HB 1458 Summary

• Establishes the Extension Education Program for Exceptional Students, allowing parents of eligible students with developmental disabilities (autism spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, cerebral palsy, seizure disorder) to receive state funding for educational services outside traditional public schools.

• Eligible students must be ages 4-20, have resided in Arkansas for at least 6 of the preceding 12 months, and have a disability diagnosed by a licensed physician or psychologist; parents must determine the extension program is an appropriate educational choice after consulting with their resident school district.

• Each eligible student receives an Extension Education Program account funded by per-student foundation funding plus alternative learning environment categorical funding; funds may be used to pay education providers and specialists for services documented through invoices and claims submitted to the Department of Education.

• Individualized education programs must deliver a minimum of 1,000 annual instructional hours, with at least 90% delivered by licensed professionals (occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, recreational therapists, behavior analysts, or teachers); paraprofessionals may assist if supervised by licensed teachers.

• Department of Education conducts annual reviews to ensure compliance with individualized education programs; accounts can be placed on probationary status or corrective action plans if minimum hours are not met, and departments may immediately end accounts upon discovering fraud.