Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 005 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 28 - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Rule 005.28.24-018 - DESE Rules Governing Public School Policies Relating to Overnight Travel And Use of Public School Lavatories

Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 005.28.24-018

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

1.00 AUTHORITY

1.01 The State Board of Education enacted these rules pursuant to its authority as set forth in Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-11-105, 6-21-120, and 25-15-201 et seq.

2.00 DEFINITIONS

2.01 "Immediate family" means a public school student's parent, brother, sister, or grandparent.

2.02 "Multiple occupancy restroom or changing area" means an area in a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school building that is designed or designated to be used by two (2) or more individuals at the same time and in which one (1) or more individuals may be in various stages of undress in the presence of other individuals.
2.02.1 "Multiple occupancy restroom or changing area" includes without limitation the following:
2.02.1.1 A restroom;

2.02.1.2 A locker room;

2.02.1.3 A changing room; and

2.02.1.4 A shower room.

2.02.2 A multiple occupancy changing area which is designed for dual use as a changing area and as a team meeting venue is not a "multiple occupancy changing area" under this rule when:
2.02.2.1 The meeting venue is being used to address student athletes participating in athletic activities a reasonable time before, during, or immediately after, an athletic event;

2.02.2.2 No person is in a state of undress at any time while the room is used as a meeting venue; and

2.02.2.3 An adult person of the same sex as the student athletes is present.

2.03 "Sex" means the physical condition of being male or female, as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-21-120.
2.03.1 A public school district or open-enrollment public charter school may rely upon a public school student's sex as identified on his or her original birth certificate issued at or near the time of his or her birth.

3.00 PRIVACY AND SAFETY IN PUBLIC SCHOOL RESTROOMS

3.01 To ensure privacy and safety, each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school that serves students in prekindergarten through grade twelve (preK-12) in this state shall:
3.01.1 Require each multiple occupancy restroom or changing area to be designated as follows:
3.01.1.1 For the exclusive use by the male sex; or

3.01.1.2 For the exclusive use by the female sex; and

3.01.2 Provide a reasonable accommodation to an individual who is unwilling or unable to use a multiple occupancy restroom or changing area designated for the individual's sex.
3.01.2.1 As provided in Arkansas Code § 6-21-120, a reasonable accommodation shall not include access to a restroom or changing area that is designated for use by members of the opposite sex to an individual while members of the opposite sex of the individual are present or may be present in the restroom or changing area.

3.02 The provision of Section 3.01 does not apply to an individual who enters a multiple occupancy restroom or changing area designated for use by the opposite sex when he or she enters for at least one (1) of the following circumstances:
3.02.1 For custodial, maintenance, or inspection purposes;

3.02.2 To render emergency medical assistance; or

3.02.3 To address an ongoing emergency, including without limitation a physical altercation.

3.03 A public school district or open-enrollment public charter school may adopt a policy that is necessary to accommodate individuals protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, as it existed on January 1, 2023, or young children who are in need of physical assistance when using a restroom or changing facility that is located in a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school.
3.03.1 However, a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that serves students in prekindergarten through grade twelve (preK-12) in this state shall not adopt a policy under this rule that is contrary to Arkansas Code § 6-21-120.

3.03.2 The provisions of this rule shall not apply to nurses, paraprofessionals, or other personnel providing services required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

4.00 OVERNIGHT TRIPS

4.01 Except as provided in Arkansas Code § 6-21-120, a public school district or openenrollment public charter school that sponsors or supervises an overnight trip involving a public school student shall ensure that a public school student attending the overnight trip either:
4.01.1 Shares sleeping quarters with a member or, if necessary, multiple members, of the same sex, as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-21-120; or

4.01.2 Is provided single-occupancy sleeping quarters.

4.02 A public school student attending an overnight trip may share sleeping quarters with a member of the opposite sex, as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-21-120, if the member of the opposite sex is a member of the public school student's immediate family.

4.03 A public school shall not allow a student who is under the age of eighteen (18) to participate in an overnight trip unless the student's parent, legal guardian or a person standing in loco parent is to the student provides written authorization to the school prior to the trip.
4.03.1 A student who is under the age of eighteen (18) may only share sleeping quarters with a member of the opposite sex pursuant to Section 4.02 if specifically stated in the written authorization required under Section 4.03.

5.00 ENFORCEMENT

5.01 An allegation of noncompliance with this rule shall be referred to the Professional Licensure Standards Board by filing a formal complaint.
5.01.1 Upon the board finding noncompliance with this rule, the following individuals, as applicable, shall be subject to a minimum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), and may receive additional sanctions as determined by the board:
5.01.1.1 The superintendent of a public school district where the noncompliance occurred, if the superintendent is found specifically to be noncompliant with this rule;

5.01.1.2 The principal of a public school where the noncompliance occurred, if the principal is found specifically to be noncompliant with this rule;

5.01.1.3 The director or administrative head of an open enrollment public charter school where the noncompliance occurred, if the director or administrative head is found specifically to be noncompliant with this rule; or

5.01.1.4 A teacher or supervisor of a classroom or school-sponsored activity, if the teacher or supervisor is found specifically to be noncompliant with this rule.

5.02 A parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parent is of a public school student shall have a cause of action against a public school district or an open enrollment public charter school if:
5.02.1 His or her public school student:
5.02.1.1 Encounters a member of the opposite sex in a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school multiple occupancy restroom or changing area that is designated for the public school student's sex if the member of the opposite sex received permission from the public school district or open enrollment public charter school superintendent or the public school or open-enrollment public charter school building principal to use the multiple occupancy restroom or changing area; or

5.02.1.2 Is required by a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school superintendent or the public school or open enrollment public charter school building principal to share sleeping quarters with a member of the opposite sex who is not an immediate family member of the public school student; or

5.02.2 The public school district or open-enrollment public charter school is found to be noncompliant under Section 3.00 of this rule.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arkansas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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