Resolution sought to let senator introduce education account bill

The proposed separate bill would set each participating student's annual account amount at 90% of the prior year's statewide per-student foundation funding. The amount would apply to every participating student's account, with a $5,000 cap for homeschooled students. The amount would come from money set aside for the program or otherwise made available. A homeschooled student's account could receive no more than $5,000 in a school year. The amount would be allocated each year.

The proposed separate bill would require a minimum score on the annual test before account money could be paid to a school or service provider. These rules would apply to students in the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program. The minimum score would not apply in a student's first program year if the student attended a public school rated D or F the year before. It also would not apply to a student with an individualized service plan whom a participating private school finds needs a testing exemption because of a significant cognitive disability. The state board would reduce account amounts based on test results, but the text does not specify the reduction. A student who failed to meet the minimum score would lose program eligibility at the start of the next school year.

The proposed separate bill would make certain students ineligible for an account. It would cover a student attending an Arkansas private school when first applying, and a current account holder who attended an Arkansas private school before applying for and receiving the account. The first rule would apply at the time of the initial application; the second would cover current account holders based on their attendance before applying for and receiving an account.

The proposed separate bill would require annual testing for participating students and add a reporting duty for service providers serving homeschooled students. Participating schools and service providers would arrange testing for students they serve; parents would arrange exams for students served by a provider that is not a participating private school. A service provider serving a homeschooled participating student would be a mandated reporter. The state board would approve one assessment for all participating students. It could be a public-school exam or an approved test measuring at least literacy and math. Students would take the test at an Arkansas educational service cooperative. A student with an individualized service plan and a significant cognitive disability testing exemption could take an approved alternate test or have the private school prepare a progress portfolio for the parent or guardian. For a student served by a provider that is not a participating private school, the parent would arrange the approved exam at an educational service cooperative. Testing would take place annually. The reporting duty would apply when the service provider serves a participating student who is homeschooled.