Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104) › Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206) › Chapter 23 - ARKANSAS QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT OF 2013 (§§ 6-23-101 — 6-23-1008) › Subchapter 9 - THE OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES LOAN FUND (§§ 6-23-901 — 6-23-908) › Section 6-23-908 - Open-Enrollment Public Charter School Facilities Funding Aid Program

(a)
There is created the Open-Enrollment Public Charter School Facilities Funding Aid Program.
(b)
(1)
An open-enrollment public charter school that meets the criteria under subsection (c) of this section is eligible to receive funding from the program on a pro rata distribution of available funding per student, based upon the open-enrollment public charter school's previous year three-quarter average daily membership.
(2)
For an open-enrollment public charter school in its first year of operation, the first year operating under a new license, the first year adding a new campus, or in any year a grade is added at any campus, the funding from the program shall be determined using the method under §
6-23-501(a)(2)(A)
.
(c)
In addition to the open-enrollment public charter school's successful completion of the charter application review and approval process, the open-enrollment public charter school shall meet all of the following criteria in order to receive funding under the program:
(1)
Virtual technology is not the primary method of delivering instruction;
(2)
The facility meets all applicable health, fire, and safety codes and all accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
42 U.S.C. § 12101
et seq., and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
20 U.S.C. § 1400
et seq., as reviewed by the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation or another appropriate state agency; and
(3)
The open-enrollment public charter school is not:
(A)
Classified as in need of Level 5 - Intensive support under §
6-15-2915
or in fiscal distress under the Arkansas Fiscal Assessment and Accountability Program, §
6-20-1901
et seq., and the corresponding rules adopted by the State Board of Education;
(B)
In receipt of a rating of "F" under §
6-15-2105
; or
(C)
Placed in probationary status by the state charter school authorizer under §
6-23-105
.
(d)
The funds received by an open-enrollment public charter school under this section shall be used only for the lease, purchase, renovation, repair, construction, installation, restoration, alteration, modification, or operation and maintenance of an approved facility that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
(e)
(1)
If an open-enrollment public charter school fails to use funds received under this section as provided under subsection (d) of this section or no longer has the need for the funds, the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation shall certify and recoup the funds from the operating funds designated to the open-enrollment public charter school through the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and remitted directly by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
(2)
The operating funds from which the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation may recoup funds from an open-enrollment public charter school are limited to:
(A)
State funding distributed under §
6-20-2305
, including without limitation state foundation funding and state categorical funding;
(B)
Federal funding to the extent allowed under federal law; and
(C)
The net assets of an open-enrollment public charter school deemed property of the state upon revocation or nonrenewal of the charter after all legal debts owed to third parties are satisfied.
(3)
The state shall hold a preferred security interest in the funds received under this section as provided under subsection (d) of this section or the amount of funds no longer needed.
(f)
This section does not entitle or subject an open-enrollment public charter school to the Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Funding Act, §
6-20-2501
et seq., or the Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program Act, §
6-21-801
et seq.
(g)
The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may promulgate rules to implement this section.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 774,§ 13, eff. 7/28/2021.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 757,§ 58, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1753, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 933,§ 9, eff. 8/1/2017.
Added by Act 2015, No. 739,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.