School Choice deadline May 1

Public School Choice in Arkansas allows students to attend a public school in a district other than the one in which they reside.

Applications to switch school districts must be submitted by May 1 in order to qualify for provisions under the Arkansas Public School Choice Act of 2013.

Pursuant to standards adopted by a non-resident school board, a non-resident district may reserve the right to accept and reject applicants based on capacity of programs, class, grade level, or school building.

Likewise, a non-resident district’s standards may provide for the rejection of an applicant based upon the submission of false or misleading information to the above listed request for information when that information directly impacts the legal qualifications of an applicant to transfer pursuant to the School Choice Act.

However, a non-resident district’s standards shall not include an applicant’s previous academic achievement, athletic or other extra-curricular ability, handicapping conditions, English proficiency level, or previous disciplinary proceedings, except that an expulsion from another district may be included pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. 6-18-510.

Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the Superintendent of Schools no later than May 1 for a child to be able to enroll for the fall semester. Transfers shall be granted on a non-discriminatory basis. Students who have been accepted and enrolled in previous years do not have to reapply, as approved transfers remain valid for as long as the student attends that public school.

For more information about School Choice deadlines, guidelines and requirements, contact the school district of your choice, or visit the Arkansas Dept. of Education website at ade.arkansas.gov. You can also call the ADE headquarters in Little Rock at 501-682-4475.