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 15 - EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND QUALITY GENERALLY (§§ 6-15-101 — 6-15-3204) › Subchapter 5 - HOME SCHOOLS (§§ 6-15-501 — 6-15-510) › Section 6-15-504 - Enrollment or re-enrollment in local schools

(a)
A local public school district:
(1)
Shall afford a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school the same rights and privileges enjoyed by other public school students; and
(2)
Shall not deny a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school any of the following solely on the basis of having attended a home school:
(A)
Award of course credits earned in the home school;
(B)
Placement in the proper grade level and promotion to the next grade level;
(C)
Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a diploma or graduation;
(D)
Participation in any academic or extracurricular activity;
(E)
Membership in school-sponsored clubs, associations, or organizations; or
(F)
Scholarships.
(b)
To enroll or re-enroll in a public school, a home-schooled student shall submit to the public school:
(1)
A transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school; and
(2)
A portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation:
(A)
Curricula used in the home school;
(B)
Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and
(C)
Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress.
(c)
A public school shall place a home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in the public school at a grade level and academic course level equivalent to or higher than the home-schooled student's grade level and academic course level in the home school:
(1)
As indicated by the home-schooled student's:
(A)
Transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school;
(B)
Score of at least the thirtieth percentile on a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment taken in the past year; and
(C)
Portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation:
(i)
Curricula used in the home school;
(ii)
Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and
(iii)
Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress; or
(2)
By mutual agreement between the public school and the home-schooled student's parent or legal guardian.
(d)
If the student is unable to provide a nationally recognized norm-referenced test score, the school shall:
(1)
Assess the student using a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment; or
(2)
Waive the nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment requirement.
(e)
Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, if the home-schooled student does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the public school shall have sole authority to determine the home-schooled student's grade placement and course credits based on the same methods used when a student who attended another public or private school enrolls or re-enrolls in the public school.
(f)
A public school may waive all requirements under subsections (b) and (c) of this section and enroll the student by mutual agreement with the parent or guardian.
(g)
A home-schooled student who enrolls or re-enrolls in a local public school shall attend classes for at least nine (9) months immediately before graduation before the student can become eligible to graduate from the public school with a diploma.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 863,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 832,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.
Acts 1985 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 40, § 4; 1985 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 42, § 4; A.S.A. 1947, § 80-1503.7; Acts 1995, No. 522, § 2; 1997, No. 400, § 3; 1999, No. 1117, § 3; 2003, No. 1793, § 1; 2007, No. 617, §§ 7, 8.