Resolution would let senator introduce education account changes

The proposal would allocate participating students' accounts 90% of the prior year's statewide per-student foundation funding. A homeschooled student's allocation could not exceed $5,000 during a school year. The amount would come from money set aside for the program or otherwise made available. The allocation would be made annually.

The proposal would tie account payments and continued eligibility to annual assessment results. These rules would apply to students in the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program. Students would need to reach a minimum score before money could be disbursed; the state board would set reductions based on assessment performance. The score requirement would not apply to a student who attended a D- or F-rated public school in the year before the student's first program year, or to a student with an individualized service plan and a significant cognitive disability who is exempted by a participating private school. A student who missed the minimum score would lose program eligibility at the start of the next school year. A student who failed to meet the minimum score would become ineligible at the beginning of the next school year.

The proposal would bar some students with Arkansas private-school attendance from getting an account. The restriction concerns accounts under the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program. The bar would apply to a student attending an Arkansas private school when first applying, and to a student who had an account but attended an Arkansas private school before applying for and receiving it.

The proposal would require participating students to take the same approved annual assessment at an Arkansas educational service cooperative. The assessment rules cover students in the account program, including those served by participating schools or service providers. The test would measure at least reading and math, or be an examination required for public school students. A student with an individualized service plan and a significant cognitive disability could be exempted by a participating private school; that school would arrange an alternate test or prepare a progress portfolio for the family. For students served by a participating service provider that is not a participating private school, the parent would arrange the test. Each assessment would be taken annually.

The proposal would make a service provider a mandated reporter when serving a homeschooled account student. This would cover a participating service provider while serving a homeschooled student in the program.