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Bill

SB 607

TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INITIATES AND MAINTAINS A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stan Berry and 31 co-sponsors

Senate Bill 607 allows Arkansas school districts to adopt a four-day school week, ensuring the same instructional hours while providing flexibility and potential benefits.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 607

Summary of Senate Bill 607 (SB 607)

Purpose and Intent

Senate Bill 607 (SB 607) was introduced to establish the requirements for public school districts in Arkansas that wish to implement and maintain a four-day school week. The bill aimed to provide local districts with greater flexibility in scheduling instructional time, potentially leading to educational benefits for students and financial rewards for the districts. An emergency clause was included to ensure timely implementation ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several significant changes to existing law regarding school scheduling:

  1. Definition of a Four-Day School Week:

    • A four-day school week is defined as a schedule where students attend school for four days but receive the same total instructional hours as a traditional five-day week.

  2. Authority of School Districts:

    • Local school district boards would have the authority to initiate and maintain a four-day school week without needing approval from the State Board of Education.

  3. Instructional Requirements:

    • Districts opting for a four-day week must ensure:
      • An average of six hours of instruction per school day and a total of thirty hours per week.
      • Compliance with state standards for educational programs, including a minimum of 120 clock hours for high school courses.

  4. Documentation and Assessment:

    • Districts must provide documentation to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to assess the success of the four-day week program, including the use of state-approved tests.

  5. Community Engagement:

    • The four-day school week must be included in the district's annual report to gauge local support and gather community input.

  6. Limitations on State Aid:

    • Districts would not receive additional state financial aid for operating a four-day school week compared to a traditional five-day week.

  7. Compliance and Reporting:

    • Districts would demonstrate compliance through a state-approved electronic application and would not be required to submit additional reports.

Affected Parties

The bill primarily affects:
- Public School Districts: Those that choose to implement a four-day school week.
- Students and Parents: Who would need to adjust to the new school schedule.
- State Education Authorities: Responsible for overseeing compliance and funding distribution.

Procedural Aspects

  • Introduced: April 1, 2025
  • Legislative Actions:
    • April 2, 2025: Read for the first time and referred to the Education Committee in the Senate.
    • May 5, 2025: The bill died in the Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment, meaning it did not progress to a vote.

Conclusion

While SB 607 aimed to provide flexibility and potential benefits for Arkansas public school districts, it ultimately did not advance through the legislative process. The emergency clause highlighted the urgency for districts to finalize their school calendars for the upcoming academic year, but the bill's failure to pass means that no changes to the four-day school week requirements were enacted.

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

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