Rules Governing Student Discipline and School Safety, 6 CAR pt. 234

The Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, seeks to amend its Rules Governing Student Discipline and School Safety.

A public hearing was held on July 18, 2025. The period closed on August 11, 2025. The agency provided the following public comment summary: Commenter Name: Tripp Walter, Arkansas Public School Resource Center COMMENT: There is no basis in law for adding open-enrollment charter schools to the rules governing student discipline as the statute does not apply directly to charter schools, or the rule should acknowledge the charter school’s ability to seek a waiver of this rule per Ark. Code Ann. § 6-23-101 et seq. RESPONSE: Comment considered, no changes made. While the original language on which the student discipline rule was based did not reference charter schools, many of the obligations reflected in the rule are based on statutory provision which would have applicability to charter schools. As with almost all provision of law pertaining to public schools, charter schools are eligible to seek a waiver from this rule. An explicit reference was not included because the division was concerned if we begin stating what rules can be waved it could give the impression that rules without an explicit reference cannot be waived in the charter authorization process. Jason Kearney, an attorney

• Rule packet: C.1.c DOE DESE Rules Governing Student Discipline and Acts 122 565 and 805 of 2025
• ALC summary agenda Sep 25, 2025
• ALC agenda Sep 25, 2025
• ALC meeting video Sep 25, 2025