§ 6-18-211 - Mandatory attendance for students in grades nine through twelve. - Arkansas Statutes

6-18-211. Mandatory attendance for students in grades nine through twelve.

(a) Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) shall be required to schedule and attend a full school day.

(b) (1) No later than January 30, 2004, the State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations that require students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) to enroll in no less than three hundred fifty (350) minutes of planned instructional time each day as a requirement for graduation.

(2) (A) The regulations shall allow local school boards of directors to develop policies to allow:

(i) Students to be assigned to no more than one (1) class period each day for a study hall period that the student shall be required to attend and participate in for a full class period of self-study or organized tutoring in the school building; and

(ii) (a) No more than one (1) class period each day for organized and scheduled student extracurricular classes to be included as planned instructional time.

(b) If the extracurricular class is related to a seasonal activity, the class must continue to meet after the season ends to be counted toward the requirement of planned instructional time.

(B) The regulations shall allow local school boards of directors to develop policies for granting waivers to students who would experience proven financial hardships if required to attend a full school day.

(c) Enrollment and attendance in vocational-educational training courses, college courses, school work programs, and other Department of Education-sanctioned educational programs may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section even if the programs are not located at the public schools.

(d) Nothing in this section and 6-18-210:

(1) Precludes a student who has met all graduation requirements from graduating early; or

(2) Requires a student who has graduated early from high school to continue to attend school.