§ 6-15-504 - Home-schooled students -- Achievement tests -- Enrollment or reenrollment in local schools. - Arkansas Statutes

6-15-504. Home-schooled students -- Achievement tests -- Enrollment or reenrollment in local schools.

(a) Each student enrolled in a home school program who is considered to be at grade level or no more than two (2) years beyond the normal age for the appropriate grade for which the state mandates norm-referenced tests for public school students shall be tested using a nationally recognized norm-referenced achievement test selected by the State Board of Education.

(b) (1) (A) The administration of the tests required of home-schooled students shall be by the executive directors of the education service cooperatives established under 6-13-1001 et seq. or as otherwise designated by the Department of Education.

(B) For the purposes of this section, the superintendents of the Little Rock School District, North Little Rock School District, and Pulaski County Special School District shall act in lieu of an education service cooperative executive director.

(2) The executive directors of the education service cooperatives shall establish a common set of procedures approved by the Commissioner of Education for the proper administration of the tests required by this section.

(3) The administration shall include purchasing the test materials, giving the tests, scoring and interpreting the tests, and reporting test results.

(c) The cost of testing required by this section shall be the responsibility of the department when the tests are administered by the directors of the education service cooperatives or other department designees.

(d) (1) Alternate testing procedures may be approved by the executive director of an education service cooperative after consultation with the parents of a home-schooled student.

(2) However, any costs associated with an alternate testing procedure shall be the responsibility of the parents.

(e) (1) (A) Any student who refuses to participate in the testing program or the alternate testing program required by this section has not met the statutory prerequisites for home schooling and, as any other student, shall be subject to the applicable Arkansas laws regarding truancy.

(B) After a student corrects any refusal to participate in the testing program or the alternate testing program as determined by the department and required by this subsection, the student shall be restored to home school status after his or her parent or guardian has complied with all requirements of 6-15-503.

(2) This subsection shall not be applicable to any parent who can present written acknowledgement that the child has been enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school within thirty (30) days of the administration of the state-mandated achievement test.

(f) (1) Each local school district may assess any home-schooled student who enrolls or reenrolls in the school district in order to determine proper educational placement.

(2) Among other means of assessment, the local school district shall utilize the norm-referenced test approved by the state board to assess the student and shall determine placement in the appropriate grade level as indicated by the test results.

(g) Any home-schooled student who enrolls or reenrolls in a local school district must attend classes for at least nine (9) months immediately before graduation before the student can become eligible to receive a high school diploma from the school district.