Judge hears arguments in Arkansas LEARNS indoctrination case

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A federal judge Wednesday did not make a ruling after hearing arguments in a lawsuit over how race can be taught in Arkansas schools.

The state is trying to dismiss a case challenging Section 16 of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, which prevents educators from teaching “prohibited indoctrination including Critical Race Theory.” Under the law, teachers are also not allowed to teach anything that could “encourage discrimination.”

After the law passed, an AP African American Studies class was briefly removed from the state’s curriculum before being reinstated. A group of lawyers, along with local parents, teachers and students are suing the state. They argue the law has a vague chilling effect that makes teachers' jobs difficult, discriminates against Black people and amounts to “viewpoint discrimination.”

Judge hears arguments in Arkansas LEARNS indoctrination case

Josie Lenora/Little Rock Public Radio

Attorney Mike Laux (far right), addresses the media after a hearing on a lawsuit challenging Arkansas' ban on teaching "indoctrination" and Critical Race Theory in Little Rock Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.

Plaintiffs discuss ongoing lawsuit against Arkansas critical race theory ban

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A group of teachers and students in Arkansas is suing the state over a law that was used to restrict an advanced placement African American studies course. They say the law is vague and creates a chilling effect because it tries to limit how race is talked about in classrooms.

Ruthie Walls, a history teacher at Central High School in Little Rock, is one of a handful of educators who teach AP African American Studies. Last August she was preparing for the school year, when she found out her class was canceled by the state.

“No one wants to get news like that,” she said. “I was taken off guard and I had to continue with the day.”

Plaintiffs discuss ongoing lawsuit against Arkansas critical race theory ban

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

From left front: Gisele Davis, Chandra Williams-Davis, Ruthie Walls, Sadie Belle Reynolds and Jennifer Reynolds are five of the seven plaintiffs challenging Section 16 of the Arkansas LEARNS Act in federal court.

Federal judge schedules hearing in Arkansas LEARNS lawsuit

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A federal judge on Wednesday scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for April 30 in a case challenging the constitutionality of a portion of the LEARNS Act that bans “indoctrination” in public schools.

Little Rock Central High School parents, students and a teacher involved in an AP African American Studies pilot course that received scrutiny for potentially violating the “indoctrination” ban, filed the lawsuit in late March against Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Education Secretary Jacob Oliva.

In Wednesday’s order, U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky said he granted in part and denied in part the plaintiffs’ request for an “expedited briefing and consideration.” He denied part of the request because plaintiffs could have filed their complaint and preliminary injunction months ago, he wrote.

Federal judge schedules hearing in Arkansas LEARNS lawsuit

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

From left front: Gisele Davis, Chandra Williams-Davis, Ruthie Walls, Sadie Belle Reynolds and Jennifer Reynolds are five of the seven plaintiffs challenging Section 16 of the Arkansas LEARNS Act in federal court. Mike Laux (at podium) is one of their attorneys and filed the lawsuit Monday, March 25, 2024 before hosting a news conference at Bullock Temple CME Church, across the street from Little Rock Central High, where Gisele and Sadie Belle are students in Walls’ AP African American Studies course.