Arkansas § 6-15-504 - Enrollment or re-enrollment in local schools.

§ 6-15-504. Enrollment or re-enrollment in local schools.

A local public school district: 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 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: Award of course credits earned in the home school; Placement in the proper grade level and promotion to the next grade level; Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a diploma or graduation; Participation in any academic or extracurricular activity; Membership in school-sponsored clubs, associations, or organizations; or Scholarships. To enroll or re-enroll in a public school, a home-schooled student shall submit to the public school: A transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school; and A portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation: Curricula used in the home school; Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress. 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: As indicated by the home-schooled student's: Transcript listing all courses taken and semester grades from the home school; Score of at least the thirtieth percentile on a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment taken in the past year; and Portfolio of indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress, including without limitation: Curricula used in the home school; Tests taken and lessons completed by the home-schooled student; and Other indicators of the home-schooled student's academic progress; or By mutual agreement between the public school and the home-schooled student's parent or legal guardian. If the student is unable to provide a nationally recognized norm-referenced test score, the school shall: Assess the student using a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment; or Waive the nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment requirement. 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. 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. 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.