Arkansas Attorney General Files Motion To End Race-Based Restrictions in 3 School Districts Including Hope

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has filed a motion in U.S. District Court to end race based restrictions on school choice in three districts in the state including Hope.  Hope and Lafayette County are have to abide by consent decrees which date back to the 1980’s.  These decrees were to resolve litigation in desegregation cases.  El Dorado is also subject to court rulings in from the early 1970’s that desegregated that district.

The Attorney General released this statement after filing the motions:

“School choice is the law today in Arkansas. Unconstitutional, race-based consent decrees from decades past are denying equal rights to parents to select the school that best meets the needs of their children. I have filed motions to terminate federal consent decrees in the El Dorado, Hope and Lafayette County school districts so that students there can realize the educational opportunities available to their peers across the rest of the state.

“Despite segregation ending decades ago, several school districts have left outdated consent decrees on the books and rely on them to opt out of school choice, thereby avoiding competition and retaining funds for students who would otherwise leave. Schools must be accountable to parents, and children should not be stuck in schools that aren’t meeting their needs. Parents, not the government, must be allowed to decide what’s best for their children.”