EL DORADO, Ark. (AP) – A federal judge says four school districts in southern
Arkansas can be exempt from a state law that allows students to transfer into
different districts.
The Hope, Junction City, Lafayette County and Camden Fairview districts had
requested waivers from the School Choice Act, arguing that allowing students to
cross district lines could put the districts in conflict with longstanding
federal desegregation mandates.
The state denied or partially denied the requests. According to the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette , U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey ruled in favor of the four
districts Thursday.
Hickey said the four districts could claim exemptions from the law in the
2019-2020 school year and beyond, but that students who already transferred
during this school year could remain at their schools.
The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office called the decision “disappointing.”
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI