The Public School Access and Transparency Act….A Win For Citizens & FOIA
Apr 29, 2025
Have you ever sat back and wondered what kids are actually taught in the classroom ?
Thanks to ACT 649 of the 2025 General Session, that information is now Public Record.
Link to ACT 649 –
http://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT649.pdf
We are blessed to have so many wonderful teachers in our State….However, we also have to acknowledge the fact that we have many who are more interested in indoctrinating your children with their political and social beliefs than teaching them Reading, Math and Science.
I’ll give you a quick example.
A few years ago, I discovered an 8th grade teacher at the North Little Rock Middle School was using, as his core curriculum, anti-police videos and intersectionality videos.
Oh, and the class he was teaching….Science….Yeah.
Now while I was able to get it stopped, the teacher was not held to any accountability.
We now have the LEARNS Act that outlaws indoctrination in schools but if you believe that law is followed by every teacher, then you will believe me when I say I regularly beat Shaquile O’Neal in one-on-one basketball.
ACT 649 allows, not just parents, but any citizen of our State to submit a FOIA request for learning materials which are defined in the Act as –
“Curricula, syllabi, lesson plans, instructional materials, assignments, presentations, books, articles, video recordings, audio recordings, digital resources, or other resources that are maintained and used by public schools for classroom instruction, regardless of format or medium.”
Government transparency is one of the pillars of Conservatism so it may shock you somewhat that two non-conservative Legislators brought this legislation.
Representative Mindy McAlindon of Centerton and Senator Jim Dotson of Bentonville sponsored ACT 649.
On the Conservative score card for this session McAlindon graded out at 42% while Dotson came in at 46%….Like I said, neither of them are conservatives.
However, that does not negate the fact the two sponsored and carried ACT 649 into law….and it is a very good law at that.
Now that in no way absolves McAlindon and Dotson from their anti-conservative actions and votes this session like putting special interest groups over the citizens….not at all.
At Arkansas 1st News we call it like it is…. good or bad and when credit is due, we give it….McAlindon and Dotson deserve credit for this one.
We had a true saying growing up down Bethlehem Church Road….Even a blind hog will find an acorn every now and then.
#FactsNotFiction
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
We hire an experienced, licensed contractor to build a deck on our home. The contractor begins using substandard fasteners and other materials. He connects pieces in a way that the connection will obviously fail. After confronting him about the work, it becomes obvious that he thinks he is in charge. I fire him.
The Education Department, the schools, and the teachers work for parents (citizens). If they do not do what they are hired to do, they should also be fired and fired quickly.