Garland County Desegregation Case
On August 18, 1989, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and individuals desiring to represent a class of African American patrons and students filed suit seeking the consolidation of all of the public school districts in Garland County, Arkansas. Also, joined as defendants, were the Garland County Board of Education and the State Board of Education. Later persuaded that consolidation of the school districts in Garland County was not necessary to achieve the common goal of providing quality education in Garland County for all children, and also desiring to avoid expensive, divisive and protracted litigation, the parties reached agreement (Garland County School Desegregation Case Comprehensive Settlement Agreement) regarding essential terms and conditions designed to further the quality of education in Garland County and to end this litigation. The Office of Equity Assistance will periodically evaluate the districts’ success in accomplishing the goal of providing a quality, desegregated education for all children in Garland County by providing, as required by Paragraph IV.G. of the Settlement Agreement, equity monitoring in compliance with Standard I of the Arkansas Educational Standards.