AR SB505

Public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools may award a high school diploma before the established graduation date to students who are terminally ill and in their final semester of high school, with board approval.

"Terminally ill" is defined as an incurable condition caused by illness or disease where the student will likely die before the graduation date, as determined by a licensed medical professional.

Hospice admittance due to an incurable condition caused by illness or disease qualifies as terminally ill under this act.

The act becomes effective immediately upon Governor approval, failure to veto within the allowed period, or veto override, to apply to the 2023 graduation class before their imminent graduation dates.