005.01.18 Ark. Code R. 014

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 005.01.18-014 - Rules Governing the Public School Choice Act of 2015

1.00 PURPOSE

1.01 These rules shall be known as the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Public School Choice Act of 2015.

1.02 The purpose of these rules is to set forth the process and procedures necessary to administer the Public School Choice Act of 2015.

2.00 AUTHORITY

2.01 The Arkansas State Board of Education promulgated these rules pursuant to the authority granted to it by Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1901 et seq., as amended by Act 1066 of 2017 and Act 9 of 2018, and Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-1-106, 6-11-105 and 25-15-201 et seq.

3.00 DEFINITIONS

As used in these rules:

3.01 "Nonresident District" means a school district other than a student's resident district;

3.02 "Parent" means a student's parent, guardian, or other person having custody or care of the student;

3.03 "Resident district" means the school district in which the student resides as determined under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-202;

3.04 "Sibling" means each of two (2) or more children having a parent in common by blood, adoption, marriage, or foster care; and

3.05 "Transfer student" means a public school student in kindergarten through grade twelve (12) who transfers to a nonresident district through a public school choice option under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules.

4.00 ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM

4.01 A public school choice program is established to enable a student in kindergarten through grade twelve (12) to attend a school in a nonresident district, subject to the limitations under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1906 and Section 7.00 of these rules.

4.02 Each school district shall participate in a public school choice program consistent with Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules.

4.03 These rules do not require a school district to add teachers, staff, or classrooms, or in any way to exceed the requirements and standards established by existing law.

4.04 The board of directors of a public school district shall adopt by resolution specific standards for acceptance and rejection of applications under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules. The standards:

4.04.1 May include without limitation the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building;

4.04.2 May include a claim of a lack of capacity by a school district only if the school district has reached at least ninety percent (90%) of the maximum authorized student population in a program, class, grade level, or school building under federal law, state law, the rules for standards of accreditation, or other applicable regulations;

4.04.3 Shall include a statement that priority will be given to an applicant who has a sibling or stepsibling who:

4.04.3.1 Resides in the same household; and

4.04.3.2 Is already enrolled in the nonresident district by choice.

4.04.4 Shall not include an applicant's:

4.04.4.1 Academic achievement;

4.04.4.2 Athletic or other extracurricular ability;

4.04.4.3 English proficiency level; or

4.04.4.4 Previous disciplinary proceedings, except that an expulsion from another district may be included under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-510.

4.04.5 A school district receiving transfers under the Public School Choice Act of 2015 and these rules shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, or disability.

4.05 A nonresident district shall:

4.05.1 Accept credits toward graduation that were awarded by another district; and

4.05.2 Award a diploma to a nonresident student if the student meets the nonresident district's graduation requirements.

4.06 The superintendent of a school district shall cause public announcements to be made over the broadcast media and either in the print media or on the Internet to inform parents of students in adjoining districts of the:

4.06.1 Availability of the program;

4.06.2 Application deadline; and

4.06.3 Requirements and procedure for nonresident students to participate in the program.

5.00 GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.01 The transfer of a student under the Arkansas Public School Choice Act of 1989 (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-206 [repealed]) or the Public School Choice Act of 2013, is not voided by Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules and shall be treated as a transfer under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules.

5.02 A student may accept only one (1) school choice transfer per school year.

5.02.1 A student who accepts a public school choice transfer may return to his or her resident district during the school year.

5.02.2 If a transferred student returns to his or her resident district or enrolls in a private or home school, the student's transfer is voided, and the student shall reapply if the student seeks a future school choice transfer.

5.03 A transfer student attending a nonresident school under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules may complete all remaining school years at the nonresident district.

5.03.1 A present or future sibling of a student who continues enrollment in the nonresident district under Section 5.03 of these rules and applies for a school choice transfer under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1905 may enroll in the nonresident district if the district has the capacity to accept the sibling without adding teachers, staff, or classrooms or exceeding the regulations and standards established by law.

5.03.2 A present or future sibling of a student who continues enrollment in the nonresident district and who enrolls in the nonresident district under Section 5.03 of these rules may complete all remaining years at the nonresident district.

5.04 The transfer student or the transfer student's parent is responsible for the transportation of the transfer student to and from the school in the nonresident district where the transfer student is enrolled.

5.04.1 The nonresident district may enter into a written agreement with the student, the student's parent, or the resident district to provide the transportation.

5.05 For purposes of determining a school district's state aid, a transfer student is counted as part of the average daily membership of the nonresident district where the transfer student is enrolled.

6.00 APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER

6.01 If a student seeks to attend a school in a nonresident district, the student's parent shall submit an application:

6.01.1 To the nonresident district which shall notify the resident district of the filing of the application within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the application;

6.01.2 On the form that is attached to these rules as Attachment 1; and

6.01.3 Postmarked no later than May 1 of the year in which the student seeks to begin the fall semester at the nonresident district.

6.02 A nonresident district that receives an application under Section 6.01 of these rules shall, upon receipt of the application, place a date and time stamp on the application that reflects the date and time the nonresident district received the application.

6.03 A nonresident district shall review and make a determination on each application in the order in which the application was received by the nonresident district.

6.04 Before accepting or rejecting an application, a nonresident district shall determine whether one of the limitations under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1906 and Section 7.00 of these rules applies to the application.

6.05 By July 1 of the school year in which the student seeks to enroll in a nonresident district under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules, the superintendent of the nonresident district shall notify the parent and the resident district in writing as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected.

6.05.1 If the application is rejected, the superintendent of the nonresident district shall state in the notification letter the reason for the rejection.

6.05.2 If the application is accepted, the superintendent of the nonresident district shall state in the notification letter a reasonable deadline by which the student shall enroll in the nonresident district and after which the acceptance notification is null.

7.00 LIMITATIONS

7.01 If the provisions of Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules conflict with a provision of an enforceable desegregation court order or a district's court-approved desegregation plan, either of which explicitly limits the transfer of students between school districts, the provisions of the order or plan shall govern.

7.01.1 Annually by January 1, a school district that claims a conflict under Section 7.01 of these rules submit proof from a federal court to the Department of Education that the school district has a genuine conflict under an active desegregation order or active court-approved desegregation plan that explicitly limits the transfer of students between school districts.

7.01.2 A school district shall provide the information required under Section 7.01.1 of these rules to:

Office of the Commissioner

ATTN: Arkansas Public School Choice Act

Four Capitol Mall

Little Rock, AR 72201

7.01.3 Proof submitted under Section 7.01.1 of these rules shall contain the following:

7.01.3.1 Documentation that the desegregation order or court-approved desegregation plan is still active and enforceable; and

7.01.3.2 Documentation showing the specific language the school district believes limits its participation in the school choice provisions of this subchapter.

7.01.4 Within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of proof submitted under Section 7.01.1, the department shall notify the school district whether it is required to participate in the school choice provisions of this subchapter.

7.01.4.1 The department may reject incomplete submissions.

7.01.4.2 If the department does not provide a written exemption to the school district, then the district shall be required to participate in the school choice provisions of this subchapter.

7.01.5 The department shall maintain on its website a list of school districts that are not required to participate in the school choice provisions of this subchapter.

7.01.6 The State Board of Education may review a decision of the department upon written petition of the affected school district and may affirm or reverse the decision of the department.

7.02 There is established a numerical net maximum limit on school choice transfers each school year from a school district, less any school choice transfers into the school district under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules of not more than three percent (3%) of the enrollment that exists in the school district as of October 15 of the immediately preceding school year.

7.02.1 If the application for a transfer that causes the school district to meet or exceed the three percent (3%) numerical net maximum limit under Section 7.02 is on behalf of a sibling group, then the school district shall allow all siblings in the sibling group to exercise school choice under Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 19 and these rules.

7.02.2 A student eligible to transfer to a nonresident district under Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-15-430(c)(l), 6-18-227, 6-18-233, or 6-21-812 shall not count against the cap of three percent (3%) of the resident or nonresident district.

7.02.3 Annually by December 15, the Department of Education shall report to each school district the net maximum number of school choice transfers for the next school year.

7.02.4 If a student is unable to transfer due to the limits under Section 7.02 of these rules, the resident district shall give the student priority for a transfer in the first school year in which the district is no longer subject to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1906(b)(l) and Section 7.02 of these rules in the order that the resident district receives notices of applications under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1905 and Section 6.00 of these rules, as evidenced by a notation made by the district on the applications indicating date and time of receipt.

8.00 APPEAL AND REPORTING

8.01 A student whose application for a transfer under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1905 and Section 6.00 of these rules is rejected by the nonresident district may request a hearing before the State Board of Education to reconsider the transfer.

8.01.1 A request for a hearing before the State Board of Education shall be in writing and shall be postmarked no later than ten (10) calendar days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the student or the student's parent receives a notice of rejection of the application under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1905 and Section 6.00 of these rules and shall be mailed to:

Office of the Commissioner

ATTN: Arkansas Public School Choice Act Appeals

Four Capitol Mall

Little Rock, AR 72201

8.01.2 Contemporaneously with the filing of the written appeal with the Office of the Commissioner, the student or student's parent must also mail a copy of the written appeal to the superintendent of the nonresident school district.

8.01.3 In its written appeal, the student or student's parent shall state his or her basis for appealing the decision of the nonresident district.

8.01.4 The student or student's parent shall submit, along with its written appeal, a copy of the notice of rejection from the nonresident school district.

8.01.5 Upon receipt of the written appeal, the Department of Education shall notify the nonresident and resident districts of the appeal. Both districts may submit, in writing, any additional information, evidence, or arguments supporting its rejection of the student's application by mailing such response to the State Board of Education. Such response shall be postmarked no later than ten (10) days after the districts receive notice of the student or parent's appeal. Any response shall be mailed to:

Office of the Commissioner

ATTN: Arkansas Public School Choice Act Appeals

Four Capitol Mall

Little Rock, AR 72201

8.01.6 The Department of Education shall notify the student or student's parent, the nonresident district, and the resident district of the date, time, and location of the hearing before the State Board of Education.

8.01.7 As part of the review process, the student or student's parent may submit supporting documentation that the transfer would be in the best educational, social, or psychological interest of the student.

8.01.8 If the State Board of Education overturns the determination of the nonresident district on appeal, the State Board of Education shall notify the parent, the nonresident district, and the resident district of the basis for the State Board of Education's decision.

9.00 STATE BOARD HEARING PROCEDURES

The following procedures shall apply to hearings conducted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1907 and Section 8.00 of these rules:

9.01 A staff member of the Arkansas Department of Education shall introduce the agenda item.

9.02 All persons wishing to testify before the State Board of Education shall first be placed under oath by the Chairperson of the State Board.

9.03 Each party shall have the opportunity to present an opening statement of no longer than five (5) minutes, beginning with the nonresident school district. If the resident district chooses to participate in the hearing, they shall have like time to present an opening statement after the nonresident district. The Chairperson of the State Board may, for good cause shown and upon request of the party, allow additional time to present their opening statements.

9.04 Each party shall be given twenty (20) minutes to present their cases, beginning with the nonresident school district. If the resident district chooses to participate in the hearing, they shall have like time to present their case after the nonresident district. The Chairperson of the State Board may, for good cause shown and upon request of the party, allow additional time to present their cases.

9.05 The State Board of Education, at its discretion, shall have the authority to require any person associated with the application to appear in person before the State Board as a witness during the hearing. The State Board of Education may accept testimony by affidavit, declaration or deposition.

9.06 Every witness may be subject to direct examination, cross examination and questioning by the State Board of Education.

9.07 For the purposes of the record, documents offered during the hearing by the nonresident district shall be clearly marked in sequential, alphanumeric order (Nl, N2, N3).

9.08 For the purposes of the record, any documents offered during the hearing by the resident district shall be clearly marked in sequential, alphanumeric order (Rl, R2, R3).

9.09 For the purposes of the record, documents offered during the hearing by the appealing party shall be clearly marked in sequential, alphabetic letters (A,B,C).

9.10 The nonresident school district shall have the burden of proof in proving the basis for denial of the transfer.

9.11 The State Board of Education may sustain the rejection of the nonresident district or grant the appeal.

9.12 The State Board of Education may announce its decision immediately after hearing all arguments and evidence or may take the matter under advisement. The State Board shall provide a written decision to the Department of Education, the appealing party, the nonresident district and the resident district within fourteen (14) days of announcing its decision under this section.

005.01.18 Ark. Code R. 014

10/22/2018