Arkansas Lawmakers Grapple With School Choice
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas lawmakers are weighing competing proposals over how to rewrite the state's school choice law that a federal judge last year ruled as unconstitutional because it relied too heavily on racial criteria.
Both education advocates and lawmakers say Arkansas should develop a new law so the fate of district-to-district transfers isn't left in the hands of the courts. There are currently three different suggestions.
One proposal would let students to transfer to another district as long as it doesn't conflict with any pending desegregation court order. Another allows school districts to opt out of the law if they think it would lead to racial segregation in their schools. A third bill places limits on transfers based on a district's percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
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