AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
*KMW063* 04-27-2026 15:24:35 KMW063

State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 HOUSE BILL 1007 3
4
By: Joint Budget Committee 5
6
7
For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 9
FUND GRANTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 10
DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - 11
PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 12
30, 2027; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
14
15
Subtitle 16
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 17
DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 18
EDUCATION - PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND 19
APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL 20
YEAR. 21
22
23
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
25
SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - GRANTS AND AID TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 26
SPECIAL PROGRAMS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of 27
Education, to be payable from the Division of Elementary and Secondary 28
Education Public School Fund Account, for grants and aid to local school 29
districts and special programs of the Department of Education - Division of 30
Elementary and Secondary Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 31
the following: 32
33
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 34
NO. 2026-2027 35
(01) 98% URT ACTUAL COLLECTION ADJUSTMENT $34,500,000 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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(02) ADVANCED PLACEMENT INCENTIVE 1,275,000 1
(03) ALTERNATIVE LEARNING 35,783,095 2
(04) ARKANSAS EASTER SEALS 193,113 3
(05) ASSESSMENT/END OF LEVEL TESTING 21,309,189 4
(06) AT RISK 1,688,530 5
(07) BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM 114,000,000 6
(08) BONDED DEBT ASSISTANCE 28,455,384 7
(09) COMPUTER SCIENCE INITIATIVE 3,500,000 8
(10) CONSOLIDATION INCENTIVE 5,981,400 9
(11) CONTENT STANDARDS 161,000 10
(12) CONTENTS STANDARDS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS 50,000 11
(13) COOP EDUCATION TECH CENTERS 1,200,000 12
(14) COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH 4,200,000 13
(15) DECLINING ENROLLMENT 23,963,389 14
(16) DEPT OF CORRECTION 8,702,425 15
(17) DISTANCE LEARNING 4,760,000 16
(18) DISTANCE LEARNING OPERATIONS 7,575,000 17
(19) EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION 22,897,920 18
(20) ECONOMIC EDUCATION 600,000 19
(21) EDUCATION SERVICE COOPERATIVES 6,129,270 20
(22) ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS 19,075,847 21
(23) ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING 246,723,439 22
(24) ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING 8,000,000 23
(25) ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM 5,776,183 24
(26) GIFTED & TALENTED 1,560,381 25
(27) GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS 67,856 26
(28) HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER EDUCATION AID 526,150 27
(29) INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS 302,000 28
(30) ISOLATED FUNDING 7,896,000 29
(31) LEADERSHIP ACADEMY-MASTER PRINCIPAL 1,400,000 30
(32) MASTER PRINCIPAL BONUS 175,000 31
(33) MATERNITY LEAVE 3,000,000 32
(34) MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE 10,000,000 33
(35) MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY AND RAISES 190,000,000 34
(36) NATIONAL BOARD OF PROF TEACHING STANDARDS 18,738,000 35
(37) NON-TRADITIONAL LICENSURE 50,000 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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(38) OE CHARTER FAC FUNDING AID PROGRAM 10,775,000 1
(39) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING 37,175,911 2
(40) PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE 292,000,000 3
(41) R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS 10,470,000 4
(42) RESIDENTIAL CENTERS/JUVENILE DETENTION 16,345,087 5
(43) SCHOOL FACILITY JOINT USE SUPPORT 500,000 6
(44) SCHOOL FUNDING CONTINGENCY 25,000,000 7
(45) SCHOOL RECOGNITION 7,000,000 8
(46) SCHOOL WORKER DEFENSE 390,000 9
(47) SERIOUS OFFENDER 1,716,859 10
(48) SMART START/SMART STEP 10,666,303 11
(49) SPECIAL EDUCATION - HIGH COST OCCURRENCES 18,378,763 12
(50) SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 2,802,527 13
(51) SPECIAL NEEDS ISOLATED FUNDING 3,000,000 14
(52) STATE FOUNDATION FUNDING 2,206,861,456 15
(53) STUDENT GROWTH 37,690,144 16
(54) TEACHER LICENSING/MENTORING 6,065,758 17
(55) TEACHER OF THE YEAR 100,000 18
(56) TEACHER RETIREMENT MATCHING 14,776,754 19
(57) TEACHER SALARY EQUALIZATION 60,000,000 20
(58) TECHNOLOGY GRANTS 3,602,678 21
(59) TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS 500,000 22
(60) TRANSPORTATION MODERNIZATION GRANTS 5,000,000 23
(61) WORKER'S COMPENSATION 450,000 24
(62) YOUTH SHELTERS 165,000 25
(63) HIGH IMPACT TUTORING 20,000,000 26
(64) IMAGINATION LIBRARY 1,500,000 27
(65) LITERACY COACHES 19,000,000 28
(66) SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION SERVICES 8,030,000 29
(67) TEACHER ACADEMY 2,089,000 30
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $3,662,266,811 31
32
SECTION 2. REGULAR SALARIES - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK. 33
There is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 34
Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public School Computer Network 35
for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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employees. 1
2
Maximum Annual 3
Maximum Salary Rate 4
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 5
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 6
(1) EES02P EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL II 1 GRADE SPC04 7
(2) EEP06P EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE SGS10 8
(3) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS04 9
(4) IIS07C IT INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER 1 GRADE IST10 10
(5) IIA06C IT MANAGER 1 GRADE IST10 11
(6) IDN02P DATA ANALYST SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE IST09 12
(7) IIP02P IT PROJECT MANAGER 4 GRADE IST08 13
(8) IAS01P APPLICATIONS ANALYST I 3 GRADE IST07 14
(9) IDN01P DATA ANALYST 1 GRADE IST07 15
(10) IDM02P DATABASE ANALYST 1 GRADE IST07 16
(11) IDM03P DATABASE SPECIALIST 2 GRADE IST05 17
(12) IUS04P USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 26 GRADE IST02 18
(13) EEP03P EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS07 19
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 45 20
21
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK. 22
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable 23
from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund 24
Account, for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of 25
Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public 26
School Computer Network for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 27
following: 28
29
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 30
NO. 2026-2027 31
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $2,633,280 32
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 946,438 33
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 34
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 34,845,839 35
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 7,250 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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(C) PROF. FEES 0 1
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 200,000 2
(E) DATA PROC. 0 3
(04) DATA ACCESS IMPLEMENTATION 300,000 4
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $38,932,807 5
6
SECTION 4. REGULAR SALARIES - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES. There 7
is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 8
Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of Education Renewal Zones for 9
the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 10
11
Maximum Annual 12
Maximum Salary Rate 13
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 14
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 15
(1) EEP03P EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR 3 GRADE SGS07 16
(2) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS04 17
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 4 18
19
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES. There is 20
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the 21
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund Account, 22
for personal services, operating expenses, and grants by the Department of 23
Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of 24
Education Renewal Zones for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 25
following: 26
27
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 28
NO. 2026-2027 29
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $145,568 30
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 58,129 31
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 32
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 25,000 33
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 3,000 34
(C) PROF. FEES 0 35
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 36
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(E) DATA PROC. 0 1
(04) EDUCATIONAL RENEWAL ZONE GRANTS 1,101,150 2
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,332,847 3
4
SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM. 5
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable 6
from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund 7
Account, for personal services, operating expenses, and grants and aid for 8
the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program by the Department of Education - 9
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Sexual Risk Avoidance 10
Education Program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 11
12
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 13
NO. 2026-2027 14
(01) SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM $4,000,000 15
16
SECTION 7. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 17
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 18
FUND ALLOCATION. The appropriation for the Isolated Funding line item in the 19
Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this 20
Act may be fully funded. Any funding and appropriation for Isolated Funding 21
that is not utilized shall be transferred to the appropriation for Special 22
Needs Isolated Funding in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 23
Special Programs section of this Act and shall be used there for fully 24
funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6-20-604 on a pro 25
rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. Pro rata basis is defined 26
as providing each district qualifying for additional funding under 27
subsections (c) through (f) a proportionate share based on how each 28
district's additional funding amount bears to the total additional funding 29
amounts for all qualifying districts. If any funding and appropriation 30
remains after funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6-31
20-604 the remaining balance shall be used to fund the provisions of Arkansas 32
Code § 6-20-604 (h) on an equal basis until the available funds are 33
exhausted. 34
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 35
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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1
SECTION 8. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 2
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 3
GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. For the purposes of distributing the Grants To 4
School Districts appropriation in the Grants and Aid to Local School 5
Districts and Special Programs section of this Act, "school district" means a 6
school district which contracts with a school district in an adjoining state 7
for the education of some of the pupils within the Arkansas school district 8
because the portion of the school district wherein such pupils live is 9
completely separated from the remainder of the school district by a reservoir 10
covering at least 12,000 acres at normal water level, and where to attend 11
school in their own district, the pupils of said portion would be required to 12
travel or to be transported a distance (measured by the nearest highway or 13
road route) of more than 35 miles round trip and pass through another school 14
district or districts. The Department of Education shall distribute the 15
monies appropriated for Grants to School Districts in the Grants and Aid to 16
Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this Act to such 17
school districts as reimbursement for expenses incurred in educating the 18
pupils residing in the separated portion of the school district. The payments 19
are to be limited to the amount of available appropriation. Such school 20
districts shall file a request for reimbursement with the Department of 21
Education and provide the Department of Education with such documentation as 22
is deemed necessary. 23
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 24
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 25
26
SECTION 9. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 27
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 28
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. The funds appropriated in the line item "Special 29
Education Services" in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 30
Special Programs section of this Act shall be used to provide extended year 31
summer programs for handicapped students in need of such services, to provide 32
special education services to foster children who are wards of the State, and 33
to provide funds for the payment of salaries of special education 34
supervisors. The Department of Education shall distribute such funds in the 35
manner necessary to carry out the intent of this Section. 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 1
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 2
3
SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 4
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 5
TRANSFER AUTHORITY. The Commissioner of the Department of Education, with the 6
approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State and after approval by the 7
Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, is hereby authorized 8
to request necessary appropriation transfers and any other budget related 9
adjustments necessary within the Department of Education. Provided, however, 10
that the Department of Education shall be limited to submitting no more than 11
two transfer requests during any fiscal year. 12
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 13
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 14
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 15
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 16
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 17
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 18
has determined that the Department of Education may operate more efficiently 19
if some flexibility is provided to the Commissioner of the Department of 20
Education authorizing broad powers under the Transfer Authority provision 21
herein. Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General 22
Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative 23
Council or Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The 24
requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 25
is not a severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval by 26
the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional 27
by a court jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 28
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 29
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 30
31
SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 32
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 33
AETN DOCUMENTED QUIZ BOWL COSTS. Of the total amount of appropriation and 34
funds authorized herein to the Department of Education for the Quiz Bowl each 35
fiscal year, an amount not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000) each 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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fiscal year may be made available to the Department of Education - 1
Educational Television Division for its documented costs associated with the 2
Quiz Bowl. 3
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 4
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 5
6
SECTION 12. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 7
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 8
RETIREMENT MATCHING. Beginning with the 1996-97 school year, Local School 9
Districts shall pay the teacher retirement employer contribution rate for any 10
eligible employee in accordance with rules and regulations established by the 11
Teacher Retirement Board of Directors. The appropriation contained herein for 12
Teacher Retirement Matching each fiscal year shall be used to provide the 13
employer matching for employees of the Cooperative Education Services Areas, 14
Vocational Centers, Arkansas Easter Seals and the school operated by the 15
Department of Correction. 16
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 17
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 18
19
SECTION 13. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 20
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 21
BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE FEES. The Department of Education is 22
hereby authorized to expend a maximum of two percent (2%) of available funds 23
for administration of the Better Chance Program. Up to 1.8% of available 24
funds shall be used to administer the program and to monitor program grantees 25
to ensure compliance with programmatic standards. Prior to the utilization of 26
the remaining 0.2% of available funds, the Department of Education shall seek 27
prior review and approval of the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget 28
Committee by providing a written request to include the following: a) the 29
Department's reason(s) for the use of the funds and b) the amount of funds 30
that will be expended. The Department may contract with the Division of 31
Elementary and Secondary Education to administer the program. 32
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 33
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 34
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 35
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 1
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Therefore, it is both necessary 2
and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring 3
prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee as 4
provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 5
Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 6
If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 7
Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, 8
this entire section is void. 9
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 10
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 11
12
SECTION 14. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 13
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 14
CARRY FORWARD - ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE. Any unexpended balance of monies 15
allocated for the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program remaining 16
on June 30, 2026 2027, in the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 17
Public School Fund Account shall be designated and retained for the Arkansas 18
Better Chance for School Success Program. 19
Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, 20
may be carried forward under the following conditions: 21
(1) Prior to June 30, 2026 2027 the Agency shall by written statement set 22
forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 23
Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 24
(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 25
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee all 26
amounts carried forward by the September Arkansas Legislative Council or 27
Joint Budget Committee meeting which report shall include the name of the 28
Agency, Board, Commission or Institution and the amount of the funding 29
carried forward, the program name or line item, the funding source of that 30
appropriation and a copy of the written request set forth in (1) above; 31
(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 32
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 33
containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 34
statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 35
which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 36
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days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 1
its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 2
Committee; and 3
(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 4
all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 5
statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 6
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 7
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 8
9
SECTION 15. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 10
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 11
ARKANSAS/STRIVE PROGRAM TRANSFER. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State 12
shall transfer on his books and those of the State Treasurer and the State 13
Auditor, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) during each 14
fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 15
School Fund Account to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fund, 16
specifically to provide funding for the Arkansas/STRIVE Program. The total 17
amount of funds transferred each fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 18
not be subject to any indirect costs by the University of Arkansas at Little 19
Rock. 20
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 21
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 22
23
SECTION 16. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 24
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 25
ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FUNDING. The Department of Education shall 26
allocate, budget and commit for expenditure two hundred fifty thousand 27
dollars ($250,000), in addition to funds already being provided for the 28
Arkansas Governor’s School, to fund the appropriation authorized from general 29
revenue for the Gifted and Talented program as appropriated in the Grants and 30
Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section herein. With this 31
additional funding either the department shall increase the number of grants 32
for AEGIS summer enrichment programs, or the duration of the Arkansas 33
Governor’s School shall be extended from four (4) weeks to six (6) weeks. 34
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 35
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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1
SECTION 17. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 2
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 3
EAST FUNDING PROVISION. Of the total amount appropriated for Technology 4
Grants each fiscal year, an amount of not less than three million five 5
thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or eighteen percent (18%), whichever is greater 6
each fiscal year, shall be awarded through a grant or professional services 7
contract for the EAST Initiative. Not less than one million dollars 8
($1,000,000) of the three million five thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or 9
eighteen percent (18%) of the Technology Grants Line Item awarded to the EAST 10
Initiatives shall be used for EAST infrastructure and personnel growth for 11
the establishment of new programs. The remaining funding shall be used for 12
existing EAST infrastructure, personnel, and operating expenses of the EAST 13
Initiative. The EAST infrastructure grant or contract for personal services 14
and operating expenses shall be awarded to an entity that has personnel or 15
experience, or both, in implementing the EAST Initiative. 16
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 17
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 18
19
SECTION 18. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 20
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 21
INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS FUNDING RESTRICTION. The Department of Education 22
shall make available from the Intervention Block Grants appropriation 23
authorized by this Act, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal 24
year for the annual expenses of the Quiz Bowl, thirteen thousand five hundred 25
dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for 26
grants up to $1,000 each for students and chaperones, thirteen thousand five 27
hundred dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Destination Imagination, one 28
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal year for the State History 29
Day Competition, and seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) each fiscal year 30
for a grant to the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to regional 31
and the state science fairs. The Department of Education shall allocate 32
General Revenue funding totaling no less than three hundred two thousand 33
dollars ($302,000) each fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and 34
Secondary Education Public School Fund Account to support the annual expenses 35
of the Quiz Bowl, the Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for grants up to $1,000 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

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each for students and chaperones, Destination Imagination, the State History 1
Day Competition, and the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to 2
regional and state science fairs. The Department shall either expend or have 3
committed for expenditure the monies allocated for the Quiz Bowl, Creativity 4
in Arkansas, Inc., Destination Imagination, the State History Day 5
Competition, and Arkansas Science Fair Association grants as authorized 6
herein in order to fulfill the provisions of this section. 7
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 8
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 9
10
SECTION 19. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 11
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 12
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 13
(a) Of the total amount appropriated for Professional Development 14
Funding, three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) may be 15
authorized by the Commissioner of the Department of Education to be used by 16
the Department of Education to develop and implement statewide professional 17
development support systems for teachers that will benefit student 18
achievement. 19
(b)(1) The Department of Education shall annually report the following 20
information concerning the Arkansas Online Professional Development 21
Initiative under § 6-17-707: 22
(1) Annual expenditure information; 23
(2) Statistical information pertaining to users of the 24
initiative; 25
(3) Course offerings; 26
(4) Course hours completed; and 27
(5) Certificates awarded. 28
(2) The report under subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be 29
annually submitted by August 1 to the: 30
(1) Governor; 31
(2) Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is 32
in session, the Joint Budget Committee; 33
(3) Senate Committee on Education; 34
(4) House Committee on Education; and 35
(5) Department of Finance and Administration. 36
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(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 1
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 2
3
SECTION 20. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 4
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 5
ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. 6
(a)(1) Of the appropriation and funding for the ESA MATCHING GRANT 7
PROGRAM Item in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special 8
Programs section of this Act, five million three hundred thousand dollars 9
($5,300,000) shall be set aside by the Department of Education and shall be 10
used for school district expenditures for evidence-based programs to improve 11
academic achievement of identified national school lunch students. 12
(2) These programs shall be limited to: 13
(A) Tutors as set out in § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(4); 14
(B) Before-school academic programs and after-school academic 15
programs, including transportation to and from the programs 16
under § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(2); and 17
(C) Prekindergarten programs under § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(3). 18
(b)(1) Set aside funds authorized in subsection (a) of this section 19
shall be distributed to school districts on a dollar for dollar matching 20
basis of school district expenditures for programs under subsection (a) of 21
this section on a pro rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. 22
(2) As used in this subsection, "pro rata basis" means providing 23
each district qualifying for additional funding in a proportionate share 24
based on how each district's expenditure bears to the total of funding 25
provided in subsection (a) of this section for all qualifying districts as 26
determined by the Department of Education. 27
(c) If any funding remains after funding subsection (b) of this 28
section, that remaining balance shall be carried over to the following fiscal 29
year for the same purposes as provided in this section. 30
(d) The Department of Education shall adopt rules as necessary to 31
implement this section. 32
(e) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 33
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 34
35
SECTION 21. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 36
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CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 1
R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS. The appropriation for the R.I.S.E. Arkansas line item in 2
the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of 3
this Act shall be used for the coordination of a statewide reading campaign 4
with community partners, parents, and teachers to establish the importance of 5
reading in homes, schools, and communities. 6
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 7
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 8
9
SECTION 22. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 10
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 11
ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING NAME CHANGE. Any appropriation titled 12
"ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING" or abbreviated as "ESA" as named by 13
SB605 of 2019 may also be known as "NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH" funding or 14
abbreviated as "NSL" and shall be used for the same purposes as set out in 15
law. 16
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 17
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 18
19
SECTION 23. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 20
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 21
ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL CURRICULUM. Prior to the beginning of the 22
Arkansas Governor's School Program each year, the Arkansas Department of 23
Education shall review and approve the proposed curriculum for the program 24
year and shall maintain oversight of its implementation for consistency and 25
accuracy. 26
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 27
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 28
29
SECTION 24. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 30
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. HIGH 31
QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Of the amount appropriated from the 32
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund for 33
R.I.S.E. Arkansas, up to nine million five hundred thousand dollars 34
($9,500,000) may be used for the purchase and distribution of high quality 35
instructional materials in accordance with Arkansas Code § 6-17-429(f). 36
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The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 1
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 2
3
SECTION 25. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 4
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. DIVISION 5
OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND EDUCATIONAL 6
ADEQUACY FUND DISTRIBUTION AND FUND BALANCE REPORT. (a) The Department of 7
Education shall submit quarterly a "Division of Elementary and Secondary 8
Education Public School Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas 9
Legislative Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative 10
Session, the Joint Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than 11
ten days prior to the Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 12
(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 13
the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Division of 14
Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund. 15
(2) The report shall contain, cumulatively over the course of the 16
fiscal year, by quarter a summary of the itemized totals distributed from 17
each subfund of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public 18
School Fund and each subfund shall be organized as restricted or unrestricted 19
in spending purpose. 20
(b) The Department of Education shall submit monthly an "Educational 21
Adequacy Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas Legislative 22
Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative Session, the Joint 23
Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than ten days prior to the 24
Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 25
(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 26
the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Educational 27
Adequacy Fund. 28
(2) The report shall contain the following: 29
(A) Monthly beginning fund balance; 30
(B) Monthly Distribution report with total distributions to 31
the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 32
School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 33
Secondary Education Fund Account; and 34
(C) Amount of certified funding obligation remaining to the 35
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 36
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School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 1
Secondary Education Fund Account for the fiscal year. 2
(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 3
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 4
5
SECTION 26. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 6-17-6
1117(a), concerning the health insurance contribution rate for public school 7
employees, is amended to read as follows: 8
(a)(1) Beginning January 1, 2023, a school district shall pay each 9
month for each eligible employee electing to participate in the public school 10
employees' health insurance program the health insurance contribution rate 11
enacted by the General Assembly. 12
(2) The House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on 13
Education through the biennial adequacy review process required by § 10-3-14
2102 shall provide a health contribution rate recommendation to the General 15
Assembly. 16
17
SECTION 27. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 6-20-18
2305(b)(6)(B)(iv), concerning the continuation of teacher salary equalization 19
funds, is repealed. 20
(iv) A school district shall continue to receive 21
teacher salary equalization funds in the same amount as the preceding fiscal 22
year in addition to the amount eligible for the current fiscal year. 23
24
SECTION 28. DO NOT CODIFY. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. 25
It is the intent of the General Assembly that Sections 28 - 33 of this 26
act apply to: 27
(1) An isolated school district created by a detachment election 28
during the 2026 annual school election under Arkansas Code § 6-13-1801; 29
(2) An existing district from which a newly created isolated 30
school district was created under Arkansas Code § 6-13-1801; and 31
(3) Any future isolated school district created and governed by 32
Arkansas Code § 6-13-1801 et seq. 33
34
SECTION 29. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 6-13-35
1801 is amended to read as follows: 36
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6-13-1801. Isolated school district — Formation — Definition. 1
(a)(1) An isolated school may detach from a resulting or receiving an 2
existing district if the isolated school submits a petition to the resulting 3
or receiving school existing district board of directors that states the 4
intent to reestablish the original isolated school and that contains the 5
signatures of: 6
(A) No less than three hundred fifty (350) registered 7
voters who reside within the boundaries of the isolated school; or 8
(B) No less than fifty-one percent (51%) of the registered 9
voters who reside within the boundaries of the isolated school. 10
(2)(A) The resulting or receiving school existing district board 11
of directors shall request the county clerk of the county in which the 12
resulting or receiving school existing district is located to verify the 13
signatures submitted in a petition under subdivision (a)(1) of this section 14
within five (5) business days of receipt of a petition under subdivision 15
(a)(1) of this section. 16
(B) Upon request, a county clerk of the county in which 17
the resulting or receiving school existing district is located shall verify 18
the signatures within five (5) days of receipt of a request from the 19
resulting or receiving school existing district board of directors under 20
subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this section. 21
(3) The resulting or receiving school existing district board of 22
directors shall review a petition submitted under subdivision (a)(1) of this 23
section and call an a detachment election under subdivision (a)(1) of this 24
section to be held for the voters who reside within the school district 25
boundaries of the isolated school before it consolidated with the resulting 26
or receiving existing district on the issue of an isolated school detaching 27
from a resulting or receiving an existing district at the next annual school 28
election. 29
(b)(1) An isolated school district may be formed from an isolated 30
school within a resulting or receiving an existing district that was annexed 31
or consolidated with another school district under the Public Education 32
Reorganization Act, § 6-13-1601 et seq., following the submission and 33
approval of a petition under subsection (a) of this section. 34
(2) In order to qualify as an isolated school district, the 35
isolated school within a resulting or receiving an existing district that was 36
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annexed or consolidated with another school district under the Public 1
Education Reorganization Act, § 6-13-1601 et seq., shall have been in 2
operation for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) within two (2) years 3
of the date on which the isolated school applies under this subchapter. 4
(c) The minimum school enrollment to establish a new public school 5
district shall not apply when forming an isolated school district under this 6
subchapter. 7
(d) As used in this subchapter, "existing district" means a public 8
school district that was formed as a result of the administrative 9
consolidation or annexation of an isolated school under § 6-20-602. 10
11
SECTION 30. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 6-13-12
1803(a), concerning an election to establish the millage rate of a newly 13
formed isolated school district, is amended to read as follows: 14
(a)(1) An election within the boundaries of an isolated school 15
district shall be held to establish the millage rate for the isolated school 16
district as required under § 26-80-111. 17
(2) The millage rate of the existing district that was 18
established before the detachment election conducted under this subchapter 19
shall be the millage rate for the isolated school district formed under § 6-20
13-1801. 21
22
SECTION 31. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code § 6-13-23
1803(c), concerning the determination of the prior-year average daily 24
membership of a newly formed isolated school district, is amended to read as 25
follows: 26
(c) If an isolated school district begins operations at the beginning 27
of the following school year after detaching from a local public school an 28
existing district under which the proposed isolated school district currently 29
operates, the prior-year average daily membership of the isolated school 30
shall be subtracted from the prior-year average daily membership of the local 31
public school existing district under which the isolated school previously 32
operated. 33
34
SECTION 32. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code §§ 6-13-35
1804 and 6-13-1805 are amended to read as follows: 36
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6-13-1804. Facilities and property. 1
(a)(1) A local public school An existing district under which a 2
proposed isolated school district currently operates shall agree in writing 3
to release ownership of the isolated school's facilities and any accompanying 4
debt on the facilities to the isolated school district. 5
(2) The written release form required under subdivision (a)(1) 6
of this section shall be signed by the president of the school district board 7
of directors of the local public school existing district under which the 8
proposed isolated school district currently operates and shall be included in 9
the application submitted by the proposed isolated school district. 10
(b)(1) Ownership of a school bus acquired with isolated school funds 11
in the previous two (2) school years shall be transferred to the resulting 12
isolated school district formed under this subchapter. 13
(2) If a school bus was not acquired with isolated school funds 14
in the previous two (2) school years, then the ownership of the number of 15
school buses transferred to the isolated school district formed under this 16
subchapter shall be equal to the lesser of: 17
(A) The number of buses dedicated primarily to delivering 18
students to and from the isolated school in the previous two (2) years of 19
operation of the existing district under which the isolated school previously 20
operated; or 21
(B) The percentage of the total number of buses owned by 22
the existing district that is equal to the percentage of students attending 23
the isolated school in the prior year according to the first three-quarter 24
average daily membership. 25
(c) Isolated school funds received by the local public school existing 26
district under which the proposed isolated school district currently operates 27
within four (4) months of the end of the local public school existing 28
district's fiscal year on June 30 shall be transferred to the resulting 29
isolated school district. 30
(d) Ownership of all personal property and fixtures, including without 31
limitation furnishings, equipment, textbooks, computers, technology, phone 32
systems, audio-video systems, athletic equipment, and machinery at an 33
isolated school currently operating within a local public located in a 34
resulting isolated school district that is the property of the existing 35
district at the time of a detachment election held under this subchapter 36
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shall be transferred to the resulting isolated school district. 1
(e)(1) An existing district shall transfer to the isolated school 2
district that previously operated under the existing district a sum equal to 3
ninety percent (90%) of the foundation funding awarded for each student who 4
currently attends the isolated school based on the prior-year first three-5
quarter average daily membership of the public school that is proposed to 6
operate as an isolated school district. 7
(2) The payment of foundation funds required under subdivision 8
(e)(1) of this section shall be made under § 6-13-1806(e). 9
(f)(1) An isolated school district shall assume all the debt of the 10
existing district if the debt is directly related to the real property 11
transferred to the isolated school district under this section. 12
(2) Debt is directly related to the real property transferred to 13
the isolated school district under this section if the debt is related to a 14
capital project that is located on the isolated school district campus. 15
(3) In order to comply with this subsection, an isolated school 16
district may: 17
(A) Refinance any debt assumed under subdivision (f)(1) of 18
this section through the issuance of new bonds; or 19
(B) Enter into a contract to pay the existing district 20
under which the isolated school district previously operated and that holds 21
the debt the amount necessary to satisfy the debt repayment obligations. 22
(g)(1) An existing district shall hold all personal property and 23
fixtures that will be transferred to a resulting isolated school district 24
under this section in a trust until the isolated school district is able to 25
take custody of the personal property and fixtures. 26
(2)(A) An isolated school district shall have a civil cause of 27
action to enforce the distribution of ownership of personal property and 28
fixtures under this section. 29
(B) A court of competent jurisdiction may provide any 30
legal or equitable remedy necessary to give effect to the provisions of this 31
subchapter. 32
(C) If a civil cause of action is initiated and a court of 33
competent jurisdiction determines that an existing district or an 34
administrator of an existing district has concealed, removed, wasted, 35
divested, or withheld any personal property or fixture that belongs to an 36
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isolated school district according to this section, then the court may: 1
(i) Assess punitive damages up to three (3) times 2
the amount of the value of the personal property or fixture that was 3
concealed, removed, wasted, divested, or withheld; 4
(ii) Award attorney's fees to the prevailing party; 5
and 6
(iii) Take other appropriate actions to ensure 7
compliance with the requirements of this subchapter. 8
(h)(1) Nothing in this subchapter shall prohibit an existing district 9
and an isolated school district formed under this subchapter from agreeing to 10
a division of personal property, fixtures, and other assets, including 11
without limitation any funding, that is not otherwise prescribed in this 12
subchapter. 13
(2) An agreement entered into under subdivision (h)(1) of this 14
section shall be enforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction. 15
16
6-13-1805. Management. 17
An Until a duly elected or appointed isolated school district board of 18
directors selects a superintendent, an isolated school district shall be 19
managed by: 20
(1) A director hired by the isolated school district; 21
(2) A director appointed by the Division of Elementary and 22
Secondary Education to oversee operations of all isolated school districts in 23
the state; or 24
(3) Any other director or superintendent the division appoints 25
to the isolated school district. 26
27
SECTION 33. SPECIAL LANGUAGE - CODE AMENDMENT. Arkansas Code Title 6, 28
Chapter 13, Subchapter 18, is amended to add additional sections to read as 29
follows: 30
6-13-1806. Transition period following a detachment election — 31
Certification of initial operations of isolated school district. 32
(a) Following the formation of an isolated school district, an 33
existing district shall continue to operate in the same manner as it did 34
immediately before the detachment election in which the isolated school 35
district was created under § 6-13-1801 and shall continue to educate all 36
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students enrolled in the existing district. 1
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the funds 2
provided to an existing district under § 6-20-2305 shall continue to be 3
provided to the existing district following the detachment election forming 4
an isolated school district under § 6-13-1801 until: 5
(1) The isolated school district certifies with the existing 6
district that it is ready to begin operations at the isolated school 7
district; and 8
(2) The last day of school in the existing district occurs, if 9
the certification under subdivision (b)(1) of this section is made after July 10
15 of each year. 11
(c) An isolated school district may certify that it is ready to begin 12
operations when the isolated school district has: 13
(1) Selected and employed an isolated school district 14
superintendent or other official authorized under this subchapter who has the 15
authority to act on behalf of the isolated school district; 16
(2)(A) Employed officials who are authorized by the Division of 17
Elementary and Secondary Education to receive state funding. 18
(B) An official shall not be authorized to receive state 19
funding under subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section until he or she completes 20
any training required by the division that is related to state funding; 21
(3) Established accounts at a financial institution that is 22
eligible to receive state funds; 23
(4) Been assigned a local education agency number by the 24
division; 25
(5) Taken the steps necessary to begin to enroll students as 26
determined by the division; and 27
(6) Established a school calendar that sets a date for the new 28
isolated school district to begin the school year in the initial year of 29
operation. 30
(d)(1) Certification under this section shall be made by submitting to 31
the following entities a signed statement attested to under penalty of 32
perjury that the requirements of this section have been satisfied: 33
(A) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary 34
Education; and 35
(B) The superintendent of the existing district. 36
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(2) If the certification under subdivision (d)(1) of this 1
section is filed: 2
(A) On or before July 15 of each year, then the isolated 3
school district shall begin operations in the fiscal year beginning on July 1 4
of each year; and 5
(B) After July 15 of each year, then the isolated school 6
district shall begin operations in the following fiscal year. 7
(e) The funding allocated under § 6-13-1804(e) shall be transferred 8
from an existing district to a newly created isolated school district in 9
accordance with the following schedule until all allocated funds under § 6-10
13-1804(e) have been transferred: 11
(1) Twenty-five percent (25%) shall be transferred within ten 12
(10) business days of notice that the isolated school district: 13
(A) Selects an isolated school district superintendent or 14
other official authorized under this subchapter who has the authority to act 15
on behalf of the isolated school district; and 16
(B) Establishes accounts at a financial institution that 17
is eligible to receive state funds; 18
(2) An additional twenty-five percent (25%) shall be transferred 19
on December 31 of the year in which a detachment election under this 20
subchapter is held if the isolated school district has not yet begun 21
operations; and 22
(3) The remaining amount of the isolated school district's funds 23
awarded under this subchapter shall be transferred when the isolated school 24
district certifies it is ready to begin operations as specified under this 25
section. 26
27
6-13-1807. Time period to begin operations. 28
(a) An isolated school district shall have up to sixteen (16) months 29
from the date of a detachment election held under this subchapter to certify 30
under § 6-13-1806 that the isolated school district is ready to begin 31
operations. 32
(b) If an isolated school district has not certified that it is ready 33
to begin operations under § 6-13-1806 within the time required under 34
subsection (a) of this section, then the isolated school district board of 35
directors may: 36
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(1) Seek to voluntarily consolidate with another public school 1
district; or 2
(2) Dissolve the newly created isolated school district and 3
return to the existing district under which it previously operated. 4
(c) If no action is taken under subsection (b) of this section within 5
twenty-four (24) months from the date of a detachment election held under 6
this subchapter, then the isolated school district shall be dissolved by 7
operation of law, and all property held by and geographic area comprising the 8
isolated school district shall return to the existing district. 9
10
6-13-1808. First year of operation — Enrollment of students. 11
(a) An isolated school district may begin enrolling students following 12
its establishment under this subchapter. 13
(b) If an isolated school district has not yet begun to operate as 14
indicated under § 6-13-1806, then the enrollment of a student in the isolated 15
school district shall: 16
(1) Be prospective; 17
(2) Not be construed to remove the student from enrollment in 18
the student's current public school district; and 19
(3) Not relieve the student's current school district from its 20
obligation to educate the student. 21
(c) A student is a resident of an existing district under this 22
subchapter for purposes of funding and all relevant applicable law if the 23
student: 24
(1) Is eligible to attend public school in Arkansas; and 25
(2) Establishes residency inside the boundary of the isolated 26
school district before the isolated school district begins operations under 27
this subchapter. 28
(d) A student may continue to attend an existing district until the 29
student graduates or establishes residency in another public school district 30
if the student: 31
(1) Resides in the boundaries of the isolated school district; 32
and 33
(2) Attends the existing district at the time the isolated 34
school district begins operations under this subchapter. 35
36
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6-13-1809. Terms of office for members of an existing district board 1
of directors. 2
(a) The creation of an isolated school district under this subchapter 3
does not create an immediate vacancy on the board of directors of an existing 4
district when a member of the board of directors of the existing district 5
resides in the newly created isolated school district. 6
(b) To ensure all students of an existing district are represented, a 7
member of a board of directors of the existing district who resides in a 8
newly created isolated school district shall continue to be qualified to hold 9
his or her office until the isolated school district: 10
(1) Begins operations; 11
(2) Consolidates with another public school district; or 12
(3) Dissolves. 13
(c) A member of a board of directors of an existing district shall 14
remain qualified to hold his or her seat if he or she establishes residency 15
inside the boundary of an existing district and within the appropriate zone 16
if he or she is elected by zone before an isolated school district begins 17
operations or consolidates with another public school district. 18
19
SECTION 34. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 20
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 21
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 22
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 23
Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 24
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 25
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 26
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 27
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 28
29
SECTION 35. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 30
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 31
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 32
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 33
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 34
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 35
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 36
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Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 1
2
SECTION 36. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. 3
(a) It is found and determined by the General Assembly, that the 4
Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the appropriation of funds 5
for more than a one (1) year period; that the effectiveness of all Sections 6
of this act, except Sections 28-33 of this act, on July 1, 2026, is essential 7
to the operation of the agency for which the appropriations in this act are 8
provided; and that in the event of an extension of the legislative session, 9
the delay in the effective date of this act for all Sections, except Sections 10
28-33 of this act, beyond July 1, 2026, could work irreparable harm upon the 11
proper administration and provision of essential governmental programs. 12
Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and all Sections, except 13
Sections 28-33 of this act, being necessary for the immediate preservation of 14
the public peace, health and safety shall be in full force and effect from 15
and after July 1, 2026. 16
(b) It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of 17
Arkansas that without further statutory clarity, isolated school districts 18
that have recently detached from existing districts will be without 19
administrative and financial guidance; that newly formed isolated school 20
districts need enough time to establish contracts and administrative 21
requirements in order to begin the upcoming school year; that the Department 22
of Education needs statutory clarity on how funds should be distributed based 23
on the formation of new school districts; and that this act is immediately 24
necessary to provide newly formed isolated school districts with the 25
statutory direction that is needed to proceed with standard operations 26
following recent detachments from existing districts and to give the 27
department guidance necessary to correctly disburse funds to newly formed 28
school districts. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and Sections 29
28 through 33 of this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of 30
the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on: 31
(1) The date of its approval by the Governor; 32
(2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, 33
the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the 34
bill; or 35
(3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is 36
As Engrossed: H4/22/26 H4/27/26 HB1007

28 04-27-2026 15:24:35 KMW063

overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto. 1
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/s/Joint Budget Committee 3
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