Pulaski County Special School District

Background

In December 2010, the Arkansas Department of Education hosted meetings to discuss and reach consensus on the obligations of school districts to implement board zones or redraw zones to reflect the forthcoming results of the 2010 U.S. Census. These discussions included representatives from the Department, the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, the Secretary of State’s office, the Arkansas School Boards Association, and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators.

Based on those discussions, the Department is disseminating a Commissioner’s Memo outlining the general obligations imposed on school districts by state and federal law. Every district, no later than August 1, 2012, must submit a report to the Arkansas Department of Education documenting its compliance with state law regarding board zoning. If a district fails to comply with this notice requirement, the Department is mandated by law to withhold twenty percent (20%) of the district’s annual state funds allocation.

In addition, the Arkansas School Boards Association has disseminated to its members a memo outlining the procedures for zoning or rezoning.

School district leaders are strongly encouraged to consult with their own legal counsel for guidance on compliance with state and federal law regarding zoning.

Every ten years, every school district board of directors is obligated to review the district’s population as measured by the most recent United States Census, and to take any actions required by law regarding board zoning. No later than August 1, 2012, every school district must submit a report to the Arkansas Department of Education documenting its compliance with this requirement, as detailed below.

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U.S. Census Redistricting Data

On February 10, 2011, the United States Census Bureau released local redistricting data from the 2010 Census showing population counts by race and ethnicity for every school district in the state.

Arkansas population counts by race and ethnicity

Additional information regarding the redistricting data produced by the Census Bureau

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Requirements for School Districts

Using the 2010 Census data, every school district must calculate its minority population as a percentage of the total population residing within the district’s boundaries. Any school district having a minority population of ten percent (10%) or greater is required by Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-631 to elect its school board of directors by single-member zones, in accordance with the process outlined below. If a district is required to elect by zones, it must have at least five (5) zoned seats and no more than two (2) at-large seats. The minority population percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of minorities residing within the district’s boundaries by the total overall population within the boundaries.

In addition, if a school district is already elected in part or in whole by zones, the district must calculate the total population residing within the boundaries of each zone based on the 2010 Census data. If the zone populations are no longer substantially equal, the district’s zones must be redrawn in accordance with the process outlined below. Similarly, if the current zone arrangement violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965, or if the population differences between the zones exceed those allowed by the “one  person-one vote” principle of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the  district’s zones must be redrawn in accordance with the process outlined below.

Because of the population changes that will have inevitably occurred in every district since the zone boundaries were last drawn, it is likely that most if not all of the zoned districts in the state will be required to be redrawn.

Get more information on rezoning

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Population data by race / ethnicity

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Current Zoning Map

Alternative 1

1. The Sylvan Hills schools are split
2. The Maumelle Schools are split

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Alternative 2

1. Voter equity
2. Schools not zoned by feeder pattern
3. The Maumelle and Sylvan Hills Schools are split

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Alternative 3

Alternative 4

1. Voter equity

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Alternative 4a

1. Voter equity
2. Schools zoned by feeder pattern
3. Harris moved into the Jacksonville High School feeder pattern

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