Pursuant of Arkansas Act 237 of 2023 § 6-16-156, the Department of Education must ensure that the Department, its employees, contractors, guest speakers, and lecturers are in compliance with Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241). 

The Arkansas Department of Education has completed the steps in reviewing the rules, policies, materials, and communications of the Department of Education to identify any items that may, purposely or otherwise, promote teaching that would indoctrinate students with ideologies, such as Critical Race Theory, otherwise known as “CRT”, that conflict with the principle of equal protection under the law or encourage students to discriminate against someone based on the individual’s color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. 

The Arkansas Department of Education has amended, annulled, or altered the rules, policies, materials, or communications that are considered prohibited indoctrination and that conflict with the principle of equal protection under the law. However, this is an ongoing process. 

As used in § 6-16-156 of Act 237 of 2023, “prohibited indoctrination” means communication by a public-school employee, public school representative, or guest speaker that compels a person to adopt, affirm, or profess an idea in violation of Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352, 78) including that:

• People of one color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law are inherently superior or inferior to people of another color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.
• An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.
  

This section does not prohibit the discussion of:

1. Ideas and the history of the concepts described in § 6-16-156 (b) of Act 237 of 2023; or
2. Public policy issues of the day and related ideas that individuals may find unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive. 

The Arkansas Department of Education has enhanced processes and policies that prevent prohibited indoctrination, including Critical Race Theory, as it relates to employees, contractors, and guest speakers or lecturers of the department.

School Districts and Open-Enrollment Charter Schools must complete and submit an assurance document annually ensuring that no public school employee or public school student shall be required to attend trainings or orientations based on prohibited indoctrination or Critical Race Theory. 

Questions or concerns with rules, regulations, policies, materials, or communications produced or disseminated by any public school or open-enrollment charter school as related to Act 237 of 2023 § 6-16-156 shall be direct to the school or district. 

If rules, regulations, policies, materials, or communications produced or disseminated by the Arkansas Department of Education are found to be in violation of Act 237 of 2023 § 6-16-156, please submit an email with documentation including justification of finding to ade.learns@ade.arkansas.gov for further investigation. 

For more information, please contact:

Ade.learns@ade.arkansas.gov