Education Committee- House
Video
Transcript
1 document
Bills discussed (17)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1393
Act 290
· 4 mentions in transcript, agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ning. We'll pass over him and come back to him. We'll go to House Bill 1393. Representative Pierce. I”
|
TO CREATE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. | Pearce | Notification that HB1393 is now Act 290 |
|
SB232
Act 189
· 4 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “SB232 A. Clark TO ALLOW A STUDENT WHOSE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN…”
|
TO ALLOW A STUDENT WHOSE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN RELOCATES HIM OR HER TO A … | A. Clark | Notification that SB232 is now Act 189 |
|
HB1463
Act 416
· 3 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1463 L. Johnson CONCERNING STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULES FOR A…”
|
CONCERNING STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULES FOR A TIERED SYSTEM OF EDUCATOR LICENSURE; AND TO … | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1463 is now Act 416 |
|
HB1030
Act 426
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1030 S. Meeks CONCERNING AGE AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTE…”
|
CONCERNING AGE AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF … | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1030 is now Act 426 |
|
HB1113
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…IN SALARY INCREASES. DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1113 Rose TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE AWARD OF SCHOLARS…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THE SUCCEED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO … | Rose | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1154
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…THE SUCCEED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE. HB1154 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TYPE OF LICENSE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TYPE OF LICENSE ISSUED TO CERTAIN APPLICANTS IN AN … | L. Johnson | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1192
Act 802
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…e TO CREATE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HB1192 Eubanks TO REPEAL THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE…”
|
TO REPEAL THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE ACT OF 1981; AND TO AMEND THE EDUCATION … | Eubanks | Notification that HB1192 is now Act 802 |
|
HB1204
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1204 Wooten TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER AN ANNUAL S…”
|
TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT; AND TO REQUIRE PRIVATE … | Wooten | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1205
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1205 Wooten TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL THAT ACCEPTS STATE FUNDING OF AN…”
|
TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL THAT ACCEPTS STATE FUNDING OF ANY TYPE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO … | Wooten | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1206
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…TRANSPORTATION TO CERTAIN STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL. HB1206 Joey Carr TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION CONSIDERED UNDER THE SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM. | Joey Carr | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1315
Act 286
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1315 Ennett TO CREATE THE SEIZURE SAFE SCHOOLS ACT.”
|
TO CREATE THE SEIZURE SAFE SCHOOLS ACT. | Ennett | Notification that HB1315 is now Act 286 |
|
HB1343
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1343 Scott TO ALLOW THE CONTENTS OF A TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRA…”
|
TO ALLOW THE CONTENTS OF A TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE CERTAIN CONTENT THAT PERTAINS … | Scott | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1350
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1350 C. Fite TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF A MINORIT…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF A MINORITY POPULATION ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS. | C. Fite | Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment |
|
HB1428
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1428 C. Cooper TO CREATE THE EQUAL ACCESS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER…”
|
TO CREATE THE EQUAL ACCESS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ASSESSMENTS ACT. | C. Cooper | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1468
Act 542
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1468 Long TO PROHIBIT REQUIRING FACULTY MEMBERS, TEACHERS, AND E…”
|
TO CREATE THE GIVEN NAME ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT REQUIRING EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND … | Long | Notification that HB1468 is now Act 542 |
|
HB1471
Act 418
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…AUMA- INFORMED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WITHIN ITS CURRICULUM. HB1471 Haak TO REPEAL THE REDUNDANT REPORTING REQUIREMENT THAT PUB…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REDUNDANT REPORTING REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS REVIEW AND … | Haak | Notification that HB1471 is now Act 418 |
|
HB1447
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1447 J. Mayberry TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES A…”
|
TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE COMPENSATED. | J. Mayberry | Died in the House at Sine Die Adjournment |
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Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
0:00
call the meeting of the House Committee on Education to order. Good morning, everyone. It's good to see you all here. First, I want to just take a special recognition. I believe today is Nurses Day at the Capitol. As education seems to
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
0:19
be quite the hot topic in session right now, they are here celebrating themselves, not here for our purpose. So thank you for
all very much for being here and for for your dedication to health care uh members without objection i'm going to jump around on the agenda a little bit seeing no objection we'll start out with senate bill 232 senator clark if you'll introduce yourself for the record and you're
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
0:57
recognized to present your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Alan Clark of State Center District 7. The SB 232 is truly a little bill that
doesn't do much, but what it does for those it affects is huge. It simply is the right to stay, that once a child is out of school, they can stay there. Families move, oftentimes they move a few blocks, move half a mile, think they're in the same school district. People lose jobs, get divorced, all kinds of things happen. And a lot of times you've got a junior or a senior in high school, you've got a fourth or fifth grader, like to finish elementary school with their friends, et cetera.
But whatever the reasons may be, this bill just says that once they're there, they can stay. And there's no fiscal impact. It says expressly that the school's not liable for transportation, and I'll be happy to take any questions. Thank
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
1:54
you, Senator Clark. Representative Cozart, you're recognized for a question. Senator Clark, is there not something
already in place kind of similar to this, that if the parents move or they have to move or relocate, that a child can stay in that district, especially in their 11th and 12th grade year?
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:13
Not that we know of. And, you know, I know of situations this past year where, because of circumstances, schools have actually demanded that a
child be sent back to the area where they reside. You recognize for a follow-up? Well,
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
2:29
you know, I always thought there were. Being on the school board years ago, I thought there were. If there's not, then this is a great bill.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:37
Thank you. The only thing there might have been that I know of, Representative Cozart, is superintendents could have an agreement between themselves,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:45
but they never had to do that. Any other questions from committee? Seeing none. Anyone in the audience would like to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, Senator Clark, welcome to close for your bill. I'm closed, and I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Cozart, it's a motion due pass. Committee, any discussion on the motion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Congratulations. Your bill is passed.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, members of the committee. Next, we will move to House Bill 1463, Representative Johnson. I do not see him. He did indicate he would like to run the bill this morning. We'll pass over him and come back to him. We'll go to House Bill 1393. Representative Pierce. I
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
3:41
believe you have a guest here today, so you're welcome to have them at the end of the table with you. If you'll introduce yourself, have your guest introduce herself for
the record, and then you are recognized to present
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
3:53
your bill. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, committee members. And with that, I will introduce Karis. And for the record, would you state your name for
Speaker 21
4:05
the record for the record I'm Karis Clark from Southside Charter High
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
4:11
School and so this bill 1393 it's uh it's it's an act to create a mental health
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
4:16
awareness week in in schools and that will be in in May the first week of May is what we want to do it and
a lot of people got that confused at first with the first week of school no it's in May There's no physical impact, no mandates, and it affects, if you see the bottom of the language of that bill, took out some of the language and made it all schools, so all schools that want to opt into this, it's completely fair for them to do so. And we're just trying to get rid of the stigma and the misunderstanding. And first and foremost, I want these children, we need to think about them.
We're going through a lot of things. You said education. You've already mentioned it. We've been going through a lot of things for 18 months, and you all know what I'm talking about. We was all concerned about self and who was working from home, who was not. Did we worry about them? With that, I will turn it over to Ms. Karras, and she can explain. They implemented this last year at Southside School, and she can
Speaker 23
5:23
tell you how it went over. Four students
Speaker 24
5:25
and myself noticed a need for better and more mental health resources. We started a campaign to bring awareness into the struggles that poor mental health can bring.
Through this campaign, our goal was to educate students, faculty and staff, and even the parents of students at our school. We saw the need for conversation about mental health, and there's a negative stigma surrounding the topic in the sense that there's something wrong with you if you struggle, or that it's just something that we really shouldn't talk about. To combat these issues, last April, we had a Mental Health Awareness Week. This week focused on teaching students healthy coping methods like putting new rhythms in their life to lead to a healthier mind. And we also introduced them to new tools that were being implemented into the school while also making sure they were aware of all the resources that were already available to them.
The community backed us in this whole process and sponsored us to provide things like a known speaker to the students, stress balls, and even training for a therapy dog at our school. Something that these business partners were aware of, and one of the reasons that mental health awareness is so impactful, is that the schools now are producing the future workforce. One day my generation will be the ones running these businesses or maybe even working for them. One of our main goals of this is for future generations to have a healthy mind and body in their future lives and in the workforce. Solving these mental health problems now can better prepare rising generations
to be able to handle future life challenges in a healthier manner, which will then cause them to be more engaged in the workforce and will result in higher productivity. These are very necessary qualities for Arkansas to have a successful future. To reach this goal of a healthy, successful future, we piloted the idea of having this week because we needed to stretch this beyond our school district. Although my school now has many resources for mental health, we have no idea what other schools across Arkansas have in place for their students. Having a mental health awareness week in schools will open up more conversations
about mental health, which can lead to solving the problem at the root. This will allow for a positive and successful future in Arkansas.
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
7:30
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Representative Pierce, ready for questions from the committee? Representative
Chair
Unverified
7:36
Meeks, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
7:40
have a question and a follow-up, if that's okay. So my first question is, first week of May, any significance to that week or why first week of May?
Speaker 24
7:50
Not to my knowledge, I'll turn it over to my coach. So many of you probably know that the beginning of the school year is very, very busy for a lot of schools, and having it at the end can prepare students for the time that they spend away from the school district because several children are not blessed with having a healthy home life, and sometimes school can be their escape, and having this at the end of the school year can prepare them with the tools and coping methods to deal with these mental health struggles whenever they leave the school year and spend three months at home in the summertime.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
8:21
Okay, good answer. And then my follow-up, and I think this is pretty self-explanatory, but within the bill, this is all voluntary for the school, so there's no requirements for the school to do anything. Yeah, I mentioned no mandates, no, sir. No mandates. Okay, all right, I just wanted to verify that. Thank you for being here and for your testimony.
Speaker 24
8:40
Yes, sir. So it's open for any school to do whatever works for them. For my school, we ended up being able to implement a therapy dog, and talk about this during the week, whatever the school feels there's a need in their school they can do throughout the week.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
8:56
Representative Vaught, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I commend you on the work that you've done. It's great work. I've been dealing with mental health task force committee that we've been running for several months, And this is something that we talked about, actually, in our group. So I'm excited to see that y'all have brought this forth. And I want to thank you for all the work that you're doing in your school and how that you are spreading the word to other schools.
There is a great stigma behind mental health, and there should not be a great stigma behind mental health because I think all of us at one point in time in our lives actually deal with something in mental health. So I commend you on your great work in your school. and I would have a, wouldn't you agree, that's great work, Representative Pierce. Absolutely, it's great work. And I will have a motion at a proper time. Thank you, Representative Vaught, for that question. Representative Duke, you're recognized.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
9:58
Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, you're an impressive young lady, and it is intimidating to come sit at the end of that table for all of us, and you did it with such class and grace, and so I just want to commend you for that and for your school district and your parents because, wow, that was impressive. Thank you. My question is, so I understand the time frame to a large degree, but in high schools typically, the end of the year, those weeks in May, preparing for graduation, preparing for prom or coming off of proms, testing, all those different pieces are extremely stressful in the staff perspective
and a lot of times the parents' perspectives, and I'm going to guess some of the teens. Is there any room for flexibility for a school district to, hey, we need to do this like the last week of April as opposed to the first week of May? so that their mental health is okay
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
10:51
because been there, done that, and it's hard. May is hard. Yes, Representative Duke, it is hard. I would agree with that. They did this last year in May, and I would have to refer to the superintendent to ask that question.
I'm not an educator, And so, but I do not think there was any big impact, and with the head nod, Superintendent Stevens, is there a better time? No. If you would come to the end of the table, please. You'll have to stand.
Speaker 48
11:22
You can sit right here. Yeah, you can sit right
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
11:33
here. If you'll identify yourself for the record, and then you may give your testimony.
Chair
Unverified
11:38
Yes, sir, Chair. Dion Stephens, Superintendent, Southside School District. To answer the question how these five students, what they did was remarkable, there's always someone at a school district that will help students take up a cause. So really the teachers were not expressly involved. In this case, it was the high school counselor, Ms. Jennifer Ford, that kind of took up the cause, did a lot of planning.
So it was not really a lot on our staff and teachers, and it was a great community event, and we thought the proper time. You're recognized for a follow-up? Well, I understand that, and
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
12:34
like I said, I like all of this. I think everyone's not surprised here that I like local control. So I think sometimes it's best to give flexibility, whether it's a flexibility within a time frame
or a flexibility just to designate that week, because that may work for one school district, and I don't know about administrators, but it may not work as well in other school districts. So my question is maybe you all will entertain that as you go through this process to get some more input from
other school districts or to put a little flexibility piece into that
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
13:09
for them to have that. Would that be something you would entertain? I'll entertain anything for
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
13:15
these children. Is there any other questions from committee for Representative Pierce
or any of his witnesses? Seeing none, there was
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
13:21
no one signed up to speak for or against the bill, but I will ask the audience, Is there anyone who would like to speak
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
13:29
for or against this bill? Seeing none, Representative Pierce, you ready to close for your bill? Yes, I'm
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
13:37
ready to be closed, but I would appreciate a good vote for our future. I'll close with that. Thank you. Representative Vaught, you're
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
13:44
recognized for a motion. We have a motion to do pass from Representative Vaught on House Bill 1393.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
13:52
Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion, say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Congratulations. Your bill is passed. Thank you, committee. Did Representative Johnson, did he ever come in the room? I do not see him. I'm sorry. All right. We have just received notice. Representative Johnson not ready to run today.
Representative Long had asked us to pass over his bill today, as well as Representative Eubanks. Is there any other business come before the committee? Seeing none, we're adjourned. Thank you.
Agenda
RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1315 Ennett TO CREATE THE SEIZURE SAFE SCHOOLS ACT.
REGULAR AGENDA
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1393 Pearce TO CREATE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HB1192 Eubanks TO REPEAL THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE ACT OF 1981; AND TO AMEND THE EDUCATION SERVICE COOPERATIVE ACT OF 1985.
HB1468 Long TO PROHIBIT REQUIRING FACULTY MEMBERS, TEACHERS, AND EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO USE A PERSON'S PREFERRED PRONOUN.
HB1463 L. Johnson CONCERNING STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULES FOR A TIERED SYSTEM OF EDUCATOR LICENSURE; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TYPE OF LICENSE ISSUED TO CERTAIN APPLICANTS IN AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM.
SB232 A. Clark TO ALLOW A STUDENT WHOSE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN RELOCATES HIM OR HER TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO COMPLETE HIS OR HER REMAINING SCHOOL YEARS AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH HE OR SHE IS ENROLLED AT THE TIME OF RELOCATION.
PENDING FISCAL IMPACT
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1030 S. Meeks CONCERNING AGE AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS FOR WHOM PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL BE OPEN AND FREE.
HB1428 C. Cooper TO CREATE THE EQUAL ACCESS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ASSESSMENTS ACT.
HB1447 J. Mayberry TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE
Notice: Silence your cell phones. Keep your personal conversations to a minimum. Observe restrictions designating areas as 'Members and Staff Only'.
COMPENSATED.
HB1343 Scott TO ALLOW THE CONTENTS OF A TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE CERTAIN CONTENT THAT PERTAINS TO EVIDENCE-BASED TRAUMA-INFORMED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WITHIN ITS CURRICULUM.
HB1471 Haak TO REPEAL THE REDUNDANT REPORTING REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS REVIEW AND APPROVE CERTAIN SALARY INCREASES.
DEFERRED BILLS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1113 Rose TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THE SUCCEED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE.
HB1154 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TYPE OF LICENSE ISSUED TO CERTAIN APPLICANTS IN AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM.
HB1350 C. Fite TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF A MINORITY POPULATION ON SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS.
HB1204 Wooten TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE STUDENT ASSESSMENT; AND TO REQUIRE PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ADMIT EACH STUDENT WHO APPLIES FOR ADMISSION AND INTENDS TO COVER PRIVATE SCHOOL COSTS WITH STATE FUNDING.
HB1205 Wooten TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL THAT ACCEPTS STATE FUNDING OF ANY TYPE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO CERTAIN STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL.
HB1206 Joey Carr TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE INFORMATION CONSIDERED
UNDER THE SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM.
Page 2 of 2
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE, Feb 23, 2023 | Agenda | 2 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Representative Bruce Cozart
Unverified
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
Speaker 21
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
Speaker 23
Speaker 24
Chair
Unverified
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
Speaker 48