TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A STUDENT UNDER THE ARKANSAS CONCURRENT CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

HB 1451 clarifies that home-schooled students, as defined by Arkansas law, qualify for the Concurrent Challenge Scholarship Program. The bill specifically amends the program’s definition of "student" to include home-schooled learners and sets a total funding cap of $250,000 for all scholarships distributed to students in grades 9 through 12. This change directly affects home-schooled students seeking financial support for concurrent enrollment in college courses while in high school. The legislation, now Act 353, ensures these students meet the eligibility criteria under the existing program framework.