AR SB531

The Arkansas Activities Association must create separate athletic conference systems and play-off systems for public schools and private schools, with winners designated as public school champion or private school champion respectively.

A public school athletic team winning a state championship game against a private school is considered the overall state champion; a public school team losing to a private school is considered only the public school state champion.

A private school athletic team winning a state championship game against a public school is considered the overall state champion; a private school team losing to a public school is considered only the private school state champion.

Both the public and private school championship provisions apply retroactively to teams that competed against each other before this act's effective date.

"Athletic team" is defined as a student or group of students who participate in a school-affiliated sport at their enrolled school.