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HB 1812

requiring periodic evaluation of mental health access adequacy by an independent third party.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Donovan Fenton and 2 co-sponsors

Allows GED completion to satisfy attendance exit requirements and exclude GED graduates from counting as dropouts in five-year graduation rate calculations.

Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 8
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Bill Summary · HB 1812

Summary — HB 1812 (Arkansas, 95th General Assembly, 2025) — GED / Attendance / Graduation Rate

Note on bill numbering: Multiple jurisdictions use the designation “HB 1812.” The documents you provided chiefly describe an Arkansas House Bill (95th General Assembly) that would amend Arkansas school attendance and accountability law with respect to students who take and pass the GED. The header information you supplied (title about bonds for the Tennessee Williams Home; “Died in Committee”; Ways & Means) appears to refer to a different HB 1812. The summary below focuses on the Arkansas GED-related HB 1812 contained in the provided text. Please verify the jurisdiction if you intended a different bill.

Main purpose / intent

To revise Arkansas law so that students who take and pass a GED test are (1) treated as having satisfied compulsory attendance/exit requirements (i.e., not required to remain enrolled) and (2) are excluded from counting as dropouts in school district five‑year graduation rate calculations. The bill also establishes minimum pre‑testing eligibility/score requirements for 16–17 year‑olds seeking to enroll in adult education or take the GED.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends Ark. Code § 6-15-2913(a)(2)(D):
    • Clarifies that for accountability/level-of-support calculations, a student who passes a GED test shall not be counted as a dropout when calculating a public school district’s five‑year graduation rate (Senate amendment clarified “five‑year graduation rate”).
  • Amends Ark. Code § 6-18-201 (attendance exceptions):
    • § 6-18-201(a)(2): A child who has received a GED, high school diploma, or equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education is exempt from compulsory attendance.
    • § 6-18-201(a)(4): Confirms that 16+ year‑olds enrolled in adult education or the Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program are exempt from attendance.
  • Enrollment and GED‑test eligibility for 16–17 year‑olds (§ 6-18-201(c) & (d)):
    • Private/parochial students: must provide verification of enrollment from school principal/administrator.
    • Home‑schooled students: must provide a notarized copy of the home‑school notice filed with the local superintendent.
    • Academic readiness thresholds: requires an assessed grade‑level score (8.5 grade level on TABE) or specified GED practice test minimums — e.g., minimum 450 on each GED section and minimum composite 490 on the GED practice test (and language cleaned up by amendments).
    • Public school students may take the GED without district permission; all students must meet the minimum official GED practice test scores to be eligible.

Who is affected

  • 16–17 year‑old students in public, private/parochial, and home‑school settings who seek to exit high school via GED or enroll in adult education.
  • Public school districts and the State Board of Education — changes to how five‑year graduation rates are calculated and reported.
  • Adult education providers who manage enrollment and readiness screening.
  • Potential indirect effects on district accountability measures, resource allocation, and graduation-rate‑based evaluations.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal impact: Arkansas Department of Education fiscal statement indicates “No Fiscal Impact,” but notes the division would need to calculate two graduation rates — one per the bill and one per federal guidance — which implies additional reporting work.
  • Legislative history in the provided documents indicates passage through both chambers and enrollment (engrossed S4/9/25; Senate amendments adopted; correctly enrolled and transmitted to Governor; a notice referencing Act 918 on 4/21/25). However, your metadata lists the bill as “Died In Committee” and a different title — this is contradictory. Verify final status and the correct HB 1812 by jurisdiction (Arkansas vs. other states) before relying on enactment status.
  • Companion bill: SB 2452 (companion referenced).

If you want, I can:
- Verify the official final status in the Arkansas legislative database (or a different state if that was your intended jurisdiction), or
- Produce a version tailored to a non‑Arkansas HB 1812 (e.g., the Tennessee bonds bill) if you provide the correct text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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