Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week

Constitution Week

The United States Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement has announced that, pursuant to legislation passed by Congress, educational institutions receiving federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year, commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. For purposes of the U.S. Department of Education’s implementation of this requirement, “educational institutions” includes, but is not limited to, “local educational agencies” and “institutions of higher education” receiving federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

Check out the Arkansas Kids Guide to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and a companion instructional guide designed for all educators.

Celebrate Freedom Week

Pursuant to Act 682 of 2003 and Ark. Code Ann. § 6-16-101, Arkansas public schools must observe Celebrate Freedom Week during the last full week of classes in September. This law was created to educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom and the values on which this country was founded. During Celebrate Freedom Week, all social studies classes shall include instruction to help students focus on the freedoms offered in the United States of America. Suggested topics of study are included in the text of Act 682, but the curriculum is left up to individual school districts.

Arkansas Resources

The following links contains resources that may assist educators in preparing for Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week and support schools and educators implementing these requirements.

Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week Resources Document
Full length document of Act 682 of 2003 can be found on the Arkansas General Assembly website.
Full wording of Arkansas Annotated Code Sec. 6-16-101 may be found on the Code of Arkansas Public Access website.

For more information, please contact:

Amber Murry Pirnique, M.Ed.
Disciplinary Literacy Program Manager
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Four Capitol Mall, Room 202-B
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-5764
Email: Amber.Pirnique@ade.arkansas.gov

Related Files

AR Kids Guide to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights

Learning Services