AR SB894

The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) must allow private school students attending AAA member schools that do not offer grades 10-12 to participate on athletic teams at public high schools during the spring semester if the private school does not offer that athletic program.

Eligible private school students must meet all participation requirements except attendance requirements of the public school district in which they reside, as determined under § 6-18-202.

Students who participate on a public high school athletic team under this provision during spring semester but do not attend that public high school in the next school year become ineligible for AAA sanctioned athletics for one year, unless parents or guardians make a complete and bona fide change of domicile under AAA guidelines.

An emergency is declared to exist because athletics play a crucial role in student school experiences and the AAA needs time to prepare rules and schedules for the 2015-2016 school year.

The act became effective upon Governor approval on March 31, 2015.