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School responses in Arkansas to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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Responses by state


As students returned to school for the 2021-2022 school year, states set a variety of policies on education and the COVID-19 pandemic, including how schools should open to in-person instruction and whether students and staff would be required to wear masks. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, about 66% of students nationwide were in states that left closure decisions to schools or districts, 33% were in states with state-ordered in-person instruction, and 1% were in states with state-ordered regional school closures.[1][2] All 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction at some point during the 2019-2020 school year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

This article summarizes responses to the coronavirus in Arkansas schools in the academic years ending in 2020, 2021, and 2022. You will find:


Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This page is updated monthly, but our email is always open. We encourage you to share updates from local officials, policymakers, and campaigns in your community at editor@ballotpedia.org.


Timeline by school year

Below is a list of major events involving schools in Arkansas during the coronavirus pandemic between 2019 and 2022, including school closings and openings, mask requirements, and the release of statewide operating guidance. Know of something we missed? Click here to email us and let us know.

2021-2022 school year

  • Dec. 29, 2021: The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a final ruling against the state’s mask requirement ban for schools and other government entities.[3]
  • Sept. 30, 2021: The Arkansas Supreme Court temporarily ruled that the state’s mask requirement ban for schools and other government entities could not be enforced.[4]
  • Sept. 9, 2021: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio, a school data aggregator, reported no in-person schooling disruptions in Arkansas.[5][6]
  • Aug. 6, 2021:
    • The Arkansas General Assembly adjourned its special session without making alterations to the state’s mask mandate ban to allow school districts to impose mask requirements. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) had called for the session on Aug. 3.[7]
    • Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox temporarily suspended the state’s mask requirement ban. Fox ruled the law discriminated between public and private schools and infringed on the governor’s emergency powers, the authority of municipal officials, and the authority of the state supreme court.[8]
  • Aug. 3, 2021: Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) called the Arkansas General Assembly into special session. Hutchinson wanted lawmakers to create an exemption in Act 1002. The existing law banned state and local governments from imposing mask requirements. Hutchinson wanted an exemption that would allow school boards to require masks for students 11 years old and younger who couldn't receive the coronavirus vaccine. The special session began on Aug. 4.[9]


2020-2021 school year

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Arkansas .[10][11]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Arkansas.[12][13]
  • August 24, 2020: Schools in Arkansas reopened to in-person instruction.[14] The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement announced that district-level data on testing rates and active coronavirus cases would be made available online.[15]
  • August 13, 2020: Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) released the Arkansas Ready to Learn Healthy School Guide. The document was a support guide for teachers and administrators created in partnership with Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The guide outlined best practices for in-person learning.[16]
  • August 4, 2020: Hutchinson said that public schools in the state were still on track to reopen beginning Aug. 24. “We need to have school this year. Absolutely. I'm firm on that. The educators are firm on that. Public health is firm on [that]. We need to have school,” he said.[17]
  • July 9, 2020: Hutchinson announced that the reopening of schools would be delayed until August 24. Schools in the state were previously set to open on August 13.[18]
  • June 24, 2020: Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Johnny Key released updated guidance for schools. The new guidance recommended that students older than 10 wear face coverings while riding on the bus and that younger students wear face coverings whenever practical.[19]
  • June 10, 2020: Hutchinson said that he expected schools would re-open for in-person instruction in the fall.[20]
  • June 5, 2020: The Arkansas Department of Education released its 26-page Arkansas Ready for Learning plan. The plan required face coverings for staff and students older than 10, social distancing requirements, and staggered meal times to limit cafeteria capacity.[21]


2019-2020 school year

  • April 6, 2020: Hutchinson closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to this order, schools in the state were closed through April 17.[22]
  • March 19, 2020: Hutchinson announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 27, was extended to April 17.[23]
  • March 15, 2020: Hutchinson ordered all schools in the state to close from March 17 to March 27.[24]

Mask and vaccine requirements in the 2021-2022 school year

Mask requirements in schools

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

As of August 1, 2022, no states had school mask requirements in effect. Forty-two states left mask requirements in schools up to local authorities. Seven states banned school mask requirements.

The table below shows statewide school mask requirement laws and orders in states with school mask requirements or school mask requirement bans in place at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Mask requirement orders
State Ban or requirement? Type of order Date lifted or altered
Arizona Ban Legislative action N/A
Arkansas Ban Legislative action Sept. 30, 2021 - Suspended by court action
California Requirement California Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Connecticut Requirement Executive order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Delaware Requirement Executive order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Florida Ban Executive order N/A[25]
Georgia Ban Legislative action N/A
Hawaii Requirement Executive order Aug. 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Illinois Requirement Illinois Department of Public Health order Feb. 4, 2022 - Suspended by court action[26]
Iowa Ban Legislative action May 16, 2022 - Reinstated by court action[27]
Kentucky Requirement Kentucky Board of Education order Sept. 9, 2021 - Suspended by state law
Louisiana Requirement Executive order Feb. 16, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[28]
Maryland Requirement Maryland State Board of Education order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[29]
Massachusetts Requirement Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[30]
Nevada Requirement Executive order Feb. 10, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Jersey Requirement Executive order March 7, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Mexico Requirement New Mexico Public Education Department order Feb. 17, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New York Requirement Executive order March 3, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Oklahoma Ban Executive order N/A
Oregon Requirement Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Pennsylvania Requirement Pennsylvania Department of Health order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Rhode Island Requirement Executive order March 4, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
South Carolina Ban Legislative action Sept. 28, 2021 - Temporarily suspended by court action
Tennessee Ban Executive order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Texas Ban Executive order N/A[31]
Utah Ban Legislative action N/A
Virginia Ban Legislative action N/A
Washington Requirement Washington State Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action

School mask requirements over time

School mask bans over time


Teacher and school employee vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

Seven states had issued a statewide requirement for K-12 teachers and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or receive regular coronavirus testing during the 2021-2022 school year. The table below shows teacher and staff vaccine requirement laws and orders in states that issued such policies during the 2021-2022 school year.

Vaccine requirement orders
State Testing instead of vaccination allowed? Type of order Date effective
California Yes California Department of Public Health order Oct. 15, 2021
Connecticut No Executive order Sept. 27, 2021
Delaware Yes Executive order Nov. 1, 2021
Illinois Yes Executive order Issued: Sept. 19, 2021
Suspended by court action on Feb. 4, 2022
New Jersey Yes Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
New York Yes Executive order Sept. 19, 2021
Oregon No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
Washington No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021


Student vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

On Oct. 1, 2021, California was the first state to announce a vaccine requirement for eligible students. Louisiana also announced a vaccine requirement for eligible students on Dec. 14, but then announced the state would be removing the coronavirus vaccine from the list of required immunizations in schools on May 18, 2022.

School reopenings and closures (2020-2021 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year


Initial school year operating plan

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: July 27, 2020

Arkansas released an initial operating plan for the 2020-2021 school year on June 5, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on July 27. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

The Arkansas Department of Education released public school reopening guidance on June 5. According to the Arkansas Division of Elementary & Secondary Education (ADESE) guidance website, “with state support, districts will be able to create systems that adhere to components of Arkansas’s model.”

On March 15, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) ordered public schools to close from March 17 through March 27. Hutchinson extended the closure through April 17 on March 27 and closed schools for the remainder of the school year on April 6.

Public schools in Arkansas were initially set to reopen for the school year on Aug. 13. On July 9, Hutchinson delayed the start date until Aug. 24.

Context

Arkansas is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Republican trifecta in 2015.

The following tables show public education statistics in Arkansas, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Arkansas school metrics
Category Figure Rank
Per pupil spending (16-17) $11,395 39
Number of students (18-19) 491,804 33
Number of teachers (Fall 2016) 35,730 31
Number of public schools (18-19) 1,080 32
Student:teacher ratio (18-19) 13.0 41
Percent qualifying for free/reduced lunch (16-17) 63.6% 4


Arkansas school revenue
Category Figure Rank
Total revenue $5,283,244,000 32
Federal revenue percent 11.5% 11
State revenue percent 51.5% 22
Local revenue percent 37.0% 30

Details

District reopening plans

Districts were required to submit plans for approval by ADESE before June 26. On or before Sept. 1, districts will post their plans to district websites. Each plan is required to:

“
  • Ensure the continuity of teaching and learning by providing a guaranteed and viable curriculum that includes blended learning (K-12) and diagnostic assessments (K-8);
  • Identify how they will address unfinished learning from the prior year by using the Arkansas Playbook: Addressing Unfinished Learning or district developed resources;
  • Utilize a Learning Management System;
  • Schedule teacher training for how to use the LMS;
  • Schedule teacher training for blended learning (delivery of instruction);
  • Use effective technology for parents and students; and
  • Provide a written communication plan for interacting with parents, students, and the community regarding day-to-day expectations.[32]
 ”

In-person, hybrid, and online learning Each district is required to offer what is referred to as Blended Learning and a remote learning option. Blended Learning is a traditional school day with on-site instruction that can transition to virtual learning in the event of a school closure. Remote learning is a fully virtual option with district teachers facilitating learning. Parents can decide between the two options.

According to the guidance, “funding through the state portion of the CARES Act will provide a full K-12 digital curriculum aligned to Arkansas Academic Standards to all students statewide in all public and non-public schools through a digital platform provided by the approved digital provider. Districts may choose to utilize the content on the digital provider's platform or the content from any licensed platform already used by the district.”

Mask requirements

The guidance requires schools to follow the Arkansas Department of Health’s Face Coverings Directive issued July 18. It summarizes that directive’s effect on schools as follows:

“

With some exceptions, the Directive requires every person 10 years of age and older to wear a face covering completely over the mouth and nose in both indoor environments and outdoor settings when distancing of six feet or more cannot be assured. Although not required by the directive, face coverings are highly recommended for younger children. However, under no circumstance should a mask be placed on a child younger than 2 years of age.[32]

”

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The guidance requires each district to consider the following daily school operations when creating a reopening plan:

“
  • Review facilities to determine how modifications can be made to accommodate as much physical distancing as possible, including repurposing unused spaces or modifying existing spaces to allow for maximum distancing of students/staff.
  • Suspend assemblies and other large group gatherings until ADH guidance allows for these types of gatherings.
  • Schedule restroom breaks to avoid congregating. Create a schedule to ensure disinfecting of frequently touched areas such as light switches, faucet levers, paper towel dispensers, and flush levers.
  • Consider suspending the use of water fountains and plan for alternative hydration stations (e .g . bottled water, disposable water cups/cones, bottle filling stations) if feasible.
  • Establish drop-off and pickup to limit close contact between parents and staff members
  • Limit group activities and interaction between classes. Stagger class dismissals in middle and high schools.
  • Consider rotating teachers rather than students.
  • Determine how to prohibit congregation in hallways and cafeterias.
  • Post signage at entrances and throughout buildings with the latest health guidance.
  • Review teacher and student schedules.
  • Consider alternatives for holding areas for large groups of students before and after school.
  • Re-Entry Guidance document will be updated as information becomes available.
  • Ability to quickly move between different modes of instructional delivery.[32]
 ”

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

The guidance provides the following requirements and recommendations for transportation:

“
  • Drivers must wear a face covering or mask (including cloth face covering) at all times. Districts may need to make special accommodations on mask type for drivers as needed.
  • Students should utilize district-provided hand sanitizer at the service door of each bus in the morning and before they enter the bus each afternoon.
  • Adding additional bus stops is recommended to reduce the number of students being picked up at one place.
  • Students should maintain a distance of 6 feet apart while waiting on the bus to arrive.[32]
 ”

Map of school closures

The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

As of July 8, 2021, the status of school closures and reopenings was as follows:

  • Two states (Delaware, Hawaii) and Washington, D.C. had state-ordered regional school closures, required closures for certain grade levels, or allowed hybrid instruction only.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 410,896 students (0.81% of students nationwide)
  • Thirteen states had state-ordered in-person instruction.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 15,697,460 students (30.96% of students nationwide)
  • One state (Arizona) had state-ordered in-person instruction for certain grades.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 1,152,586 students (2.27% of students nationwide)
  • Thirty-four states left decisions to schools or districts.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 33,449,499 students (65.96% of students nationwide)



School reopenings and closures (2019-2020 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2019-2020 academic year


The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • States closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 48
  • Number of public school students in states closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 50,261,464


The chart below shows the first date schools in a state were closed to in-person instruction during the 2019-2020 academic year, divided by the political party of the governor.

School responses by state

To read about school responses to the coronavirus pandemic in other states, click one of the following links below:

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Number of operating public schools and districts, student membership, teachers, and pupil/teacher ratio, by state or jurisdiction: School year 2019–20," accessed September 10, 2021
  2. ↑ EducationWeek, "Map: Where Were Schools Required to Be Open for the 2020-21 School Year?," June 14, 2021
  3. ↑ THV 11, "Judge: Arkansas's mask mandate law is unconstitutional," December 29, 2021
  4. ↑ WREG, "Arkansas Supreme Court blocks mask mandate ban," September 30, 2021
  5. ↑ To read more about Burbio's school disruption tracking, click here
  6. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed August 27, 2021
  7. ↑ KY3, "Arkansas lawmakers adjourn, leave mask mandate ban intact," August 6, 2021
  8. ↑ Associated Press, "Arkansas judge blocks state from enforcing mask mandate ban," August 6, 2021
  9. ↑ Arkansas Office of the Governor, "Governor Calls Extraordinary Session To Request Legislative Action on COVID and Unemployment," August 3, 2021
  10. ↑ Burbio rated Arkansas' in-person index at 96.8. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  11. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct.6, 2021
  12. ↑ Burbio rated Arkansas' in-person index between 80-100 in Arkansas. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  13. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  14. ↑ KNWA, "BACK TO SCHOOL IN ARKANSAS: A recap of what we know so far," August 23, 2020
  15. ↑ KUAR, "Protests Over School Reopening Continue In Little Rock," August 14, 2020
  16. ↑ KARK, "State releases Arkansas Ready to Learn Healthy School Guide," August 13, 2020
  17. ↑ THV11, "Gov. Hutchinson stands firm on schools reopening with in-class instruction," August 4, 2020
  18. ↑ KATV, "Arkansas pushes back school start date; 806 new virus cases reported," July 9, 2020
  19. ↑ KARK, "Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner issues update to COVID-19 guidance for schools," June 24, 2020
  20. ↑ Talk Business & Politics, "Schools’ guided preparation a ‘work in progress,’" June 11, 2020
  21. ↑ Arkansas Democrat Gazette, "State tells schools to prepare blend of in-person, online education," June 5, 2020
  22. ↑ KY3, "Arkansas' governor orders schools remain closed through school year; virtual learning continuing," April 6, 2020
  23. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Arkansas Expands Restrictions, School Closure Over Virus," March 19, 2020
  24. ↑ Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Schools across Arkansas to shut over coronavirus concerns," March 15, 2020
  25. ↑ On Sept. 2, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Sept. 10.
  26. ↑ Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) ended the statewide school mask requirement on Feb. 28, 2022.
  27. ↑ On Sept. 13, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action for all schools. On Jan. 25, 2022, the ban was partially reinstated.
  28. ↑ Oct. 26, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they followed CDC quarantine guidance
  29. ↑ Dec. 7, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they met one of the three following criteria: 1) the county vaccination rate was 80% or higher, 2) 80% of school staff and students were vaccinated, or 3) COVID-19 transmission in the county was considered moderate or low for 14 straight days.
  30. ↑ Oct. 1 - Schools could become exempt from the school mask requirement when at least 80% of students were vaccinated
  31. ↑ On Nov. 10, 2021 the ban was suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Dec. 1.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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