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 16 - CURRICULUM (§§ 6-16-101 — 6-16-1902)
Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 6-16-101 — 6-16-162)
Section 6-16-120 - Academic credit for community service

• (a) Beginning with the 1996-1997 school year and ending with the graduating class of 2025-2026, a student who has completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) clock hours of documented community service in grades nine through twelve (9-12), as certified by the service agency or organization to the school, shall be eligible to receive one (1) academic credit that may be applied toward graduation.

• (b) The community service shall be in programs or activities approved by the local school district board of directors and shall include preparation, action, and reflection components that:
  • (1) May occur in or out of school campuses and during or after school hours;
  • (2) Are federally or state-approved;
  • (3) Have tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), as it existed on January 1, 2023; and
  • (4) Are vetted and approved by a public school student's parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis.

• (c) A local school district board of directors may grant a waiver of this requirement for an individual student with notice to the State Board of Education.

• (d) The state board may promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of this section.

Amended by Act 2023, No. 720,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.

Amended by Act 2023, No. 237,§ 15, eff. 3/8/2023.

Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 216, eff. 7/24/2019.

Acts 1993, No. 648, § 1.