(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Adult education charter school” means a charter school for individuals at least nineteen (19) years of age that offers a high school diploma program and an industry certification program simultaneously to students;(2) “Applicant” means an eligible entity that seeks to apply for an open-enrollment public charter school or a conversion public charter school by submitting an approved application with supporting documentation to the authorizer and is eligible to conduct business in the state;(3) “Application” means the charter school proposal and supporting documentation submitted to the authorizer that seeks to establish an open-enrollment public charter school or a conversion public charter school;(4) “Authorizer” means the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education acting through the charter authorizing panel established under § 6-23-701, with final approval of all decisions by the State Board of Education;(5) “Charter” means a performance-based contract that:(A) Serves as a governing agreement that exempts a public charter school from specified state and local rules, regulations, policies, and procedures as outlined in the charter;(B) Defines the performance expectations and accountability standards for the approved public charter school;(C) Is governed by Arkansas law; and(D) Establishes the terms and conditions between the authorizer and:(i) An open-enrollment public charter school board; or(ii) The local school district board of directors of a conversion public charter school;(6) “Charter authorizing panel” means the seven (7) member panel appointed by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education that is established and administered by the division to take actions authorized under § 6-23-701;(7) “Charter school board” means the governing body of an open-enrollment public charter school that:(A) Is a nonprofit entity; and(B) Satisfies the relevant requirements of a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);(8) (A) “Conversion public charter school” means a public school:(i) That has converted to operating under the terms of a charter approved by a local school district board of directors and the authorizer; or(ii) (a) Previously designated as a school of innovation under the former District of Innovation Program, § 6-15-2801 et seq. [repealed].(b) A school previously designated as a school of innovation specified under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section shall retain all waivers in effect for the school as of July 1, 2025, until the end of the four-year approval cycle in effect as of July 1, 2025.(c) A conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section may be renewed by the authorizer in accordance with § 6-23-201 et seq.(B) (i) A conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the conversion public charter school unless:(a) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(a)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year;(b) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(b)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year; or(c) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(c)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year.(ii) If no conditions under subdivision (8)(B)(i) of this section exist, then the waivers in effect for a conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall be retained until the end of the charter term in effect as of July 1, 2025;(9) “Eligible entity” means:(A) A public institution of higher education;(B) A private, nonsectarian institution of higher education;(C) A governmental entity; or(D) An organization that:(i) Is nonsectarian in its program, admissions policies, employment practices, and operations; and(ii) Has applied for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);(10) “Founding member” means an individual who is either:(A) A member or an employee of an eligible entity applying for the initial charter for an open-enrollment public charter school; or(B) A member of the initial governing nonadvisory board of an open-enrollment public charter school;(11) “Local school board” means a board of directors exercising the control and management of a public school district;(12) (A) “Open-enrollment public charter school” means a public school that:(i) Is operating under the terms of a charter granted by the authorizer;(ii) May draw its students from any public school district in this state; and(iii) Is a local educational agency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as it existed on April 10, 2009.(B) “Open-enrollment public charter school” also possesses the same meaning as given the term “charter school” in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 7221i, as it existed on April 10, 2009.(C) An open-enrollment public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the open-enrollment public charter school unless the open-enrollment public charter school received:(i) (a) A letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(i)(a) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first;(ii) (a) Received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(ii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first; or(iii) (a) Received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(iii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2028-2029 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first.(D) An open-enrollment public charter school approved by the charter authorizing panel and the State Board of Education to operate as a virtual charter school shall be granted a waiver of requirements in law or rule applicable to the physical presence of students on a school campus as designated by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education upon approval of an initial application to establish a virtual charter school or a renewal of an existing virtual charter school;(13) “Parent” means any parent, legal guardian, person standing in loco parentis, or other person having custody or charge of a school-age child;(14) “Public charter school” means a conversion public charter school or an open-enrollment public charter school; and(15) “Public school” means a school that is part of a public school district under the control and management of a local school district board of directors.
(1) “Adult education charter school” means a charter school for individuals at least nineteen (19) years of age that offers a high school diploma program and an industry certification program simultaneously to students;
(2) “Applicant” means an eligible entity that seeks to apply for an open-enrollment public charter school or a conversion public charter school by submitting an approved application with supporting documentation to the authorizer and is eligible to conduct business in the state;
(3) “Application” means the charter school proposal and supporting documentation submitted to the authorizer that seeks to establish an open-enrollment public charter school or a conversion public charter school;
(4) “Authorizer” means the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education acting through the charter authorizing panel established under § 6-23-701, with final approval of all decisions by the State Board of Education;
(5) “Charter” means a performance-based contract that:(A) Serves as a governing agreement that exempts a public charter school from specified state and local rules, regulations, policies, and procedures as outlined in the charter;(B) Defines the performance expectations and accountability standards for the approved public charter school;(C) Is governed by Arkansas law; and(D) Establishes the terms and conditions between the authorizer and:(i) An open-enrollment public charter school board; or(ii) The local school district board of directors of a conversion public charter school;
(A) Serves as a governing agreement that exempts a public charter school from specified state and local rules, regulations, policies, and procedures as outlined in the charter;
(B) Defines the performance expectations and accountability standards for the approved public charter school;
(C) Is governed by Arkansas law; and
(D) Establishes the terms and conditions between the authorizer and:(i) An open-enrollment public charter school board; or(ii) The local school district board of directors of a conversion public charter school;
(i) An open-enrollment public charter school board; or
(ii) The local school district board of directors of a conversion public charter school;
(6) “Charter authorizing panel” means the seven (7) member panel appointed by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education that is established and administered by the division to take actions authorized under § 6-23-701;
(7) “Charter school board” means the governing body of an open-enrollment public charter school that:(A) Is a nonprofit entity; and(B) Satisfies the relevant requirements of a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);
(A) Is a nonprofit entity; and
(B) Satisfies the relevant requirements of a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);
(8) (A) “Conversion public charter school” means a public school:(i) That has converted to operating under the terms of a charter approved by a local school district board of directors and the authorizer; or(ii) (a) Previously designated as a school of innovation under the former District of Innovation Program, § 6-15-2801 et seq. [repealed].(b) A school previously designated as a school of innovation specified under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section shall retain all waivers in effect for the school as of July 1, 2025, until the end of the four-year approval cycle in effect as of July 1, 2025.(c) A conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section may be renewed by the authorizer in accordance with § 6-23-201 et seq.(B) (i) A conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the conversion public charter school unless:(a) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(a)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year;(b) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(b)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year; or(c) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(c)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year.(ii) If no conditions under subdivision (8)(B)(i) of this section exist, then the waivers in effect for a conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall be retained until the end of the charter term in effect as of July 1, 2025;
(A) “Conversion public charter school” means a public school:(i) That has converted to operating under the terms of a charter approved by a local school district board of directors and the authorizer; or(ii) (a) Previously designated as a school of innovation under the former District of Innovation Program, § 6-15-2801 et seq. [repealed].(b) A school previously designated as a school of innovation specified under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section shall retain all waivers in effect for the school as of July 1, 2025, until the end of the four-year approval cycle in effect as of July 1, 2025.(c) A conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section may be renewed by the authorizer in accordance with § 6-23-201 et seq.
(i) That has converted to operating under the terms of a charter approved by a local school district board of directors and the authorizer; or
(ii) (a) Previously designated as a school of innovation under the former District of Innovation Program, § 6-15-2801 et seq. [repealed].(b) A school previously designated as a school of innovation specified under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section shall retain all waivers in effect for the school as of July 1, 2025, until the end of the four-year approval cycle in effect as of July 1, 2025.(c) A conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section may be renewed by the authorizer in accordance with § 6-23-201 et seq.
(a) Previously designated as a school of innovation under the former District of Innovation Program, § 6-15-2801 et seq. [repealed].
(b) A school previously designated as a school of innovation specified under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section shall retain all waivers in effect for the school as of July 1, 2025, until the end of the four-year approval cycle in effect as of July 1, 2025.
(c) A conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(A)(ii)(a) of this section may be renewed by the authorizer in accordance with § 6-23-201 et seq.
(B) (i) A conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the conversion public charter school unless:(a) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(a)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year;(b) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(b)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year; or(c) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(c)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year.(ii) If no conditions under subdivision (8)(B)(i) of this section exist, then the waivers in effect for a conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall be retained until the end of the charter term in effect as of July 1, 2025;
(i) A conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the conversion public charter school unless:(a) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(a)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year;(b) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(b)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year; or(c) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(c)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year.
(a) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(a)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year;
(1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.
(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(a)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year;
(b) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(b)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year; or
(1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.
(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(b)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year; or
(c) (1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(c)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year.
(1) The conversion public charter school received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.
(2) All waivers of a conversion public charter school under subdivision (8)(B)(i)(c)(1) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year.
(ii) If no conditions under subdivision (8)(B)(i) of this section exist, then the waivers in effect for a conversion public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall be retained until the end of the charter term in effect as of July 1, 2025;
(9) “Eligible entity” means:(A) A public institution of higher education;(B) A private, nonsectarian institution of higher education;(C) A governmental entity; or(D) An organization that:(i) Is nonsectarian in its program, admissions policies, employment practices, and operations; and(ii) Has applied for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);
(A) A public institution of higher education;
(B) A private, nonsectarian institution of higher education;
(C) A governmental entity; or
(D) An organization that:(i) Is nonsectarian in its program, admissions policies, employment practices, and operations; and(ii) Has applied for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);
(i) Is nonsectarian in its program, admissions policies, employment practices, and operations; and
(ii) Has applied for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);
(10) “Founding member” means an individual who is either:(A) A member or an employee of an eligible entity applying for the initial charter for an open-enrollment public charter school; or(B) A member of the initial governing nonadvisory board of an open-enrollment public charter school;
(A) A member or an employee of an eligible entity applying for the initial charter for an open-enrollment public charter school; or
(B) A member of the initial governing nonadvisory board of an open-enrollment public charter school;
(11) “Local school board” means a board of directors exercising the control and management of a public school district;
(12) (A) “Open-enrollment public charter school” means a public school that:(i) Is operating under the terms of a charter granted by the authorizer;(ii) May draw its students from any public school district in this state; and(iii) Is a local educational agency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as it existed on April 10, 2009.(B) “Open-enrollment public charter school” also possesses the same meaning as given the term “charter school” in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 7221i, as it existed on April 10, 2009.(C) An open-enrollment public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the open-enrollment public charter school unless the open-enrollment public charter school received:(i) (a) A letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(i)(a) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first;(ii) (a) Received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(ii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first; or(iii) (a) Received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(iii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2028-2029 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first.(D) An open-enrollment public charter school approved by the charter authorizing panel and the State Board of Education to operate as a virtual charter school shall be granted a waiver of requirements in law or rule applicable to the physical presence of students on a school campus as designated by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education upon approval of an initial application to establish a virtual charter school or a renewal of an existing virtual charter school;
(A) “Open-enrollment public charter school” means a public school that:(i) Is operating under the terms of a charter granted by the authorizer;(ii) May draw its students from any public school district in this state; and(iii) Is a local educational agency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as it existed on April 10, 2009.
(i) Is operating under the terms of a charter granted by the authorizer;
(ii) May draw its students from any public school district in this state; and
(iii) Is a local educational agency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as it existed on April 10, 2009.
(B) “Open-enrollment public charter school” also possesses the same meaning as given the term “charter school” in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 7221i, as it existed on April 10, 2009.
(C) An open-enrollment public charter school that existed on or before July 1, 2025, shall retain all waivers in effect for the open-enrollment public charter school unless the open-enrollment public charter school received:(i) (a) A letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(i)(a) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first;(ii) (a) Received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(ii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first; or(iii) (a) Received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(iii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2028-2029 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first.
(i) (a) A letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(i)(a) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first;
(a) A letter grade of “D” or “F” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.
(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(i)(a) of this section shall be in effect until the end of the 2026-2027 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first;
(ii) (a) Received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(ii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first; or
(a) Received a letter grade of “C” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.
(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(ii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2027-2028 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first; or
(iii) (a) Received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(iii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2028-2029 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first.
(a) Received a letter grade of “A” or “B” under the school rating system under § 6-15-2101 et seq. for the 2022-2023 school year.
(b) All waivers of an open-enrollment public charter school under subdivision (12)(C)(iii)(a) of this section be in effect until the end of the 2028-2029 school year or the end of the charter term, whichever occurs first.
(D) An open-enrollment public charter school approved by the charter authorizing panel and the State Board of Education to operate as a virtual charter school shall be granted a waiver of requirements in law or rule applicable to the physical presence of students on a school campus as designated by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education upon approval of an initial application to establish a virtual charter school or a renewal of an existing virtual charter school;
(13) “Parent” means any parent, legal guardian, person standing in loco parentis, or other person having custody or charge of a school-age child;
(14) “Public charter school” means a conversion public charter school or an open-enrollment public charter school; and
(15) “Public school” means a school that is part of a public school district under the control and management of a local school district board of directors.