HB1684

The Parents and Teachers Helping Students Succeed (PATHS) Act establishes a framework for parental rights and classroom management in Arkansas public and open-enrollment charter schools. It mandates that schools provide parents access to instructional materials, textbooks, lesson plans, and course syllabi upon request. The bill grants parents the right to temporarily remove their students from activities that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, provided the removal is not intended to avoid tests or specific subjects. Additionally, the legislation requires schools to establish procedures for notifying parents within 24 hours regarding changes in a student's mental, emotional, or physical health, while prohibiting school policies that encourage withholding such information from parents. It also codifies teacher authority to manage classroom behavior, enforce school rules, and use reasonable force for protection, while establishing a legal presumption in favor of teachers in litigation regarding disciplinary actions. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is tasked with promulgating rules to implement these requirements.