§ 6-15-510 — Participation in interscholastic activities at private schools - Definitions

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Athletic activity" means a varsity sport or another competitive sports-related contest, game, event, or exhibition that involves an individual student or teams of students between schools; (2) "Homeschooled student" means a student legally enrolled in an Arkansas home school; (3) "Interscholastic activity" means an activity between schools subject to rules of the Arkansas Activities Association that is: (A) Outside the regular curriculum of the school, including without limitation an athletic activity, a fine arts program, or a special interest club or group; and (B) Taught by an individual with a minimum of a high school diploma; and (4) "Parent" is a legal guardian or legal custodian. (b) A private school may approve a homeschooled student to participate in an interscholastic activity if: (1) The homeschooled student or his or her parent notifies the administrative head of the private school in writing: (A) Of the homeschooled student's request to participate in the interscholastic activity before the signup, tryout, or participation deadlines established for students enrolled in the private school; and (B) That the homeschooled student has demonstrated academic eligibility by obtaining: (i) A minimum test score of the thirtieth percentile on the Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition, or another nationally recognized norm-referenced test in the previous twelve (12) months; or (ii) A minimum score on a test approved by the State Board of Education; and (2) The homeschooled student lives within a twenty-five-mile radius of the private school. (c) If a homeschooled student's written request to participate in the interscholastic activity is approved under this section, the homeschooled student: (1) Although not guaranteed participation in an interscholastic activity, shall have an equal opportunity to try out and participate in interscholastic activities without discrimination; and (2) Shall not participate unless he or she meets the criteria for participation in the interscholastic activity that apply to students enrolled in the private school, including: (A) Tryout criteria; (B) Standards of behavior and codes of conduct; (C) The academic criteria under subdivision (b)(1)(B) of this section; (D) Practice times; (E) Required drug testing; (F) Permission slips, waivers, and physical exams; and (G) Participation or activity fees. (d) A homeschooled student who participates in an interscholastic activity may be: (1) Required to be at the private school only when participation in the interscholastic activity requires other students who participate in the interscholastic activity to be at school; and (2) Transported by the private school to and from interscholastic activities as the private school transports other students who are enrolled in the private school. (e) (1) (A) A student who withdraws from an Arkansas Activities Association member school to be homeschooled shall be eligible to participate in any interscholastic activity in a private school. (B) However, a homeschooled student shall not be eligible to participate in an interscholastic activity that is a varsity sport in the private school if he or she withdrew from an interscholastic activity that is a varsity sport at an Arkansas Activities Association member school during the previous three hundred sixty-five (365) days. (2) A student who has not withdrawn from an Arkansas Activities Association member school to become homeschooled may begin participating in an interscholastic activity in a private school immediately upon being approved to participate. (f) (1) A homeschooled student approved under subsection (b) of this section to participate in interscholastic activities at a private school may begin participating in an interscholastic activity that is an athletic activity immediately upon being approved to participate by July 1 of the school year the homeschooled student will be participating in the interscholastic activity. (2) A homeschooled student approved under subsection (b) of this section may immediately participate in rehearsals, tryouts, practices, auditions, classes, or other endeavors associated with the interscholastic activity that is an athletic activity. (3) If an interscholastic activity is not an athletic activity, a homeschooled student approved under subsection (b) of this section to participate in interscholastic activities at a private school may begin participating in the interscholastic activities that are not athletic activities immediately upon being approved to participate. (g) A homeschooled student shall not participate in interscholastic activities at more than one (1) private school at the same time. (h) A private school may establish additional requirements, policies, or standards for homeschooled students to participate in interscholastic activities at the private school under this section. (i) A private school shall not be required to allow a homeschooled student to participate in an interscholastic activity under this section.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 630,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 209, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 656,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019. Added by Act 2017, No. 453,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.