§ 6-47-406 — Public school district and charter school distance learning program

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school may offer and teach distance learning courses to a student enrolled in a private school or a home school if: (1) The student resides in the public school district where the public school or open-enrollment public charter school is located; (2) The student agrees to physically attend the public school or open-enrollment public charter school for the purposes of taking state tests and assessments required for the particular course or courses taken by the student; and (3) The public school or open-enrollment public charter school teaches or offers a distance learning course that has been approved by or otherwise complies with Division of Elementary and Secondary Education rules and standards governing distance learning courses. (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education to waive the requirements under subdivisions (a)(1) and (2) of this section on an individual basis for a student who is unable to attend due to conditions that prevent the child from physically attending a public school or an open-enrollment public charter school. (c) (1) A public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that teaches or offers a distance learning course to one (1) or more home-schooled or private school students who meet the conditions of subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section shall be entitled to an amount equal to one-sixth (1/6) of the state foundation funding amount for each course taught to a private school student or home-schooled student. (2) However, under no circumstances shall a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school be entitled to more than the equivalent of state foundation funding for one (1) average daily membership per student regardless of the number of distance learning courses received by a particular home-schooled or private school student. (d) A home-schooled student or a private school student enrolled in a distance learning course shall not be entitled to any rights, privileges, courses, activities, or services available to a public school student or open-enrollment public charter school student other than receiving appropriate credit for a completed distance learning course. (e) This section shall not be construed to entitle a home-schooled student or private school student to participate in, enroll in, or attend any other courses, activities, or services provided by a public school district or an open-enrollment public charter school. (f) (1) Before a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school offers or teaches to public school students, home-schooled students, or private school students distance learning courses that are not part of the curriculum required by the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts established by the state board, the open-enrollment public school district or public charter school first shall obtain approval of the distance learning courses by the division. (2) A course offered under this subsection shall follow division course frameworks. (g) No public school district or open-enrollment public charter school shall establish or provide a virtual school or distance learning course except as allowed by this section. (h) This section shall not be construed to require a home-schooled student or private school student to take any test or assessment not specifically required for completion of the course for which the student is enrolled.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1842, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1841, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 1840, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2017, No. 867,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2017. Acts 2005, No. 2325, § 2; 2009, No. 1469, § 27.