This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

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State Policies in Arkansas  

Arkansas does not have a state acceleration policy. LEA's make acceleration decisions.

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergarten

State policy does not permit. 

AR Code 6-18-207 states that "students may enter kindergarten in the public schools of this state if they will attain the age of five (5) years on or before August 1 of the year in which they are seeking initial enrollment.” A child who does not meet this age requirement may be admitted to kindergarten if he or she "has been enrolled in a state-accredited or state-approved kindergarten program in another state or in a kindergarten program equivalent in another country for at least sixty (60) days, who will become five (5) years old during the year in which he or she is enrolled in kindergarten, and who meets the basic residency requirement for school attendance". 

Early entrance to 1st grade

State policy does not permit.

AR Code 6-18-207 states that “Any child may enter the first grade in the public schools of this state if the child will attain the age of six (6) years during the school year in which the child is seeking enrollment and the child has successfully completed a kindergarten program in a public school in this state.”

A child who will be 6 on or before October 1 who has not completed a state-accredited kindergarten program "shall be evaluated by the district and may be placed in the 1st grade if the results of the evaluation justify placement in the 1st grade and the child's parent agrees with placement in the 1st grade. Otherwise, the child shall be placed in kindergarten" (AR Code 6-18-201).

Whole-grade accelerationNo state policy; up to LEA to determine. Arkansas Gifted and Talented Services describes what can be offered in more detail.
Early high school graduation

State policy permits.

AR Code 6-18-224 states that “Any student who is enrolled in a public high school in Arkansas and has earned the number of credits required by the local school district for graduation shall be eligible to graduate from the high school without regard to the grade level the student is enrolled in at the time such credits are earned.”

Early entrance to collegeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or university

Arkansas does allow for Concurrent High School and College Enrollment. 


Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

State policy leaves LEA to determine.
Advanced Placement®

State policy permits.

Arkansas click here for Arkansas AP information requires "that each school district provides high school students with the opportunity to enroll in at least one (1) College Board Advanced Placement course in the four (4) core areas of English, math, science, and social studies." These rules also include information about responsibility for AP test payment.

Arkansas additionally offers PreAP Program that is designed to support learners preparing to take advanced coursework. 

Talent Search

There is no in-state talent search program in Arkansas, but gifted students in AR can participate in regional and national talent search programs such as those offered by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center .

Arkansas does offer Supplemental Student Opportunities such as Arkansas Governors School and Academic Enrichment for Gifted/Talented in Summer.  

Credit by examination/proficiency-based promotion

State policy does permit. See page 8 and 9 of the Flexibility in awarding High School Course Credit by Demonstrated Mastery.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

Typically left to LEAs to determine. If you know of state-level code, please e-mail us.

Additional Information


Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Gifted and Talented



The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education 2020-2021 (a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children), Websites, professional literature, and personal communication. The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.