SB190

Senate Bill 190 amends the process by which Arkansas public school districts obtain and maintain waivers from state regulations. The bill mandates that the State Board of Education apply the same criteria used for open-enrollment public charter school waivers when evaluating district waiver petitions. It establishes a 90-day deadline for the State Board to approve or deny these petitions, which can be extended if the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education requires additional information. Waivers are capped at a maximum duration of five years and cannot exceed the duration granted to open-enrollment charter schools. The bill also formalizes the procedure for revoking a waiver, requiring the State Board to provide written notice at least 15 business days in advance to district leadership and state the specific reasons for the proposed revocation. Finally, it permits the Division to promulgate rules necessary to implement these changes.