SB505

Senate Bill 505 amends Arkansas law to permit public and open-enrollment public charter schools to award high school diplomas to students before their scheduled graduation date. This provision is specifically restricted to students in their final semester who are diagnosed as terminally ill by a licensed medical professional, meaning they have an incurable condition and are not expected to survive until the standard graduation date. Schools may exercise this authority only after receiving approval from their board of directors or governing body. The bill includes an emergency clause, enabling it to take effect immediately upon approval to allow current students facing terminal illness to receive their diplomas before the 2023 graduation season.