(a) All students between three (3) and twenty-one (21) years of age who are blind or visually impaired or who are deaf or hard of hearing and who reside in the State of Arkansas shall be eligible to apply and be referred for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind at no cost to the student or the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the student.
(b) The Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind may adopt an admission policy, including requirements for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, that is necessary to ensure compliance with the purpose and function of the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind.
(c) (1) A public school district, an open-enrollment public charter school, an education service cooperative, or an early childhood facility that receives state or federal funds shall at least annually at an individualized education program meeting share information with a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to a student regarding services available from the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind and whether the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student if the student:(A) Is between three (3) and twenty-one (21) years of age;(B) Qualifies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2025; and(C) Is blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing.(2) If the individualized education program team determines that the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student, a referral on behalf of the student shall be made to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind.(3) (A) If the individualized education program team does not determine that the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student, the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the student may submit an application for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in accordance with Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind policy.(B) A student who is accepted for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind under subdivision (c)(3)(A) of this section shall unenroll from the school in which he or she is currently enrolled and the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind shall become responsible for all requirements under the student's individualized education program.
(1) A public school district, an open-enrollment public charter school, an education service cooperative, or an early childhood facility that receives state or federal funds shall at least annually at an individualized education program meeting share information with a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to a student regarding services available from the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind and whether the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student if the student:(A) Is between three (3) and twenty-one (21) years of age;(B) Qualifies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2025; and(C) Is blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing.
(A) Is between three (3) and twenty-one (21) years of age;
(B) Qualifies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2025; and
(C) Is blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing.
(2) If the individualized education program team determines that the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student, a referral on behalf of the student shall be made to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind.
(3) (A) If the individualized education program team does not determine that the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student, the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the student may submit an application for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in accordance with Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind policy.(B) A student who is accepted for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind under subdivision (c)(3)(A) of this section shall unenroll from the school in which he or she is currently enrolled and the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind shall become responsible for all requirements under the student's individualized education program.
(A) If the individualized education program team does not determine that the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind is the appropriate placement for a student, the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the student may submit an application for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in accordance with Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind policy.
(B) A student who is accepted for admission to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind under subdivision (c)(3)(A) of this section shall unenroll from the school in which he or she is currently enrolled and the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind shall become responsible for all requirements under the student's individualized education program.
(d) An eligible student from outside the state may be admitted to the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind upon the payment of tuition and fees in accordance with Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind policy.
(e) A student who is older than twenty-one (21) years of age who is blind or visually impaired or who is deaf or hard of hearing may attend the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in order to access career and technical programs made available by the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in accordance with Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind policy.