Email Us: TalkToUs@BanPaddlingAR.com
Bill Tracker
- Track Current Arkansas Law

“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 Section | 6-18-0505 |
Punishment Allowed | Use 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 Allowed | Use 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 Section | 6-18-0505 |
Punishment Allowed | Use 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 Allowed | Use 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”. |

~ 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.