Enrollment and Attendance

Enrolling a child in an Arkansas public school is addressed in Arkansas law and in the State Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools.

Under Arkansas law, any student entering public school kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 15 of that school year. According to the Standards: “All children who are ages five (5) through seventeen (17) on or before September 15 are required to be in school that school year.” The exceptions to this attendance requirement, as stated in law, are:

1. Five-year-old children for whom kindergarten has been waived by the parent, guardian, or person having custody or charge;
   
   
2. Students who have received a high school diploma or its equivalent; and
   
   
3. Students who are enrolled in a postsecondary vocational-technical institution, a community college, or a two-year or four-year institution of higher education.

The Standards include the following statement on initial enrollment: “A birth certificate, Social Security Number, or other documentation, as provided by law, shall be required to enroll in school.”

Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their local school district superintendent’s office for specific information concerning required enrollment documents.