2019 Arkansas Code
Title 6 - Education
Subtitle 2 - Elementary and Secondary Education Generally
Chapter 15 - Educational Standards and Quality Generally
Subchapter 5 - Home Schools
§ 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.
