Forms and Appeal Information

Student Residency Appeals

Disputes between school districts as to a student's correct school district of residence may be appealed to the State Board of Education. Appeals are governed by the Department's Rules Governing Appeals Involving Student Residency Disputes Between School Districts. Appeals are made by filing a written notice of appeal with:

Office of Legal Services
Arkansas Department of Education
ATTN: Student Residency Appeal
Four Capitol Mall, Room 404-A
Little Rock, AR 72201
 

The written appeal must include:

  • A list of the names of students that the appealing school district alleges are unlawfully attending the responding district;
  • A copy of the written report completed by the responding district; and
  • Documentation indicating that the appealing school district followed all preliminary procedures as outlined in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-202(e) and Section 3.00 of the Rules.

Written appeals must be filed within five (5) days after the appealing district receives the written report of the responding district's superintendent.

Act 1599 or 1381 Requests / Ethics Disclosures & Approvals

Arkansas law generally prohibits school board members and school employees from directly or indirectly contracting with the public educational entity they serve. The law also generally prohibits school board members' relatives from being initially employed by the public educational entity they serve. The law allows certain exceptions in "unusual and limited circumstances", and in most cases these exceptions must be approved by the Commissioner of Education.

The prohibition on contracting was imposed by the Legislature in Act 1599 of 2001. The prohibition on employment of school board members' relatives was imposed by the Legislature in Act 1381 of 2005. Additional details about these ethical requirements may be found in the Department's Rules Governing Ethical Guidelines and Prohibitions.

Exception requests must be accompanied by the appropriate Contract Approval and Disclosure Forms and should be mailed via certified mail, return receipt requested, to:

Office of the Commissioner
Arkansas Department of Education
Four Capitol Mall, Room 304-A
Little Rock, AR 72201
 
In addition to these rules, school board members and school employees have other ethical obligations under various state laws. These obligations are enforced by local prosecuting attorneys and by the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
 

For more information, please contact:

Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of Legal Services
Four Capitol Mall, Room 301-A
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-4227

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