Bill Tracker

“Children’s rights are human rights. They have a right to be safe from harm in all settings and trust the adults in their lives not to hurt them.”

~ Ellen

AASP Board Member

Keep track of all Arkansas legislation related to corporal punishment in schools.

Arkansas School Discipline Act

Code Section6-18-0505
Punishment AllowedUse of corporal punishment by teachers or school administrators only in specifically authorized school district and administered in accord with district's written student discipline policy.
Punishment AllowedUse of corporal punishment by teachers or school administrators only in specifically authorized school district and administered in accord with district's written student discipline policy.
Circumstances Allowable"In order to maintain discipline and order within public schools" (varies by school district)

Policy language across all school handbooks

“The _______ School Board authorizes the use of corporal punishment to be administered in accordance with this policy by the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designated staff members who are required to have a state-issued license as a condition of their employment. Prior to the administration of corporal punishment, the student receiving the corporal punishment shall be given an explanation of the reasons for the punishment and be given an opportunity to refute the charges. All corporal punishment shall be administered privately, i.e. out of the sight and hearing of other students, shall not be excessive, or administered with malice, and shall be administered in the presence of another school administrator or designee who shall be a licensed staff member employed by the District. Corporal punishment shall not be used as a form of discipline for a student who is intellectually disabled, non-ambulatory, non-verbal, or autistic.”

Ark. Code Ann. §6-18-503

Arkansas State Law

Code Section6-18-0505
Punishment AllowedUse of corporal punishment by teachers or school administrators only in specifically authorized school district and administered in accord with district's written student discipline policy.
Punishment AllowedUse of corporal punishment by teachers or school administrators only in specifically authorized school district and administered in accord with district's written student discipline policy.
Circumstances Allowable"In order to maintain discipline and order within public schools" (varies by school district)
Act: 557 (2019)Prohibiting the use of corporal punishment against children who are “intellectually disabled, non-ambulatory, non-verbal, or autistic”.
“Paddling is a rooted in antiblackness and enslavement. Black children are disproportionately paddled, which affects their ability to learn, increases aggression, and is a form of racialized violence that must end in schools.”

~ Yolanda

AASP Board Member

Does your child's school district ENDORSE corporal punishment?

School districts are identified as “endorsing corporal punishment” if any of their schools’ latest handbooks include paddling as a possible consequence.

    Great News!

    Your child's school does NOT endorse corporal punishment!

    But there are still 176 school districts in Arkansas that DO endorse corporal punishment, and they're filled with kids just like yours...

    So, what can you do to help?

    Here are a few options:

    • Contact other district's administrative team or its school board to inquire about future policy changes

    • Sign up below to receive our newsletter to help ban corporal punishment statewide


    We've got Bad News...

    According to our records, your child's school endorses corporal punishment. Although the district allows (with your signature) your child to "opt out" of this consequence, the endorsement proves a profound misunderstanding of child psychology, expert behavior intervention strategies, and trauma-sensitive learning environments. There is absolutely no research that supports this district's decision to paddle students.

    Has your school district been erroneously identified as endorsing corporal punishment? Let us know via email: talktous@banpaddlingar.com

    So, what should you do?

    Here are a few options:

    • Continue searching for safer schools to send your child

    • Contact the district's administrative team or its school board to inquire about future policy changes

    • Sign up below to receive our newsletter to help ban corporal punishment statewide


    Find out
    here!

    Arkansas School District Map