Bill > SB625

This bill amends the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program by expanding and clarifying the program's provisions for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. The bill broadens the definition of "qualifying expenses" to include a wide range of educational costs, such as tuition, fees, co-curricular courses, instructional materials, tutoring services, technological devices, transportation costs, and extracurricular activities. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the program will be open to all Arkansas students eligible to enroll in public elementary or secondary schools, removing previous restrictions on student participation. The bill establishes a priority system for allocating accounts when funds are insufficient, giving preference to continuing students, students with disabilities, homeless students, foster children, and students from low-performing schools or with military, law enforcement, or first responder parents. The legislation also introduces new definitions, application processes, and rules for account management, including provisions for account closure, fund usage, and appeal procedures. Additionally, the bill includes an emergency clause to ensure immediate implementation and a severability clause to protect the act's provisions if any part is found invalid.

Education

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb625&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R