Arkansas vs. AP African American Studies

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A federal court in Arkansas granted the state officials’ motion to dismiss teachers’ and the Arkansas NAACP conference’s equal protection claim over the “anti-indoctrination provision” of the state’s LEARNS act. The state revoked AP status from the African American Studies course, which the plaintiffs claimed was motivated by the sole purpose of preventing “left-wing indoctrination.” This reason does not run afoul of the equal protection clause because the desire to prevent political indoctrination “is not tantamount to a discriminatory intent or purpose to adversely impact African American students.” The groups brought due process vagueness claims that were not decided, as the court ordered additional briefing concerning issues of standing and mootness.Read the ruling here.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads