Arkansas

NCAI Region: Southeast

State Public Education Department: Arkansas Department of Education

State Average Per Pupil Funding: $11.758

Charter Support Organizations: Arkansas Public School Resource Center

Year Charter Law Enacted: 1995

2020 Model Law Ranking: 31

Estimated Number of Charter Schools: 86

Estimated Number of Charter Students: 35,432

Arkansas law creates the open enrollment public charter school facilities funding aid program and authorizes up to $20 million in funding to this program. The state is currently providing $7,575,000 to this program.
Arkansas law creates an open enrollment public charter school capital grant program. However, the state has not provided funding to this program.
Arkansas law requires each school district to annually identify all unused or underutilized facilities to the Arkansas Department of Education. The law allows public charter schools to lease or purchase a school district’s unused or underutilized facilities for fair-market value. It gives public charter schools a right of first refusal to purchase for fair-market value a facility that a district intends to sell. It also gives the school district a right of first refusal to purchase a facility back if the charter school ceases to use the facility.
Arkansas law creates an open enrollment public charter school facilities loan fund. However, the state has not provided funding to this program.
Arkansas law provides that charter schools are eligible to access financing through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority.
Arkansas law provides that a school district or public charter school may enter into public-private partnerships whereby the school district or public charter school enters into a lease-purchase agreement for the acquisition or construction of a school building or related facilities built or acquired by the private entities with facilities bonds exempt from federal taxes.