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 18 - STUDENTS (§§ 6-18-101 — 6-18-2608) › Subchapter 19 - PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015 (§§ 6-18-1901 — 6-18-1909) › Section 6-18-1905 - Application for transfer

(a)
(1)
An application under this section shall be accepted no earlier than January 1 and no later than May 1 each year.
(2)
(A)
Each school district shall have a policy stating the method by which a parent or guardian of a student, or a student who is eighteen (18) years of age or older, may submit a school choice application, including without limitation:
(i)
Regular mail;
(ii)
Email; and
(iii)
Hand delivery.
(B)
A public school district shall not require in-person filing of an application.
(3)
If a student seeks to attend a school in a nonresident district, the student's parent or guardian, or a student who is eighteen (18) years of age or older, shall submit an application:
(A)
To the nonresident district and to the student's resident district;
(B)
On a form approved by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education; and
(C)
Postmarked or delivered no later than May 1 of the year in which the student seeks to begin the fall semester at the nonresident district, except as otherwise provided for dependents of uniformed service members and uniformed service veterans under this subchapter.
(b)
Both the nonresident district and the resident district shall, upon receipt of the application, place a date and time stamp on the application that reflects the date and time each district received the application.
(c)
A nonresident district shall review and make a determination on each application in the order in which the application was received by the nonresident district.
(d)
Before accepting or rejecting an application, a nonresident district shall determine whether the limitation under §
6-18-1906
applies to the application.
(e)
(1)
By July 1 of the school year in which a student seeks to enroll in a nonresident district under this subchapter, the superintendent of the nonresident district shall notify the student's parent or guardian and the resident district in writing as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected.
(2)
If an application is rejected, the superintendent of the nonresident district shall state in the notification letter the reason for rejection.
(3)
If an application is accepted, the superintendent of the nonresident district shall state in the notification letter a reasonable deadline by which the student shall enroll in the nonresident district and after which the acceptance notification is null.
(4)
[Repealed.]
(f)
(1)
For each application received under this section, the nonresident district shall notify the applicant in writing as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected within fifteen (15) calendar days of the nonresident district's receipt of the application.
(2)
A transfer of the student is effective immediately upon the nonresident district's written notification of an acceptance.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 790,§ 10, eff. 8/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 790,§ 9, eff. 8/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 649,§ 4, eff. 8/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 649,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 490,§ 6, eff. 7/28/2021.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 754,§ 2, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 754,§ 3, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 171,§ 4, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 171,§ 3, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1579, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 1066,§ 3, eff. 4/6/2017.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 560,§ 6, eff. 3/20/2015.
Added by Act 2013, No. 1227,§ 6, eff. 4/16/2013.