AR SB114

Repeals the Arkansas Public School Choice Act of 1989 (§ 6-18-206) and establishes a new Arkansas Interdistrict Public School Choice Act of 2013 (§ 6-18-231) to allow students to apply for enrollment in public school districts other than their resident district.

Requires school districts to adopt standards for accepting or denying choice applications, with priority given to siblings of students already attending; standards cannot be based on prior academic achievement, athletic ability, disability, English proficiency, or disciplinary history except expulsion.

Allows school districts under federal desegregation orders to request exemptions from the choice program for up to three years if participation would conflict with desegregation obligations, promote resegregation, or interfere with eliminating vestiges of prior segregation.

Establishes application deadline of February 15 before the fall semester, requires notification within 30 days, and allows parents to appeal denials to the State Board of Education within 10 days; the board must approve transfers if determined to be in the student's best interest and non-detrimental to desegregation efforts.

Declares the bill an emergency measure effective upon gubernatorial approval or signing deadline, citing current litigation uncertainty regarding school choice and desegregation.