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ArkansasSB1672025 Regular SessionSenate

TO AMEND THE DATES BY WHICH CERTAIN REQUESTS TO TRANSFER PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED.

Sponsored By: Alan Clark (Republican), Keith Brooks (Republican)

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Families get longer school choice window

Arkansas's Public School Choice Act of 2015 accepts applications from January 1 through June 1, instead of ending May 1. Applications to attend a district outside the student's home district must go to both districts on a state-approved form. They must be postmarked or delivered by June 1 of the year the student seeks to start the fall semester. Separate deadline rules apply to dependents of uniformed service members and veterans. The receiving district must give an acceptance or rejection notice by July 1. The athletic transfer form is limited to transfer eligibility under this program, with receiving-district enrollment required by July 1 before grades 7–12.

Foster families get more transfer time

A foster child's school transfer request must use a state-approved form and be postmarked by June 1, instead of May 1. This deadline applies to the year the child seeks to start the fall semester in the receiving district. By July 1, the superintendent must tell the foster parent or child whether the request is accepted or rejected. A rejection must include the reason. An acceptance must set a reasonable enrollment deadline; missing that deadline cancels the acceptance.

More transfer time for school families

Arkansas students can seek a transfer when their resident district needs Level 5 intensive support or their school or district has an F rating. The qualifying status must apply when they request the transfer. Families must notify both districts from January 1 through June 1 for the next school year, rather than by May 1. Districts must promptly explain transfer options when the qualifying rating or status is assigned. Students age 18 or older can apply themselves during this window, and transfers remain in effect until high school graduation. Available destinations include districts without Level 5 status or an F rating, and the resident district if it is not rated F. Receiving districts must give acceptance or rejection notices by July 1, including for applications within the resident district. For transfers outside the resident district, written notice goes to the parent or guardian and resident district; the former deadline exception is removed. The athletic transfer form is limited to transfer eligibility under this program, with receiving-district enrollment required by July 1 before grades 7–12.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Alan Clark

    Republican • Senate

  • Keith Brooks

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 161 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 2:02:06 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/17/2025

House Vote - Monday, March 17, 2025 2:32:45 PM

Yes: 94 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/3/2025

Senate Vote - Monday, March 3, 2025 2:07:21 PM

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB167 is now Act 563

    4/14/2025Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/9/2025Senate

  3. Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

    4/9/2025Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/8/2025Senate

  5. Read the third time and passed.

    4/8/2025Senate

  6. Rules suspended.

    4/8/2025Senate

  7. House Amendment No. 1 read first time, rule suspended, read second time and concurred in.

    4/8/2025Senate

  8. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

    4/8/2025Senate

  9. Returned from the House as passed as amended # 1 .

    3/17/2025Senate

  10. Returned to Senate as passed, as amended # 1

    3/17/2025House

  11. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    3/17/2025House

  12. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    3/12/2025House

  13. Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.

    3/12/2025House

  14. Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.

    3/12/2025House

  15. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 1

    3/6/2025House

  16. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE

    3/3/2025House

  17. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    3/3/2025House

  18. Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.

    3/3/2025Senate

  19. Read the third time and passed.

    3/3/2025Senate

  20. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

    2/27/2025Senate

  21. Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.

    2/27/2025Senate

  22. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

    2/27/2025Senate

  23. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1

    2/26/2025Senate

  24. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE

    2/3/2025Senate

  25. Filed

    1/31/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB167 - Introduced

    1/31/2025

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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