Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023)
Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104)
Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206)
Chapter 16 - CURRICULUM (§§ 6-16-101 — 6-16-1902)
Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 6-16-101 — 6-16-162)
Section 6-16-154 - Holocaust education - Required - Definition

• (a) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, Holocaust education shall be taught in all public schools in a manner that:
  • (1) Generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust;
  • (2) Develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination; and
  • (3) Encourages tolerance of diversity and reverence for human dignity for all citizens in a pluralistic society.

• (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with local, statewide, and national experts in Holocaust education, shall develop and distribute curricula, standards, materials, and units relating to Holocaust education for grade-appropriate grades five through twelve (5-12) instruction in all public schools.

• (c) As used in this section, "Holocaust" means the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and attempted annihilation of Jews and other groups by the Nazi regime in Germany between 1933 and 1945, which resulted in the murder of approximately six million (6,000,000) Jews and five million (5,000,000) other individuals.

• (d)
  • (1) To educate students about the significance and history of the Holocaust, the last full week of classes in January in Arkansas public schools shall be designated as "Holocaust Education Week".
  • (2) The state board shall:
    • (A) Notify all public schools before the beginning of each school year of the dates designated as "Holocaust Education Week" required under subdivision (d)(1) of this section; and
    • (B) Encourage all public schools to teach Holocaust education during the dates designated as "Holocaust Education Week" required under subdivision (d)(1) of this section.

Amended by Act 2023, No. 48,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.

Added by Act 2021, No. 611,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.