(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt a policy to require that public school students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) participate in a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance during the first class of each school day.
(b) The policy shall:
(1) Require that at the time designated for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance students shall stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance while facing the flag with their right hands over their hearts or in an appropriate salute if in uniform;
(2)
(A) Provide that no student shall be compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance if the student or the student's parent or legal guardian objects to the student's participating in the exercise on religious, philosophical, or other grounds.
(B) Students who are exempt from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section shall be required to remain quietly standing or sitting at their desks while others recite the Pledge of Allegiance;
(3)
(A) Provide that teachers or other school staff who have religious, philosophical, or other grounds for objecting are exempt from leading or participating in the exercise.
(B) If a teacher chooses not to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, the policy shall require that another suitable person shall be designated either by the teacher or principal to lead the class; and
(4) Require the school to provide appropriate accommodations for students, teachers, or other staff who are unable to comply with the procedures described in this section due to disability.
Structure Arkansas Code
Subtitle 2 - Elementary and Secondary Education Generally
Subchapter 1 - General Provisions
§ 6-16-101. Celebrate Freedom Week
§ 6-16-102. School day — Definition
§ 6-16-103. Course of study generally
§ 6-16-104. Basic language of instruction
§ 6-16-105. United States flag
§ 6-16-107. Patriotic observances generally
§ 6-16-108. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance
§ 6-16-111. Morals, manners, patriotism, and business and professional integrity
§ 6-16-118. High school equivalency testing for adults — Fees — Definition
§ 6-16-120. Academic credit for community service
§ 6-16-121. African-American history — Teaching materials
§ 6-16-124. Arkansas history — Required social studies course
§ 6-16-126. Food handling safety — Instructional materials clearinghouse
§ 6-16-127. Arkansas Foreign Language Teacher Training Program
§ 6-16-128. Arkansas Early Grades Foreign Language Pilot Program
§ 6-16-129. Gun violence prevention
§ 6-16-130. Visual art or music
§ 6-16-132. Physical education
§ 6-16-133. World War II veterans
§ 6-16-134. Veterans’ diplomas
§ 6-16-135. Personal and family finance standards
§ 6-16-136. Statewide coordination of distance learning
§ 6-16-137. Physical education credit for physical activity courses — Definitions
§ 6-16-139. Technology curriculum
§ 6-16-140. Vocational or technical course awards
§ 6-16-141. Credit for participating in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
§ 6-16-142. American Sign Language as modern language or foreign language — Definition
§ 6-16-143. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction
§ 6-16-144. Arts-Enriched Curriculum Program
§ 6-16-145. Academic study of the Bible course
§ 6-16-147. Computer science — Required course offering
§ 6-16-149. United States citizenship civics test