Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1545 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2		-	Act 501 of the Regular Session
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4		-
5		-	State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 1
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	3	+	State of Arkansas 1
6	4		95th General Assembly A Bill 2
7	5		Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1545 3
8	6		4
9	7		By: Representative K. Brown 5
10	8		By: Senator J. English 6
11	9		7
12	10		For An Act To Be Entitled 8
13	11		AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL 9
14	12		TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 10
15	13		11
16	14		12
17	15		Subtitle 13
18	16		TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD 14
19	17		SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021. 15
20	18		16
21	19		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 17
22	20		18
23	21		SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent. 19
24	22		(a) The General Assembly finds: 20
25	23		(1) Arkansas adopted the Interstate Compact on Educational 21
26	24		Opportunity for Military Children in 2013, but found it ineffective in 22
27	25		supporting National Guard and highly mobile active -duty families; 23
28	26		(2) To untether support for military families, Arkansas 24
29	27		established the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act of 2021, 25
30	28		expanding eligibility and resources offered to uniformed services families; 26
31	29		(3) Arkansas is the only state that has taken an independent, 27
32	30		parallel path outside of the compact to better serve our highly mobile 28
33	31		uniformed services families; 29
34	32		(4) On December 31, 2024, the United States Department of 30
35	33		Defense reported to the United States Congress that, "States could consider 31
36	34		the benefits of implementing the Arkansas model for a statute outside the 32
37	35		Compact"; and 33
38	36		(5) Arkansas is recognized for initiative, innovation, and 34
39	37		responsiveness to meeting emerging needs of uniformed services families. 35
40		-	(b) This act further improves the Arkansas Military Child School 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25~~ HB1545
	38	+	(b) This act further improves the Arkansas Military Child School 36 HB1545
41	39
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43		-
44		-
	40	+	2 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
45	41		Transitions Act of 2021, § 6 -28-101 et seq., by: 1
46	42		(1) Eliminating the one -year limitation on eligibility of 2
47	43		children of Gold Star families and medically separated or retired families to 3
48	44		be covered by this act; 4
49	45		(2) Allowing public schools to apply provisions of this act to 5
50	46		all students who apply for enrollment in a public school in addition to those 6
51	47		students who are dependents of members of the uniformed services; 7
52	48		(3) Defining actions for military services families to 8
53	49		accomplish when applying for enrollment in advance of their arrival in 9
54	50		Arkansas; 10
55	51		(4) Expanding authority of receiving districts' special 11
56	52		education staff members to proactively collaborate with sending districts to 12
57		-	facilitate a smooth transition of incoming students with disabilities; ~~and~~ 13
58		-	(5) ~~Providing for the Purple Star School Program development~~ and 14
59		-	~~administration.~~ 15
60		-	16
61		-	~~SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-105 is amended to read as follows:~~ 17
62		-	~~6-28-105. Application~~. 18
63		-	~~(a) This chapter shall apply to dependent children of:~~ 19
64		-	~~(1) Members of the active duty and activated reserve components~~ 20
65		-	~~of the uniformed services;~~ 21
66		-	(2) ~~Members or veterans Veterans~~ of ~~the uniformed services who~~ 22
67		-	~~were severely injured in~~ the ~~line of~~ duty and ~~are medically discharged~~ 23
68		-	~~separated or retired for a period~~ of ~~one (1) year following~~ the ~~medical~~ 24
69		-	~~discharge~~ or ~~retirement ;~~ 25
70		-	~~(3) Members~~ of ~~the uniformed services who die while on active~~ 26
71		-	~~duty~~ or ~~as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty~~ for a period 27
72		-	~~of one (1) year following the death~~ ; 28
73		-	(4) ~~Dual status military technicians;~~ ~~and~~ 29
74		-	~~(5) Traditional members~~ of ~~the National Guard and reserve~~ 30
75		-	~~components of~~ the ~~United States Armed Forces armed forces who are relocating~~ 31
76		-	~~to the state for employment or to serve as a member of an Arkansas -based~~ 32
77		-	reserve ~~component unit.~~ 33
78		-	~~(b) This chapter shall not apply to~~ the ~~dependent children of:~~ 34
79		-	~~(1) Inactive members~~ of ~~the National Guard and reserve~~ 35
80		-	~~components of the United States Armed Forces;~~ 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25~~ HB1545
	53	+	facilitate a smooth transition of incoming students with disabilities; 13
	54	+	(5) Allowing public schools to approve excused absences and 14
	55	+	virtual course enrollment for children of Gold Star families to attend mental 15
	56	+	health programs and family resiliency programs; and 16
	57	+	(6) Providing for the Purple Star School Program development and 17
	58	+	administration. 18
	59	+	19
	60	+	SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-105 is amended to read as follows: 20
	61	+	6-28-105. Application. 21
	62	+	(a) This chapter shall apply to dependent children of: 22
	63	+	(1) Members of the active duty and activated reserve components 23
	64	+	of the uniformed services; 24
	65	+	(2) Members or veterans Veterans of the uniformed services who 25
	66	+	were severely injured in the line of duty and are medically discharged 26
	67	+	separated or retired for a period of one (1) year following the medical 27
	68	+	discharge or retirement ; 28
	69	+	(3) Members of the uniformed services who die while on active 29
	70	+	duty or as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty for a period 30
	71	+	of one (1) year following the death ; 31
	72	+	(4) Dual status military technicians; and 32
	73	+	(5) Traditional members of the National Guard and reserve 33
	74	+	components of the United States Armed Forces armed forces who are relocating 34
	75	+	to the state for employment or to serve as a member of an Arkansas -based 35
	76	+	reserve component unit. 36 HB1545
81	77
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	79	+	(b) This chapter shall not apply to the dependent children of: 1
	80	+	(1) Inactive members of the National Guard and reserve 2
	81	+	components of the United States Armed Forces; 3
	82	+	(2) Retired members of the uniformed services, except as 4
	83	+	provided under subdivision (a)(3) of this section; and 5
	84	+	(3) Other United States Department of Defense personnel and 6
	85	+	other federal or state agency civilian and contract employees who are not 7
	86	+	considered members of the uniformed services. 8
	87	+	(c)(1)(b)(1) This chapter includes provisions and extends application 9
	88	+	eligibility beyond the scope of the Interstate Compact on Educational 10
	89	+	Opportunity for Military Children, § 6 -4-301 et seq. 11
	90	+	(2) In complying with this chapter, sending districts and 12
	91	+	receiving districts may request the assistance of sending districts and 13
	92	+	receiving districts outside of the state to provide services to uniformed 14
	93	+	services families transferring to or from the state who are covered under 15
	94	+	this chapter but may not be covered under the interstate compact. 16
	95	+	(c) A public school may extend the provisions of this chapter to all 17
	96	+	students relocating to the public school district or enrolling in the public 18
	97	+	school under the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act, § 6 -18-227, 19
	98	+	or the Public School Choice Act of 2015, § 6 -18-1901 et seq. 20
	99	+	21
	100	+	SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-108 is amended to read as follows: 22
	101	+	6-28-108. Advance enrollment. 23
	102	+	(a)(1) Members of the uniformed services shall under § 6-28-105 who 24
	103	+	wish to enroll their children in public school should , as soon as possible, 25
	104	+	provide advance notice to public schools regarding the enrollment of a 26
	105	+	student under this chapter to ensure the best opportunity for a smooth 27
	106	+	transition for their children . 28
	107	+	(b) Upon receipt of official assignment notice or assignment orders, 29
	108	+	the parent, foster parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of a 30
	109	+	child, or person standing in loco parentis to a child of a member of the 31
	110	+	uniformed services may enroll, register, and coordinate education services 32
	111	+	for his or her child, including without limitation a child with special 33
	112	+	education needs or a child with a disability, in the public school of his or 34
	113	+	her choice by: 35
	114	+	(1) Determining, in consultation with military and public school 36 HB1545
83	115
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	117	+	district officials, the public school in which he or she prefers to enroll 1
	118	+	his or her child according to requirements under § 6 -18-1909; 2
	119	+	(2) Contacting the public school's designated military family 3
	120	+	education coordinator with any questions or issues raised or information 4
	121	+	needed by the parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of a 5
	122	+	child, or person standing in loco parentis to a child; and 6
	123	+	(3) Remotely submitting electronically an enrollment application 7
	124	+	for his or her child that shall include required documentation, including 8
	125	+	without limitation: 9
	126	+	(A) A copy of the official military assignment notice or 10
	127	+	official assignment orders and military identification credentials of the 11
	128	+	member of the uniformed services; 12
	129	+	(B) The child's unofficial education record and 13
	130	+	immunization records; 14
	131	+	(C) Current coursework for the school in which the student 15
	132	+	is enrolled if the coursework is not included in the student's unofficial 16
	133	+	education record; 17
	134	+	(D) A copy of the student's individualized education 18
	135	+	program, family service plan under the Individuals with Disabilities 19
	136	+	Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., or plan under section 504 of the 20
	137	+	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, as applicable; and 21
	138	+	(E) A list of any extracurricular activities in which the 22
	139	+	student participates. 23
	140	+	(2)(c) When a public school receives notice and an enrollment 24
	141	+	application from a military family under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, 25
	142	+	the public school shall treat the notice as a provisional enrollment and 26
	143	+	provide the student with materials regarding : 27
	144	+	(1) Provisionally enroll, provide placement for, and enter 28
	145	+	academic course requests on behalf of the incoming student based on the 29
	146	+	student's education record provided by his or her family or the sending 30
	147	+	district; 31
	148	+	(2) Provide the uniformed services family with information 32
	149	+	either directly or on a Military Family link on the public school's or public 33
	150	+	school district's website regarding: 34
	151	+	(A) Academic courses Career-ready pathways and other 35
	152	+	academic or education programs offered ; 36 HB1545
84	153
85		-	(2) Retired members of the uniformed services, except as 1
86		-	provided under subdivision (a)(3) of this section; and 2
87		-	(3) Other United States Department of Defense personnel and 3
88		-	other federal or state agency civilian and contract employees who are not 4
89		-	considered members of the uniformed services. 5
90		-	(c)(1)(b)(1) This chapter includes provisions and extends application 6
91		-	eligibility beyond the scope of the Interstate Compact on Educational 7
92		-	Opportunity for Military Children, § 6 -4-301 et seq. 8
93		-	(2) In complying with this chapter, sending districts and 9
94		-	receiving districts may request the assistance of sending districts and 10
95		-	receiving districts outside of the state to provide services to uniformed 11
96		-	services families transferring to or from the state who are covered under 12
97		-	this chapter but may not be covered under the interstate compact. 13
98		-	(c) A public school may extend the provisions of this chapter to all 14
99		-	students relocating to the public school district or enrolling in the public 15
100		-	school under the Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act, § 6 -18-227, 16
101		-	or the Public School Choice Act of 2015, § 6 -18-1901 et seq. 17
102		-	18
103		-	SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-108 is amended to read as follows: 19
104		-	6-28-108. Advance enrollment. 20
105		-	(a)(1) Members of the uniformed services shall under § 6-28-105 who 21
106		-	wish to enroll their children in public school should , as soon as possible, 22
107		-	provide advance notice to public schools regarding the enrollment of a 23
108		-	student under this chapter to ensure the best opportunity for a smooth 24
109		-	transition for their children . 25
110		-	(b) Upon receipt of official assignment notice or assignment orders, 26
111		-	the parent, foster parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of a 27
112		-	child, or person standing in loco parentis to a child of a member of the 28
113		-	uniformed services may enroll, register, and coordinate education services 29
114		-	for his or her child, including without limitation a child with special 30
115		-	education needs or a child with a disability, in the public school of his or 31
116		-	her choice by: 32
117		-	(1) Determining, in consultation with military and public school 33
118		-	district officials, the public school in which he or she prefers to enroll 34
119		-	his or her child according to requirements under § 6 -18-1909; 35
120		-	(2) Contacting the public school's designated military family 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
	154	+	5 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
	155	+	(B) Electives Required academic courses for each 1
	156	+	curriculum and elective course options ; 2
	157	+	(C) Sports School and community -sponsored extracurricular 3
	158	+	activities, including without limitation individual and team sports, clubs, 4
	159	+	junior reserve officer training corps opportunities, and Purple Star School 5
	160	+	program ambassadors; and 6
	161	+	(D) Contact information for the designated military family 7
	162	+	education coordinator and the Purple Star School program military family 8
	163	+	education facilitator, if applicable; and 9
	164	+	(D)(E) Other relevant information regarding the public 10
	165	+	school. 11
	166	+	(3)(d) A public school: 12
	167	+	(A)(1) Shall, in determining the acceptance of a student's 13
	168	+	enrollment in the public school, consider the: 14
	169	+	(A) The student's enrollment application date and the 15
	170	+	anticipated date of enrollment of a the student under subdivision (a)(1) 16
	171	+	subsection (a) of this section in light of:; 17
	172	+	(i)(B) Class sizes; 18
	173	+	(ii)(C) Course prerequisites or conflicts; and 19
	174	+	(iii)(D) The availability of elective courses; 20
	175	+	(B)(2)(A) May preregister a student in anticipation of the 21
	176	+	student's enrollment under subdivision (a)(1) of this section; and Shall not 22
	177	+	deny a student enrollment in the public school or the public school district 23
	178	+	under this section unless there is a lack of capacity. 24
	179	+	(B) A lack of capacity may be claimed by a public school 25
	180	+	district only if: 26
	181	+	(i) The public school district has reached the 27
	182	+	maximum student-to-teacher ratio allowed under federal law, state law, the 28
	183	+	Standards for Accreditation for Public Schools and School Districts, state 29
	184	+	rules, or other applicable federal regulations; and 30
	185	+	(ii) The claim of lack of capacity is timely and 31
	186	+	consistent with state and federal law; 32
	187	+	(C)(3) May seek waivers from the State Board of Education to 33
	188	+	accommodate a student under this section, including without limitation 34
	189	+	required class ratios Shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, national 35
	190	+	origin, race, ethnicity, religion, military family status, or disability; 36 HB1545
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	193	+	(4) Notify a prospective student's family in writing regarding 1
	194	+	whether the student's enrollment has been accepted or rejected within fifteen 2
	195	+	(15) calendar days of receiving the student's enrollment application and 3
	196	+	supporting documentation; and 4
	197	+	(5) As soon as practicable, request that a sending district 5
	198	+	provide a student's official education record as specified by § 6 -28-107 to 6
	199	+	confirm the student's provisional enrollment, placement, and course 7
	200	+	preregistration conditions . 8
	201	+	(b)(1)(e)(1) A student under this section shall receive equitable 9
	202	+	access to academic courses. 10
	203	+	(2)(A) A receiving district may enter academic course requests 11
	204	+	on behalf of an incoming student under this section based on the student's 12
	205	+	transcript of information sent by the student's family or the student's 13
	206	+	sending district. 14
	207	+	(B) Special power of attorney relative to the guardianship 15
	208	+	of a student is sufficient for purposes of enrollment and all other actions 16
	209	+	requiring parental participation and consent. 17
	210	+	(c)(1)(f)(1) A receiving district shall not charge local tuition to a 18
	211	+	student who transitions to the receiving district under this section and who 19
	212	+	has been placed in the care of a noncustodial parent or other person standing 20
	213	+	in loco parentis who lives in a jurisdiction other than that of the custodial 21
	214	+	parent. 22
	215	+	(2) A student who has been placed in the care of a noncustodial 23
	216	+	parent or other person standing in loco parentis who lives in a jurisdiction 24
	217	+	other than that of the custodial parent may continue to attend the school in 25
	218	+	which he or she was enrolled while residing with the custodial parent. 26
	219	+	(d)(g) A receiving district shall ensure a student who transitions 27
	220	+	under this section has the opportunity to participate in extracurricular 28
	221	+	activities, regardless of application deadlines, and to the extent that the 29
	222	+	student is otherwise qualified. 30
	223	+	31
	224	+	SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-109 is amended to read as follows: 32
	225	+	6-28-109. Virtual course enrollment. 33
	226	+	(a) At the request of a military family, a receiving district may 34
	227	+	enroll an inbound transitioning child of a military family in virtual 35
	228	+	distance-learning or digital coursework, if available, to facilitate a smooth 36 HB1545
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	231	+	transition between the student's previous coursework and the curriculum best 1
	232	+	suited to ensure educational success in his or her new school. 2
	233	+	(b) To prevent a student from losing course credit due to absences, a 3
	234	+	public school may approve a student who has been granted one (1) or more 4
	235	+	excused absences to attend a mental health or family resilience program under 5
	236	+	§ 6-28-114 to: 6
	237	+	(1) Access school coursework virtually; or 7
	238	+	(2) Transfer to a virtual coursework program. 8
	239	+	9
	240	+	SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-113(b), concerning requirements a 10
	241	+	receiving district must adhere to with regard to a student's special 11
	242	+	education services under the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act 12
	243	+	of 2021, is amended to read as follows: 13
	244	+	(b) A receiving district: 14
	245	+	(1) Shall make reasonable accommodations and modifications to 15
	246	+	address the needs of incoming students with disabilities under this section; 16
	247	+	and 17
	248	+	(2) May perform subsequent evaluations to ensure a student who 18
	249	+	transitions under this chapter has been appropriately placed in the receiving 19
	250	+	district as soon as possible upon the student's arrival at the receiving 20
	251	+	district; 21
	252	+	(3) May request a meeting with a student's parents or legal 22
	253	+	guardians and the individualized education program team at the sending 23
	254	+	district from which the student transferred before the student's arrival at 24
	255	+	the receiving district; 25
	256	+	(4) May, upon review of a student's existing individualized 26
	257	+	education program and with parental consent, request an evaluation by the 27
	258	+	sending district, if the student is still enrolled in the sending district; 28
	259	+	(5) May request an in -person meeting with the student's parents 29
	260	+	or legal guardians and the student to confirm planned services upon the 30
	261	+	adoption by the public school of the student's existing or amended 31
	262	+	individualized education program; and 32
	263	+	(6) May take any other action to ensure a student's smooth 33
	264	+	transition under this chapter . 34
	265	+	35
	266	+	SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-114 is amended to read as follows: 36 HB1545
124	267
125		-	education coordinator with any questions or issues raised or information 1
126		-	needed by the parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of a 2
127		-	child, or person standing in loco parentis to a child; and 3
128		-	(3) Remotely submitting electronically an enrollment application 4
129		-	for his or her child that shall include required documentation, including 5
130		-	without limitation: 6
131		-	(A) A copy of the official military assignment notice or 7
132		-	official assignment orders and military identification credentials of the 8
133		-	member of the uniformed services; 9
134		-	(B) The child's unofficial education record and 10
135		-	immunization records; 11
136		-	(C) Current coursework for the school in which the student 12
137		-	is enrolled if the coursework is not included in the student's unofficial 13
138		-	education record; 14
139		-	(D) A copy of the student's individualized education 15
140		-	program, family service plan under the Individuals with Disabilities 16
141		-	Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., or plan under section 504 of the 17
142		-	Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, as applicable; and 18
143		-	(E) A list of any extracurricular activities in which the 19
144		-	student participates. 20
145		-	(2)(c) When a public school receives notice and an enrollment 21
146		-	application from a military family under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, 22
147		-	the public school shall treat the notice as a provisional enrollment and 23
148		-	provide the student with materials regarding : 24
149		-	(1) Provisionally enroll, provide placement for, and enter 25
150		-	academic course requests on behalf of the incoming student based on the 26
151		-	student's education record provided by his or her family or the sending 27
152		-	district; 28
153		-	(2) Provide the uniformed services family with information 29
154		-	either directly or on a Military Family link on the public school's or public 30
155		-	school district's website regarding: 31
156		-	(A) Academic courses Career-ready pathways and other 32
157		-	academic or education programs offered ; 33
158		-	(B) Electives Required academic courses for each 34
159		-	curriculum and elective course options ; 35
160		-	(C) Sports School and community -sponsored extracurricular 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
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	269	+	6-28-114. Student excused absence. 1
	270	+	(a) If a student's parent or legal guardian has been called to duty 2
	271	+	for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment, the 3
	272	+	student may be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the 4
	273	+	public school in which he or she is enrolled. 5
	274	+	(b) When recommended by a student's family physician or mental health 6
	275	+	professional, a public school may grant an excused absence to a student under 7
	276	+	this chapter for the student to attend a mental health or family resilience 8
	277	+	program for children of members of the uniformed services who died while on 9
	278	+	active duty, died as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty, or 10
	279	+	suffered another confirmed physical or mental trauma. 11
	280	+	12
	281	+	SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-116 is amended to read as follows: 13
	282	+	6-28-116. New student reception programs — Military family education 14
	283	+	coordinators. 15
	284	+	(a) A Each public school with twenty (20) or more children of military 16
	285	+	families enrolled as students under this chapter or a public school district 17
	286	+	with at least three thousand (3,000) enrolled public school students district 18
	287	+	and open-enrollment public charter school shall: 19
	288	+	(1) Incorporate into the policies of the public school district 20
	289	+	specific procedures that outline actions to take in support of students who 21
	290	+	are the children of military families who transition to and from the public 22
	291	+	school district; and 23
	292	+	(2)(A)(1) Designate in each public school district a military 24
	293	+	family education coordinator to serve as the primary point of contact for 25
	294	+	each child of a military family and his or her parent or legal guardian ; 26
	295	+	(2) Annually by September 1 provide to the Division of 27
	296	+	Elementary and Secondary Education the name and contact information of the 28
	297	+	military family education coordinator; and 29
	298	+	(3) Post in a section designated for Military Families on the 30
	299	+	website of the public school the contact information for the military family 31
	300	+	education coordinator . 32
	301	+	(B)(b) The Each public school military family education coordinator 33
	302	+	shall: 34
	303	+	(i)(1) Have Possess specialized knowledge regarding the 35
	304	+	educational needs of children of military families and the obstacles that 36 HB1545
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	307	+	children of military families face in obtaining an education and unique 1
	308	+	challenges faced by children of uniformed services families ; and 2
	309	+	(ii)(2) Be included in the establishment and adoption of a 3
	310	+	public school district's and public school's parent and family engagement 4
	311	+	plan as required under § 6 -15-1702; and 5
	312	+	(3) Serve as a navigator for uniformed services families by: 6
	313	+	(A) Connecting the uniformed services families to 7
	314	+	appropriate public school resources; and 8
	315	+	(B) Connecting families with other uniformed services 9
	316	+	families in the public school upon request . 10
	317	+	(C) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 11
	318	+	shall supply relevant resources for the orientation and training of public 12
	319	+	school military family education coordinators under this section. 13
	320	+	14
	321	+	SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-117 is amended to read as follows: 15
	322	+	6-28-117. Reporting enrollment of children of members of the uniformed 16
	323	+	services armed forces — Definition. 17
	324	+	(a) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall require a 18
	325	+	public school to report the enrollment of a student who is a child of a 19
	326	+	uniformed services family with a parent who is an active duty or reserve 20
	327	+	component member of the armed forces as required by the Every Student 21
	328	+	Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6311, as it existed on January 1, 2025 : 22
	329	+	(1) In the Arkansas Public School Computer Network; or 23
	330	+	(2) As established by rule if the public school or public school 24
	331	+	district does not report information through the Arkansas Public School 25
	332	+	Computer Network. 26
	333	+	(b) As used in this section, "armed forces" means a member of the 27
	334	+	active duty or reserve components of the United States Army, United States 28
	335	+	Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States 29
	336	+	Space Force, United States Coast Guard, and National Guard. 30
	337	+	31
	338	+	SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-204(b), concerning the duties of the 32
	339	+	Arkansas Council for Military Children is amended to read as follows: 33
	340	+	(b) The duties of the council are to: 34
	341	+	(1) Assist state and local education agencies in the promotion 35
	342	+	and, communication, delivery, and assessment of the provisions of this 36 HB1545
163	343
	344	+	10 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
	345	+	chapter to inform state education authorities, public school district 1
	346	+	officials, military commanders, and uniformed services families by: 2
	347	+	(A) Assisting in the development, publication, and 3
	348	+	distribution through schools and military commands of a digital family 4
	349	+	guidebook that provides information on the provisions of this chapter; 5
	350	+	(B) At least biennially publicly surveying uniformed 6
	351	+	services families to assess awareness of this chapter, provisions of the 7
	352	+	Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act, § 6 -18-227, provisions of the 8
	353	+	Public School Choice Act of 2015, § 6 -18-1901 et seq., available military 9
	354	+	family resources, and unmet uniformed services family needs; and 10
	355	+	(C) Developing and promulgating student arrival and 11
	356	+	departure surveys of uniformed services families to provide an assessment of 12
	357	+	the effectiveness of this chapter and other related programs ; 13
	358	+	(2) Assist state and local education agencies with the 14
	359	+	orientation and training of district military family education coordinators 15
	360	+	and school military education facilitators on provisions of this chapter; 16
	361	+	(3) Develop and promote the Purple Star School program as 17
	362	+	required by § 6-28-302; 18
	363	+	(3)(4) Assist in the development and delivery of programs that 19
	364	+	inform current and former uniformed services families , including Gold Star 20
	365	+	families, of the need for self -identification in order to assure accurate 21
	366	+	accounting of children of uniformed services families enrolled in public 22
	367	+	school districts to self-identify to assure: 23
	368	+	(A) They are recognized for their service; and 24
	369	+	(B) That the student is accounted for in all applicable 25
	370	+	programs for which the student qualifies ; and 26
	371	+	(4)(5) Assist in the development and administration of programs 27
	372	+	recognizing education agencies, public schools, and leaders who have 28
	373	+	established or contributed to programs facilitating successful school 29
	374	+	transitions of children of uniformed services families. 30
	375	+	31
	376	+	SECTION 10. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-204(i), concerning administrative 32
	377	+	staff to support the Chair of the Arkansas Council for Military Children, is 33
	378	+	amended to read as follows: 34
	379	+	(i) The council shall post on its website or post by utilizing another 35
	380	+	form of public notice, including without limitation social media, information 36 HB1545
164	381
165		-	activities, including without limitation individual and team sports, clubs, 1
166		-	junior reserve officer training corps opportunities, and Purple Star School 2
167		-	program ambassadors; and 3
168		-	(D) Contact information for the designated military family 4
169		-	education coordinator and the Purple Star School program military family 5
170		-	education facilitator, if applicable; and 6
171		-	(D)(E) Other relevant information regarding the public 7
172		-	school. 8
173		-	(3)(d) A public school: 9
174		-	(A)(1) Shall, in determining the acceptance of a student's 10
175		-	enrollment in the public school, consider the: 11
176		-	(A) The student's enrollment application date and the 12
177		-	anticipated date of enrollment of a the student under subdivision (a)(1) 13
178		-	subsection (a) of this section in light of:; 14
179		-	(i)(B) Class sizes; 15
180		-	(ii)(C) Course prerequisites or conflicts; and 16
181		-	(iii)(D) The availability of elective courses; 17
182		-	(B)(2)(A) May preregister a student in anticipation of the 18
183		-	student's enrollment under subdivision (a)(1) of this section; and Shall not 19
184		-	deny a student enrollment in the public school or the public school district 20
185		-	under this section unless there is a lack of capacity. 21
186		-	(B) A lack of capacity may be claimed by a public school 22
187		-	district only if: 23
188		-	(i) The public school district has reached the 24
189		-	maximum student-to-teacher ratio allowed under federal law, state law, the 25
190		-	Standards for Accreditation for Public Schools and School Districts, state 26
191		-	rules, or other applicable federal regulations; and 27
192		-	(ii) The claim of lack of capacity is timely and 28
193		-	consistent with state and federal law; 29
194		-	(C)(3) May seek waivers from the State Board of Education to 30
195		-	accommodate a student under this section, including without limitation 31
196		-	required class ratios Shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, national 32
197		-	origin, race, ethnicity, religion, military family status, or disability; 33
198		-	(4) Notify a prospective student's family in writing regarding 34
199		-	whether the student's enrollment has been accepted or rejected within fifteen 35
200		-	(15) calendar days of receiving the student's enrollment application and 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
	382	+	11 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
	383	+	for uniformed services families, including without limitation information 1
	384	+	regarding: 2
	385	+	(1) The purpose, duties, membership composition, meeting 3
	386	+	agendas, and meeting minutes of the council; 4
	387	+	(2) Resources to assist uniformed services families with making 5
	388	+	decisions concerning school choice and educational freedom accounts; 6
	389	+	(3) Guidance for advance enrollment; 7
	390	+	(4) Contact information for military family education 8
	391	+	coordinators; and 9
	392	+	(5) Purple Star School Program highlights and contact 10
	393	+	information for military family education facilitators. 11
	394	+	(j) The division shall provide administrative staff support to the Chair 12
	395	+	of the Arkansas Council for Military Children to assist with the achievement 13
	396	+	of the purpose and the administration of duties of the council. 14
	397	+	15
	398	+	SECTION 11. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 28, is amended to add 16
	399	+	additional sections to read as follows: 17
	400	+	Subchapter 3 — Purple Star School Program 18
	401	+	19
	402	+	6-28-301. Purple Star School Program. 20
	403	+	(a) Each public school with twenty (20) or more children of military 21
	404	+	families enrolled annually by October 1 shall: 22
	405	+	(1) Adopt the Purple Star School Program developed by the 23
	406	+	Arkansas Council for Military Children and approved by the Division of 24
	407	+	Elementary and Secondary Education; and 25
	408	+	(2) Survey arriving and departing uniform services families to 26
	409	+	assess the effectiveness of programs and services under this chapter as 27
	410	+	specified by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. 28
	411	+	(b) The purpose of the Purple Star School Program shall be to: 29
	412	+	(1) Assist children of uniformed services families by addressing 30
	413	+	the educational, social, and emotional challenges the children of uniformed 31
	414	+	services families face during their transition to a new school; and 32
	415	+	(2) Keep children of uniformed services families on track to 33
	416	+	enroll and excel in college, enter the workforce, and become life -ready. 34
	417	+	(c) The council-developed Purple Star School Program required under 35
	418	+	subsection (a) of this section shall: 36 HB1545
201	419
202		-	6 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
	420	+	12 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
	421	+	(1) Require each public school to designate a military family 1
	422	+	education facilitator to: 2
	423	+	(A) Identify military -connected students who are enrolled 3
	424	+	in the public school and inform public school teachers of those students; 4
	425	+	(B) Serve as the Purple Star School Program point of 5
	426	+	contact for the public school, each child of a military family, and the 6
	427	+	parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of, or person standing 7
	428	+	in loco parentis to a child of a military family; and 8
	429	+	(C) Assist in determining and coordinating public school 9
	430	+	services and programs for military -connected students; 10
	431	+	(2) Require a designated public school district military family 11
	432	+	education facilitator, public school military family education coordinator, 12
	433	+	and public school staff to complete council -recommended and division -approved 13
	434	+	initial and continuing education on identifying the needs and unique 14
	435	+	challenges faced by children of members of the uniformed services; 15
	436	+	(3) Require each public school district to include on its 16
	437	+	website a "Military Families" section that informs uniformed services 17
	438	+	families of: 18
	439	+	(A) The student enrollment application process; 19
	440	+	(B) Available education pathways; 20
	441	+	(C) Notable public school or public school district Purple 21
	442	+	Star School Programs; 22
	443	+	(D) Public school district military family education 23
	444	+	coordinator contact information; and 24
	445	+	(E) Public school military family education facilitator 25
	446	+	contact information; 26
	447	+	(4)(A) Require each public school or public school district to 27
	448	+	establish a volunteer student -to-student peer ambassador program that shall 28
	449	+	be open to all enrolled students who want to contribute. 29
	450	+	(B) The volunteer student -to-student peer ambassador 30
	451	+	program required under subdivision (c)(4)(A) of this section shall: 31
	452	+	(i) Connect and welcome inbound students ahead of 32
	453	+	their transition to a public school; 33
	454	+	(ii) Assist with the provision of new student 34
	455	+	orientation; and 35
	456	+	(iii) Assist new students with establishing social 36 HB1545
203	457
	458	+	13 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
	459	+	connections at their new school; 1
	460	+	(5) Establish school and community events to honor and recognize 2
	461	+	members of the uniformed services and military -connected students; 3
	462	+	(6) Ensure that a public school or public school district 4
	463	+	appoints a volunteer uniformed services member, military spouse, or 5
	464	+	representative from a military installation or unit to serve on the school 6
	465	+	community and family engagement committee; 7
	466	+	(7) Ensure that a public school district's or public school's 8
	467	+	parent and family engagement plan required under § 6 -15-1702 addresses 9
	468	+	relevant military family issues and resources; and 10
	469	+	(8) Require public schools and public school districts to 11
	470	+	collaborate with military commands to encourage uniformed services families 12
	471	+	to self-identify their military status. 13
	472	+	(d) The Purple Star School Program required under subsection (a) of 14
	473	+	this section may authorize public schools and public school districts to 15
	474	+	expand their Purple Star School Program to include community -level 16
	475	+	initiatives, including without limitation: 17
	476	+	(1) Engaging community organizations, local businesses, and 18
	477	+	military installations to enhance resources and support for military -19
	478	+	connected students and their families; 20
	479	+	(2) Organizing community events that raise awareness of 21
	480	+	military-connected students and their contributions; and 22
	481	+	(3) Establishing partnerships with regional stakeholders to 23
	482	+	enhance Purple Star School Program efforts while fulfilling all requirements 24
	483	+	for the Purple Star School Program established by the division. 25
	484	+	(e) As used in this section, a "military -connected student" is: 26
	485	+	(1) An incoming or a currently enrolled student who is a child 27
	486	+	or dependent of a current or former active or reserve component uniformed 28
	487	+	services member; 29
	488	+	(2) A child of a uniformed services member who died while on 30
	489	+	active duty or as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty; 31
	490	+	(3) A student who is a sibling of a uniformed services member; 32
	491	+	(4) A student who has enlisted in the uniformed services; or 33
	492	+	(5) A Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet. 34
	493	+	35
	494	+	6-28-302. Arkansas Council for Military Children — Purple Star School 36 HB1545
204	495
205		-	supporting documentation; and 1
206		-	(5) As soon as practicable, request that a sending district 2
207		-	provide a student's official education record as specified by § 6 -28-107 to 3
208		-	confirm the student's provisional enrollment, placement, and course 4
209		-	preregistration conditions . 5
210		-	(b)(1)(e)(1) A student under this section shall receive equitable 6
211		-	access to academic courses. 7
212		-	(2)(A) A receiving district may enter academic course requests 8
213		-	on behalf of an incoming student under this section based on the student's 9
214		-	transcript of information sent by the student's family or the student's 10
215		-	sending district. 11
216		-	(B) Special power of attorney relative to the guardianship 12
217		-	of a student is sufficient for purposes of enrollment and all other actions 13
218		-	requiring parental participation and consent. 14
219		-	(c)(1)(f)(1) A receiving district shall not charge local tuition to a 15
220		-	student who transitions to the receiving district under this section and who 16
221		-	has been placed in the care of a noncustodial parent or other person standing 17
222		-	in loco parentis who lives in a jurisdiction other than that of the custodial 18
223		-	parent. 19
224		-	(2) A student who has been placed in the care of a noncustodial 20
225		-	parent or other person standing in loco parentis who lives in a jurisdiction 21
226		-	other than that of the custodial parent may continue to attend the school in 22
227		-	which he or she was enrolled while residing with the custodial parent. 23
228		-	(d)(g) A receiving district shall ensure a student who transitions 24
229		-	under this section has the opportunity to participate in extracurricular 25
230		-	activities, regardless of application deadlines, and to the extent that the 26
231		-	student is otherwise qualified. 27
232		-	28
233		-	SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-109 is amended to read as follows: 29
234		-	6-28-109. Virtual course enrollment. 30
235		-	(a) At the request of a military family, a receiving district may 31
236		-	enroll an inbound transitioning child of a military family in virtual 32
237		-	distance-learning or digital coursework, if available, to facilitate a smooth 33
238		-	transition between the student's previous coursework and the curriculum best 34
239		-	suited to ensure educational success in his or her new school. 35
240		-	(b) To prevent a student from losing course credit due to absences, a 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
241		-
242		-	7 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
243		-
244		-
245		-	public school may approve a student who has been granted one (1) or more 1
246		-	excused absences to: 2
247		-	(1) Access school coursework virtually; or 3
248		-	(2) Transfer to a virtual coursework program. 4
249		-	5
250		-	SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-113(b), concerning requirements a 6
251		-	receiving district must adhere to with regard to a student's special 7
252		-	education services under the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act 8
253		-	of 2021, is amended to read as follows: 9
254		-	(b) A receiving district: 10
255		-	(1) Shall make reasonable accommodations and modifications to 11
256		-	address the needs of incoming students with disabilities under this section; 12
257		-	and 13
258		-	(2) May perform subsequent evaluations to ensure a student who 14
259		-	transitions under this chapter has been appropriately placed in the receiving 15
260		-	district as soon as possible upon the student's arrival at the receiving 16
261		-	district; 17
262		-	(3) May request a meeting with a student's parents or legal 18
263		-	guardians and the individualized education program team at the sending 19
264		-	district from which the student transferred before the student's arrival at 20
265		-	the receiving district; 21
266		-	(4) May, upon review of a student's existing individualized 22
267		-	education program and with parental consent, request an evaluation by the 23
268		-	sending district, if the student is still enrolled in the sending district; 24
269		-	(5) May request an in -person meeting with the student's parents 25
270		-	or legal guardians and the student to confirm planned services upon the 26
271		-	adoption by the public school of the student's existing or amended 27
272		-	individualized education program; and 28
273		-	(6) May take any other action to ensure a student's smooth 29
274		-	transition under this chapter . 30
275		-	31
276		-	32
277		-	SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-116 is amended to read as follows: 33
278		-	6-28-116. New student reception programs — Military family education 34
279		-	coordinators. 35
280		-	(a) A Each public school with twenty (20) or more children of military 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
281		-
282		-	8 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
283		-
284		-
285		-	families enrolled as students under this chapter or a public school district 1
286		-	with at least three thousand (3,000) enrolled public school students district 2
287		-	and open-enrollment public charter school shall: 3
288		-	(1) Incorporate into the policies of the public school district 4
289		-	specific procedures that outline actions to take in support of students who 5
290		-	are the children of military families who transition to and from the public 6
291		-	school district; and 7
292		-	(2)(A)(1) Designate in each public school district a military 8
293		-	family education coordinator to serve as the primary point of contact for 9
294		-	each child of a military family and his or her parent or legal guardian ; 10
295		-	(2) Annually by September 1 provide to the Division of 11
296		-	Elementary and Secondary Education the name and contact information of the 12
297		-	military family education coordinator; and 13
298		-	(3) Post in a section designated for Military Families on the 14
299		-	website of the public school the contact information for the military family 15
300		-	education coordinator . 16
301		-	(B)(b) The Each public school military family education coordinator 17
302		-	shall: 18
303		-	(i)(1) Have Possess specialized knowledge regarding the 19
304		-	educational needs of children of military families and the obstacles that 20
305		-	children of military families face in obtaining an education and unique 21
306		-	challenges faced by children of uniformed services families ; and 22
307		-	(ii)(2) Be included in the establishment and adoption of a 23
308		-	public school district's and public school's parent and family engagement 24
309		-	plan as required under § 6 -15-1702; and 25
310		-	(3) Serve as a navigator for uniformed services families by: 26
311		-	(A) Connecting the uniformed services families to 27
312		-	appropriate public school resources; and 28
313		-	(B) Connecting families with other uniformed services 29
314		-	families in the public school upon request . 30
315		-	(C) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 31
316		-	shall supply relevant resources for the orientation and training of public 32
317		-	school military family education coordinators under this section. 33
318		-	34
319		-	SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-117 is amended to read as follows: 35
320		-	6-28-117. Reporting enrollment of children of members of the uniformed 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
321		-
322		-	9 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
323		-
324		-
325		-	services armed forces — Definition. 1
326		-	(a) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall require a 2
327		-	public school to report the enrollment of a student who is a child of a 3
328		-	uniformed services family with a parent who is an active duty or reserve 4
329		-	component member of the armed forces as required by the Every Student 5
330		-	Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6311, as it existed on January 1, 2025 : 6
331		-	(1) In the Arkansas Public School Computer Network; or 7
332		-	(2) As established by rule if the public school or public school 8
333		-	district does not report information through the Arkansas Public School 9
334		-	Computer Network. 10
335		-	(b) As used in this section, "armed forces" means a member of the 11
336		-	active duty or reserve components of the United States Army, United States 12
337		-	Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States 13
338		-	Space Force, United States Coast Guard, and National Guard. 14
339		-	15
340		-	SECTION 8. Arkansas Code § 6-28-204(b), concerning the duties of the 16
341		-	Arkansas Council for Military Children is amended to read as follows: 17
342		-	(b) The duties of the council are to: 18
343		-	(1) Assist state and local education agencies in the promotion 19
344		-	and, communication, delivery, and assessment of the provisions of this 20
345		-	chapter to inform state education authorities, public school district 21
346		-	officials, military commanders, and uniformed services families by: 22
347		-	(A) Assisting in the development, publication, and 23
348		-	distribution through schools and military commands of a digital family 24
349		-	guidebook that provides information on the provisions of this chapter; 25
350		-	(B) At least biennially publicly surveying uniformed 26
351		-	services families to assess awareness of this chapter, provisions of the 27
352		-	Arkansas Opportunity Public School Choice Act, § 6 -18-227, provisions of the 28
353		-	Public School Choice Act of 2015, § 6 -18-1901 et seq., available military 29
354		-	family resources, and unmet uniformed services family needs; and 30
355		-	(C) Developing and promulgating student arrival and 31
356		-	departure surveys of uniformed services families to provide an assessment of 32
357		-	the effectiveness of this chapter and other related programs ; 33
358		-	(2) Assist state and local education agencies with the 34
359		-	orientation and training of district military family education coordinators 35
360		-	and school military education facilitators on provisions of this chapter; 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
361		-
362		-	10 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
363		-
364		-
365		-	(3) Develop and promote the Purple Star School program as 1
366		-	required by § 6-28-302; 2
367		-	(3)(4) Assist in the development and delivery of programs that 3
368		-	inform current and former uniformed services families , including Gold Star 4
369		-	families, of the need for self -identification in order to assure accurate 5
370		-	accounting of children of uniformed services families enrolled in public 6
371		-	school districts to self-identify to assure: 7
372		-	(A) They are recognized for their service; and 8
373		-	(B) That the student is accounted for in all applicable 9
374		-	programs for which the student qualifies ; and 10
375		-	(4)(5) Assist in the development and administration of programs 11
376		-	recognizing education agencies, public schools, and leaders who have 12
377		-	established or contributed to programs facilitating successful school 13
378		-	transitions of children of uniformed services families. 14
379		-	15
380		-	SECTION 9. Arkansas Code § 6 -28-204(i), concerning administrative 16
381		-	staff to support the Chair of the Arkansas Council for Military Children, is 17
382		-	amended to read as follows: 18
383		-	(i) The council shall post on its website or post by utilizing another 19
384		-	form of public notice, including without limitation social media, information 20
385		-	for uniformed services families, including without limitation information 21
386		-	regarding: 22
387		-	(1) The purpose, duties, membership composition, meeting 23
388		-	agendas, and meeting minutes of the council; 24
389		-	(2) Resources to assist uniformed services families with making 25
390		-	decisions concerning school choice and educational freedom accounts; 26
391		-	(3) Guidance for advance enrollment; 27
392		-	(4) Contact information for military family education 28
393		-	coordinators; and 29
394		-	(5) Purple Star School Program highlights and contact 30
395		-	information for military family education facilitators. 31
396		-	(j) The division shall provide administrative staff support to the Chair 32
397		-	of the Arkansas Council for Military Children to assist with the achievement 33
398		-	of the purpose and the administration of duties of the council. 34
399		-	35
400		-	SECTION 10. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 28, is amended to add 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
401		-
402		-	11 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
403		-
404		-
405		-	additional sections to read as follows: 1
406		-	Subchapter 3 — Purple Star School Program 2
407		-	3
408		-	6-28-301. Purple Star School Program. 4
409		-	(a) Each public school with twenty (20) or more children of military 5
410		-	families enrolled annually by October 1 shall: 6
411		-	(1) Adopt the Purple Star School Program developed by the 7
412		-	Arkansas Council for Military Children and approved by the Division of 8
413		-	Elementary and Secondary Education; and 9
414		-	(2) Survey arriving and departing uniform services families to 10
415		-	assess the effectiveness of programs and services under this chapter as 11
416		-	specified by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. 12
417		-	(b) The purpose of the Purple Star School Program shall be to: 13
418		-	(1) Assist children of uniformed services families by addressing 14
419		-	the educational, social, and emotional challenges the children of uniformed 15
420		-	services families face during their transition to a new school; and 16
421		-	(2) Keep children of uniformed services families on track to 17
422		-	enroll and excel in college, enter the workforce, and become life -ready. 18
423		-	(c) The council-developed Purple Star School Program required under 19
424		-	subsection (a) of this section shall: 20
425		-	(1) Require each public school to designate a military family 21
426		-	education facilitator to: 22
427		-	(A) Identify military -connected students who are enrolled 23
428		-	in the public school and inform public school teachers of those students; 24
429		-	(B) Serve as the Purple Star School Program point of 25
430		-	contact for the public school, each child of a military family, and the 26
431		-	parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of, or person standing 27
432		-	in loco parentis to a child of a military family; and 28
433		-	(C) Assist in determining and coordinating public school 29
434		-	services and programs for military -connected students; 30
435		-	(2) Require a designated public school district military family 31
436		-	education facilitator, public school military family education coordinator, 32
437		-	and public school staff to complete council -recommended and division -approved 33
438		-	initial and continuing education on identifying the needs and unique 34
439		-	challenges faced by children of members of the uniformed services; 35
440		-	(3) Require each public school district to include on its 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
441		-
442		-	12 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
443		-
444		-
445		-	website a "Military Families" section that informs uniformed services 1
446		-	families of: 2
447		-	(A) The student enrollment application process; 3
448		-	(B) Available education pathways; 4
449		-	(C) Notable public school or public school district Purple 5
450		-	Star School Programs; 6
451		-	(D) Public school district military family education 7
452		-	coordinator contact information; and 8
453		-	(E) Public school military family education facilitator 9
454		-	contact information; 10
455		-	(4)(A) Require each public school or public school district to 11
456		-	establish a volunteer student -to-student peer ambassador program that shall 12
457		-	be open to all enrolled students who want to contribute. 13
458		-	(B) The volunteer student -to-student peer ambassador 14
459		-	program required under subdivision (c)(4)(A) of this section shall: 15
460		-	(i) Connect and welcome inbound students ahead of 16
461		-	their transition to a public school; 17
462		-	(ii) Assist with the provision of new student 18
463		-	orientation; and 19
464		-	(iii) Assist new students with establishing social 20
465		-	connections at their new school; 21
466		-	(5) Establish school and community events to honor and recognize 22
467		-	members of the uniformed services and military -connected students; 23
468		-	(6) Ensure that a public school or public school district 24
469		-	appoints a volunteer uniformed services member, military spouse, or 25
470		-	representative from a military installation or unit to serve on the school 26
471		-	community and family engagement committee; 27
472		-	(7) Ensure that a public school district's or public school's 28
473		-	parent and family engagement plan required under § 6 -15-1702 addresses 29
474		-	relevant military family issues and resources; and 30
475		-	(8) Require public schools and public school districts to 31
476		-	collaborate with military commands to encourage uniformed services families 32
477		-	to self-identify their military status. 33
478		-	(d) The Purple Star School Program required under subsection (a) of 34
479		-	this section may authorize public schools and public school districts to 35
480		-	expand their Purple Star School Program to include community -level 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
481		-
482		-	13 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
483		-
484		-
485		-	initiatives, including without limitation: 1
486		-	(1) Engaging community organizations, local businesses, and 2
487		-	military installations to enhance resources and support for military -3
488		-	connected students and their families; 4
489		-	(2) Organizing community events that raise awareness of 5
490		-	military-connected students and their contributions; and 6
491		-	(3) Establishing partnerships with regional stakeholders to 7
492		-	enhance Purple Star School Program efforts while fulfilling all requirements 8
493		-	for the Purple Star School Program established by the division. 9
494		-	(e) As used in this section, a "military -connected student" is: 10
495		-	(1) An incoming or a currently enrolled student who is a child 11
496		-	or dependent of a current or former active or reserve component uniformed 12
497		-	services member; 13
498		-	(2) A child of a uniformed services member who died while on 14
499		-	active duty or as a result of injuries sustained while on active duty; 15
500		-	(3) A student who is a sibling of a uniformed services member; 16
501		-	(4) A student who has enlisted in the uniformed services; or 17
502		-	(5) A Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet. 18
	496	+	14 02/20/2025 8:22:05 AM TNL129
	497	+	Program — Duties. 1
	498	+	The Arkansas Council for Military Children shall: 2
	499	+	(1) Develop and review biennially and amend as necessary the 3
	500	+	Purple Star School Program model; 4
	501	+	(2) When developing, reviewing, and amending the Purple Star 5
	502	+	School Program as required under subdivision (1) of this section, incorporate 6
	503	+	provisions prescribed by the council, the Military Child Education Coalition, 7
	504	+	and other relevant, recognized authorities; 8
	505	+	(3) Use the Purple Star School Program's application and renewal 9
	506	+	process along with interdistrict collaboration events to drive continuous 10
	507	+	improvement of the program; 11
	508	+	(4) Define required and optional Purple Star School Program 12
	509	+	provisions established by § 6 -28-301 and performance standards; 13
	510	+	(5) Establish phase -in timing and training, if required, when 14
	511	+	adopting or amending Purple Star School Program provisions; and 15
	512	+	(6) Establish a recognition program for public schools, public 16
	513	+	school districts, and private schools that meet Purple Star School Program 17
	514	+	standards as defined and evaluated by the council. 18
503	515		19
504		-	6-28-302. Arkansas Council for Military Children — Purple Star School 20
505		-	Program — Duties. 21
506		-	The Arkansas Council for Military Children shall: 22
507		-	(1) Develop and review biennially and amend as necessary the 23
508		-	Purple Star School Program model; 24
509		-	(2) When developing, reviewing, and amending the Purple Star 25
510		-	School Program as required under subdivision (1) of this section, incorporate 26
511		-	provisions prescribed by the council, the Military Child Education Coalition, 27
512		-	and other relevant, recognized authorities; 28
513		-	(3) Use the Purple Star School Program's application and renewal 29
514		-	process along with interdistrict collaboration events to drive continuous 30
515		-	improvement of the program; 31
516		-	(4) Define required and optional Purple Star School Program 32
517		-	provisions established by § 6 -28-301 and performance standards; 33
518		-	(5) Establish phase -in timing and training, if required, when 34
519		-	adopting or amending Purple Star School Program provisions; and 35
520		-	(6) Establish a recognition program for public schools, public 36 As Engrossed: H3/10/25 H3/19/25 HB1545
521		-
522		-	14 03-19-2025 14:25:09 TNL129
523		-
524		-
525		-	school districts, and private schools that meet Purple Star School Program 1
526		-	standards as defined and evaluated by the council. 2
527		-	3
528		-	6-28-303. Division of Elementary and Secondary Education — Purple Star 4
529		-	School Program — Duties. 5
530		-	The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall: 6
531		-	(1) Provide relevant resources for the orientation and training 7
532		-	of public school district military family education coordinators and public 8
533		-	school military family education facilitators under this chapter; 9
534		-	(2) Administer the Purple Star School Program; 10
535		-	(3) Provide administrative and logistical support to the 11
536		-	Arkansas Council for Military Children to develop the program; and 12
537		-	(4) Promulgate and incorporate Purple Star School program rules 13
538		-	into the rules the division promulgates under this chapter. 14
539		-	15
540		-	/s/K. Brown 16
541		-	17
542		-	18
543		-	APPROVED: 4/10/25 19
544		-	20
545		-	21
546		-	22
547		-	23
548		-	24
549		-	25
550		-	26
551		-	27
552		-	28
553		-	29
554		-	30
	516	+	6-28-303. Division of Elementary and Secondary Education — Purple Star 20
	517	+	School Program — Duties. 21
	518	+	The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall: 22
	519	+	(1) Provide relevant resources for the orientation and training 23
	520	+	of public school district military family education coordinators and public 24
	521	+	school military family education facilitators under this chapter; 25
	522	+	(2) Administer the Purple Star School Program; 26
	523	+	(3) Provide administrative and logistical support to the 27
	524	+	Arkansas Council for Military Children to develop the program; and 28
	525	+	(4) Promulgate and incorporate Purple Star School program rules 29
	526	+	into the rules the division promulgates under this chapter. 30
555	527		31
556	528		32
557	529		33
558	530		34
559	531		35
560	532		36