All Roll Calls
Yes: 129 • No: 0
ArkansasSB6042025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE REGARDING THE COURSE CHOICE PROGRAM.
Sponsored By: Breanne Davis (Republican), Keith Brooks (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Tighter Course Choice access for students
Arkansas residents in grades 6–12 qualify for Course Choice when their public school does not offer the desired course. Students also qualify when their school is rated D or F and the course is required for graduation there. Students at C-rated schools no longer qualify based on their school's rating alone.
Student credit rights and charge limits
Credits eligible students earn through Course Choice providers must appear on official transcripts and count fully toward graduation requirements. Providers cannot charge eligible students more than the program's applicable per-course amount. This charge limit does not establish that courses are free.
Districts keep funding for participating students
Eligible students count toward foundation funding in the public school district where they attend full time. The law ties per-course amounts to foundation funding generated by eligible students taking one or more courses. The participating district keeps the remaining funds specified by law. This funding rule does not create a direct household payment.
Lower payments for Course Choice providers
Provider payments per course are capped at 8% of the resident district's per-pupil foundation funding, down from 15%. Providers set their standard market rate and report it to the Department of Education, subject to that cap. Providers receive 50% after eligible enrollment is verified on October 1 each year. They receive the remaining 50% only after the student completes the course and earns credit. If the student leaves school or graduates before finishing, the provider receives only the first half.
New rules for Course Choice providers
Recognized providers include independent online providers, colleges, and businesses offering state-board-authorized vocational or technical courses in their field. They also include the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts and other non-district, non-charter education groups. Public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools can also offer courses. However, D- and F-rated schools cannot offer courses through the program.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Breanne Davis
Republican • Senate
Keith Brooks
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/14/2025
House Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 8:06:10 PM
Yes: 95 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/8/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 3:46:51 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB604 is now Act 730
4/18/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/15/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/15/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/14/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/14/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/14/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/14/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/10/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE
4/8/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/8/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
4/8/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/8/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/7/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE
4/1/2025SenateFiled
4/1/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB604 - Introduced
4/1/2025
Act Version
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