) Transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school;

      2. (B) Score of at least the thirtieth percentile on a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment taken in the past year; and

      3. (C) Portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation:

        1. (i) Curricula used in the home school;

        2. (ii) Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and

        3. (iii) Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress; or

    2. (2) By mutual agreement between the public school and the home-schooled student's parent or legal guardian.

  4. (d) If the student is unable to provide a nationally recognized norm-referenced test score, the school shall:

    1. (1) Assess the student using a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment; or

    2. (2) Waive the nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment requirement.

  5. (e) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, if the home-schooled student does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the public school shall have sole authority to determine the home-schooled student's grade placement and course credits based on the same methods used when a student who attended another public or private school enrolls or re-enrolls in the public school.

  6. (f) A public school may waive all requirements under subsections (b) and (c) of this section and enroll the student by mutual agreement with the parent or guardian.

  7. (g) A home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a local public school shall attend classes for at least nine (9) months immediately before graduation before the student can become eligible to graduate from the public school with a diploma.


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