Education Committee- House

O'clock in the morning before this committee starts if you're through with budget by the end of budgets finished somewhere right after that be pro be proud. Trailer will be out on the north end for us to go to So I would love to see everybody go through that you can play with the machines and their third next thirty week from today. And it will be there till session starts of the Senate is in some other committees will probably go and visit that also so just let you know that it will be there for us to go take a look they will talk to you about things going on with the B. Proby press. A good deal of we will hear bills today we will hear bills Tuesday that morning if it doesn't take too long we will probably plan on coming back in here about ten o'clock and hearing what we have on the agenda for that day sold for you in the audience that are hearing this would probably will start late on next Thursday hearing bills but we will hear some bills because we were going to ask more calendar. we are going to without objection of the committee will stop at eleven thirty today. You guys have been really good to stay with us until twelve fifteen so we're gonna we're gonna stop or a day give you got a little break I know we've got we've had a really busy week on a lot of other things so are to the agenda is lighter than it is today so we if we have to roll some overall rolled over to Tuesday's so any objections to that. Yes ma'am. We know that several of us have yes that's that's another reason because I will lose a lot at all eleven. Yeah so and if and if we lose too many lead we may have shut down quicker so. I can't believe somebody was started energy meeting at the same time were a. We'll get him reprimanded he's always after me I think I'll get after him all right at this time. Senate bill. The amount. Cifras mobile re referred or not is that the because Jamie Scott Snyder probably is months. You it's may sort of skip over the first one for right now let the representative and I'm proud to say your name wrong in that. And it in it. Man I'm sorry I'll what I've had a problem with that name it just like people call me all kinds of weird names so I'm sorry. This will be H. B. sixteen eleven. You are recognized thank you. Good morning Mister chair and the Education Committee my name is. Representative Denise Jones Ennett I represent district thirty six here in Little Rock. I have been working with the Arkansas period poverty project for over a year. By collecting donations to make carry packs for schools with the help of the Arkansas period poverty project we have donated period packs to schools in look in the little rock school district. Pulaski County special school district Philander Smith College the watershed in the thing in which are all located in district thirty six. According to the period sorry according to period any. Your party refers to the lack of access to sanitary products to manage menstrual bleeding. One of five teens who ministry have reported struggling to afford period products are being able to purchase them at all. Forty four and five students in the US have either miss class time or know someone who missed class time because they did not have access to period products. Additionally two thirds of students have the stress due to lack of access to period products. Fifty one percent of students feel like schools like their school does not care about them if they don't provide these products and the bathrooms of the nurse's office. As of now California New York Illinois. New Hampshire and Virginia are the only states to have passed legislation requiring schools to provide these products for free. The goal of H. B. sixteen eleven is to perform schools that there is funding available for schools to purchase feminine hygiene products schools can use federal funds such as our mac and title one funds schools can you stay funds from foundation funding to purchase feminine hygiene products the McKinney vento grant funds may also be used to help the homeless population. In the bill it states that communications will be made with the schools so I spoke with the Arkansas department of ad and they agreed that they would do a commissioner's memo to spread the word to the two hundred sixty two school districts here in Arkansas. Some of the responses that the Arkansas period poverty project have received when talking to different schools. In this state one school nurse and Fort Smith sees at least five to seven students every day that do not have adequate support supplies to nurses and alma said. We get donations from the community for passing tampons but we end up buying them out of our pockets as well. The nursing budget allows for the purchase of a few. Each year but not nearly enough to cover the needs. We have a high period poverty sorry have a high poverty level in our community and I think that is a contributing factor this is a huge need that would be all need that would be awesome if it was addressed. And lastly a school nurse in Jesse bill says that she perches. Your products out of her own pocket. In closing. This is the. This is a Pat right here so it in closing I know most of which I can't speak for all the women in here but I know for me I've had been in the process of. I've had been caught off guard is school not having one of these or maybe I'd impact one in my purse or my backpack or maybe I gave one to a friend so these essential products are needed much needed in our schools and. H. B. sixteen a level will ensure that our girls are protected against the Bersin moments that might occur if she is not able to get these essential items at school. And I'm a quality teacher. I by Perry products that I keep stocked in my room for students that need them having products really available to school will help with attendance attention and self confidence. I would like to thank the Arkansas period poverty project in Arkansas Department education for their help and guidance thank you I'm open to any questions. Subdivision five to recognize. Thank you Mr I really like this bill a lot can support it I had one question it says to allow public schools and open enrollment but then on line thirty it says required so I was a little bit confused about that. And the Arkansas department of education helped draft this bill and can somebody come. Thank you said department education and so. We met with representative and it after her first draft which required districts to utilize foundation funding to purchase the product and so when we met with her we were expressing concern about the use of foundation funding and eight and that putting in a law that required that and so we talk to her about changing the legislation to be informing students at school where feminine happy hygiene project products are available to students Most school districts have donated items. That the main bulk of this legislation is around informing students where they can get products available to them for school districts they can use federal funds and in the previous way the bill was written when it required the district to use their operational foundation funding that would have caused problems for the use of the federal funds so did districts do you receive funding for homeless students the McKinney vento act they do have title for funding they do have title one funding that they can utilize to. Have a stock of supplies in the nurse's office or in a bathroom this bill is specific to if you're going to stock it in the bathroom if you're gonna put it in your nurse's office then you have to inform your students of where the availability yes. Follows. Follows so the the word required there just means required to inform not required to. says. The that where it says payment hygiene products required to be provided that the heading of that chapter and so within the bulk of it it's about the information part thank you thank you for that clarification. Any other questions. Seeing none. Anyone in the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill. Would you like clothes for your bill. Again I like to thank everybody for having me here today this is a no brainer we need to do whatever we need to do to protect their female students and schools and this is just one measure that will help do that and I'm closed thank you. I have a motion. I have a motion to pass a discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor say aye opposed no. Okay graduation you've passed your bill. All right the Senator English will be up next. We're getting her help inside the door here. And then we have Senator Irvin is gonna run she has three Bills on today's will run those and we'll go back to our regular bills for committee members. Good morning Senator Jane English district thirty four and this is Senate bill four ninety one and basically it is an act to amend certain laws regarding apprenticeships and training programs and I have Cody weight to the director of the office of skills development to go into further details. Thank you senator Sorvillo brothers Sturch health could you a structure office skills on the department of commerce as a senator said this bill really focuses on a partnership efforts in the state of Arkansas since twenty fifteen we made some really great strides increase the number of active princes round three thousand just shy of seven thousand increasing the number of programs that we offer from somewhere around eighty three to a little over a hundred twenty ACT program today increase employers by the day and expended into nontraditional sectors such as manufacturing ninety healthcare as recently as just this last January with a partnership with Salim Morial and national park Medical Center so couple things that this bill does number one it. revises the membership of the Arkansas pretium coronation steering committee you know when we look at this committee over the last few years and and really more recently over the last twelve to sixteen months we realize that need to be a little bit more broader in scope in terms of the full picture of what appreciate biz in Arkansas currently is made up of pretty much primarily all appreciate schools around the state and doesn't take into account business partners employers of of of those are actually leveraging friendship as an employment strategy someone from the division of workforce services with the partnerships in the federal department of labor and we always system so any time you work with the federal government in the department of labor they want to make sure that you have that connection to the to the work force system which as we know as the we owe a system partnerships with career technical education someone from that membership needs to be involved as we work to develop use in pre oppression by pertinentes at all of our K. twelve schools and cut secondary Christians around the state as well someone from the department of higher education another piece of this bill does is allows us to use the construction industry craft training trust fund to assist in development of those pre and youth apprenticeships right now it's about eight hundred thousand dollar budget that we have every single year to spend on curriculum and equipment grants to schools to to provide for our construction trade specific to construction trades that fund is built on fifty cents per every one thousand dollars of nonresidential construction projects that are done gets deposited into this fund for use in that fashion to go back into supporting those programs we want to be able to leverage those dollars through our education outreach budget line item that we have today to do that and in our K. twelve second cursor space. the third thing that it does is that it recognizes the state electrical apprenticeship Committee so we have a state plumbing apprenticeship committee as well as the state electrical apprenticeship Committee the palm Committee as been recognized for quite some time now and so they're able to recognize and receive stipends and and mileage and all that good stuff doing the same work that the electrical petition committee does but they've never been able to take advantage of that of that so we want to make sure that they get recognized so they have the same opportunities the place they call me to appreciate does to to kind of take advantage of that. and then it cleans up a lot of I just language it's it's a twelve page bill rights there's a lot of strikeouts instructors in language but a lot of the rest of it's just clean up language so with that I'd be happy to answer any questions rezar Love you're recognized. Thank you Mr Mr way some going back to the composure of the composition of the board and so I'm looking and on the top of page for and then I noticed that you're decreasing the membership On several aspects of the board specifically does on the labor union and those from minority and female work force was there a reason why you want to decrease those memberships yeah when we looked we want to be consistent kind of with when we started removing folks from that committee based off the membership of the make up that was today we kind of want to stay consistent by removing those by one person but still making sure there's an individual representing those specific groups there's nothing that says that those members can be made up in any of those other places whether it's a a socio Haitian or employer or whatever the case may be but we want to get the group down to a size of around twelve individuals and so when you look at other states and the make up that they have most states typically have a committee of anywhere from nine to thirteen and so we felt that that was just kind of a sweet spot that we want to be in and so making those changes was just something we felt was appropriate when we just started going through and making those those revisions to it we just decided to strike through each one of those people in those committees release those those organizations that they represent. Follow Mr you're recognized okay I'm because I I think that that's the I think that's very significant specially when you talk about the minority and female representation because then you you go down and you have three members so. You and three members representing employers who actively you are utilizing the program which I'm not against and members from that group but you do your here striking minorities hi I feel that this problematic coming Yeah so it and represent a love I appreciate questions and you know currently the make the committee does represent at least probably fifty percent is female unfortunately the you know the other membership is represented by you know there's there's no African American minorities Latino American minorities on that committee and so that's something that we're actually looking at as we go through and when we make these revisions we're gonna be very intentional about making sure that that committee you know represents state of Arkansas. Okay thank you. Represent your of that doesn't keep them from putting a minority in those positions at all now so I think that's what Fred was kind of leading to a little bit but it they could still be a minority that position or just kind of changes of the of the possession of all right any other questions. Seeing none the one the audience like to speak against the bill. For the bill would you like to close for your bill I'm close bill was I have a motion of do pass for a representative Meeks is there any discussion on the motion representa Love. Thank you Mr chairman and thank you for for which you've added the. The the issue here is is that if we see that there there is a lack of minority participation on the board. And then we'll strengthen minority position. I've I just find it to be kind of. I'm fine and to me and problematic I would say at least I mean I know that in and I can appreciate the fact that that minorities can be appointed to those other positions but if you if you the intent of the legislation was saying the provide in in this state that we have the female makeup and that's great but also to have a minority side and then you're saying that although we don't have any African Americans on board. But we're striving the spot at. I just trying to be very problematic some. With that out I would encourage a no vote on this bill thank you. Representative brown you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair and Mr white I just want to bring something to your attention that I have a bill I think Senator English my co sponsor on it a. On the five to nine plans will now help with paying expenses for apprenticeship programs I just want you to be aware that I'd like to talk later I would love to talk to about that thank you. Any other discussion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no. seven resolution passed your bill thank you Mr chairman of the committee all right Senator Irvin. We have three bills will start eller SP three ninety four for us all right with you. Top of the list. Good to have my co chair from the Senate in. Down here with us today. Oh yes just to let people know that we have some people signed up to speak for against seventeen forty nine we are not going to hear that bill today it needs an amendment of the sponsor is mentioned that to me so before we argue against and before it was might as well get this amendment on it before we do that so that is represent Bentley's bill so we will not hear that bill today so if you're in the room or in the holding room for seventeen forty nine you're welcome to stay but if you don't want to you don't have to do so Senator Rapert you're recognized thank you Mr chair and get to be with you in members of the committee again today Senate bill three ninety four is our and school safety act to amend provisions of the twenty fifteen school safety act and to establish Arkansas center for school safety of the criminal justice institute advisory board you've already heard this bill we heard this bill on this and are not intended to use so really just you know again you you've heard this just want to re emphasize to anybody that's watching us how important this is to our school safety at fork our students and for our administrators and our teachers on their campuses so I'll just entertain any questions okay this companion bill what I ran the probably a couple weeks ago so yes Russian McKenzie thank you Mr chairman and anyone who can answer what's the companion bill number I'm trying to fix my member on where I found it I know I got constituent input on this one. Thank you so much as I know that were of concern on it was identical to this is just it was a H. the fourteenth something or something like that I'm not sure I was thank you I'm sorry you look under my name it'll bring it up so. All right any other questions. Seeing none anyone the audience speak for or against the bill. Seeing none representative make has a motion to pass. A discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no congratulations you passed your bill thank you members of the committee our state that is B. two ninety one this is Until we brought back with an amendment we have an amendment on this bill. And we have no side right now thank. All right what we do have an amendment for this bill so you've heard this bill Senate bill two ninety one regarding community schools in the implementation of community schools I would ask for adoption of the amendment the amendment as was requested by the representative Lowery to just strengthen someone our age I have a motion on Amendment okay I have a do pass on the amendment a discussion on it seeing none all in favor say aye opposed no okay you may present as amended okay members again you've heard this bill already about the community school implementation and again this additional language strengthens the bill and I appreciate your consideration of the bill as amended. Russian Lowery. Thank you mata'afa Mr chairman Senator Irvin I do appreciate The amendments I did give feedback after the amendments were sent to me. Indicating concern indicating skews me. That I didn't feel like the amendments went far enough in there was not any feedback on that okay let me specifically reference something that came out in your testimony previous. The question was asked about student privacy protecting student data and you replied that fit for purpose of would do that protection for that purpose would protect that data but I'm looking at the federal law which the this your bill does refer to following the guidelines of the federal law that is currently in the Senate the US Senate and it talks about it actually makes a reference about providing strategies and waivers to get around maybe the word get around not in the bill no it's not and I don't but to work around for in hip. Strategies and waivers do you have any idea what that would content with a tail. And I can have the Mr Biggs come and an address your question I understood that you requested this amendment and we were happy to oblige the amendment say now you're saying that the amendments not fissions I've requested some some items to be addressed which with it would have been a student data to derive a C. and also the opt in the sentences that were put in to deal with that just did not go far enough and I had asked that we slow this down and actually strength in that and that that didn't happen but since I did not want to specifically referred to this issue about getting around or being able to circumvent for playing hip of winning their first there is no intention to circumvent any type of privacy issues I don't know what you're trying to accuse me of but there is no intention to try to circumvent any type of student privacy issues as it relates to help our for by I am married to a physician I know how important hit that is to the privacy of patients and I know that that is also incredibly important it comes to our students and so there is no intention in this piece of legislation to try to circumvent any of those protections at the federal level for the privacy of our students and for our people and our citizens. And I'm sorry I know I understand that you assets or this amendment if you'd like to Mr Biggs join the table you welcome to the state for some question for and if I may I just clear I I'm not accusing you of anything I'm saying that the bill refers to following the guidelines the federal guidelines. Related to community schools and in those guidelines it actually says that recipients of grant monies we will assist in strategies in waivers of for but in hip and I just I want to have a conversation about whether we would be embracing that in Arkansas or not with our committee schools. State your name and who you're with you're recognized yes Sir CoreCivic's with forward Arkansas three quick points in response to one is that the bill as amended doesn't state that federal guidelines must be followed there is some permissive language that that allows the Arkansas department education desi to create some further guidance for Arkansas schools that wish to employ a community school approach and that they may face those on federal guidelines just because that's out there that's what exists we try to make it easy form the second point would be directly to the purpose and have done this federal privacy laws at the I looked around and I couldn't find anything that was an example of of guidance being offered to schools in any state to try and work around I know that there are some examples from other states where multiple types of services have been offered at the same school specifically multiple types of health services that might be dental care general health care and I care from a psychologist or a counselor referral and those schools have asked. To consider waving their child's rights under HIPAA so that the children's medical records can be shared between physicians and so that may be what the federal laws referring to just that there may be some guidelines to give school support and how to do that because we know a lot of our schools aren't. Health clinics and they don't have experience with how to do that so that would be my guess as to what that's referring to though I've I've not found that in the federal law and and the third thing is is that you know of course. Schools can't waive those rights on behalf of any student only a parent or guardian can waive those rights and we actually have some folks here to speak for the bill from to school districts that are implementing the community school approach in Arkansas so they can tell you you know exactly how they've gone about this at their schools and I don't think there'll be any concerns after hearing from them thank you for the question Mr we do have people from Batesville school district and we have people signed up to speak for the bill okay but they might be able to answer that question but his comments that is correct only a parent has that ability. We will get to the question to the committee that will go to them for questions or any other questions. Seeing none you will get one more. Okay I'm sorry did see or do not I waive late and Mr Biggs thank you. Which you did work with me on the ice on the language or at least took my initial request and gave us some language and of course I responded if you remember I did respond that I didn't feel like it it went far far enough but let me ask you about a specific area on the opt in about parental opt in the language that you provided to deal with that says community school strategies require the public schools obtain consent from parents and legal guardians of public school students for services provided question I have is does the opt in also go back to the surveys that would have to be conducted and and again this is part of the federal guidelines I would imagine it would be implemented by the local schools do surveys of parents of teachers parents and students about services needed or views that they might have because you know part of the wraparound services also mental health services the does the opt in also include of participation of students in those services. Senate I have to say I don't know the exact answer to that question I think that would be a good question to ask of the folks from this day to school districts that are signed up I will say maybe as a point of clarification that the surveys they are a common tool that community schools used to gather information from their students and their families about what services might you need to be provided to best suit the needs of their students but it's not a requirement that schools use surveys they can use any means of data collection that they want to eight and yeah I I I think as as far as that relates to federal guidelines I I don't know about that either I'll I'll professes ignorance on that I'll just emphasize that this is not a federal program there are some federal grant funds that are available for schools that are implementing this approach in order to and that they can choose to apply for that can strengthen what they're already doing but in the two schools the two school district here in Arkansas that are already implementing this approach have not applied for nor received any of those federal grant dollars so they're doing that they may be used in some title one funds or some other sources of federal funding but they're also using their own district funds they're doing this completely here within our four walls is that the state of Arkansas and I don't I don't think that federal over reach issue this is a concern for them but you can ask them yeah. Rison mackenzie you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman and representative Lowery got my question there on the surveys I to have that concern so I move on my other. Question is. Why can't we get this get obviously this this vote this bill fell in the House there were concerns in and so we come back in a minute but I didn't see the amendments other people may have I didn't see the amendment until I just walk in here and I'm trying to represent my folks my constituents who have a lot of questions and concerns so I can't I can't I can't vote today based on what they're input is an act that frustrates me a little bit I understand so as it is last minute amendments meant something like this when we know that that will folks have concerns not just of work not just the reprimand burst here about our our constituents so that really gives me concern and I wish that I would be able to see this sooner so I could have pushed this out I had a question with regard to when you mentioned with regard to the federal guidelines because I to read that bill and it concerns me and I saw of the almost identical language from that bill and and and this bill here and I saw that my team reference there might representative Valerie did with regard to those guidelines when you saying that the part of education may use those guidelines see that gives me concern as well it's hard to vote for something if I don't know or support something of I don't know if the Department ad may use something that a lot of people have concerns about so can you answer that as far as. I can I have somebody from the department of education probably answer your question for you representative McKenzie the fine if somebody was gonna. There's someone from the apartment let me let me get department up to one. We have to make. Johnny keep part of education I probably can't answer your question affirmatively we typically don't make decisions on how we would implement bills until the bills passed so I I really can't say because it's permissive I can't even tell you that we would issue guidelines at this point. Thank you Sir just for your information though a lot of bills or amendments are added here because of time factor so I mean I know you've seen it before but it does happen but I I've always loved it if they could go ahead and and amended and having gross for the good here but it always always happens and I understand that I reckon I'm just pointing out when it's something that obviously there was a lot of concern about a lot of that's when you wish that you could. That would be nice but it you know and it doesn't always happen and so we we don't recommend up to bat for doing that so all right Barker Bragg I'm sorry okay thank you Mr this might be a question for schools coming up later but if if there's several schools already doing this how does this legislation relate to what what's already in in progress in place so and probably at a school and one that you can address of the different schools as well and I think it's important though that there be consistency and just kind of our road map and so that's exactly what this bill it does again it's permissive you do not have to do this something that schools have employed and are doing and they're people that came and wanted to testify in support of the bill that's why we ran it today I understood that they amendments in my conversation with representative Lowery I was happy to amend the bill per his request to strengthen that language so I'm a little caught off guard to be honest but again you know I have no problem engrossing and amendment I can't do that obviously when it's on the house side so I mean that that part is out of my control sorry but. Where we're at so again we have people that are here from the different school districts that have implemented this I can testify against about the strength of the program and I think this was an ability to create some consistency to follow up you're recognized so there would still be some flexibility if a school one and and they wouldn't have to follow everything correct okay yes thank you any other entirely permissive any other questions. Seeing none will go to our list. Will anybody against doing I have nobody signed up against we do have five signed up for but I will ask Is there anyone in the audience against this bill seeing none. Mike Hester. You're recognized take the into the table speak for the bill. We do have five people I would just ask you to be as brief as possible so we can here's many bills today as we possibly can but thank do what you need to thank you Sir thank you name and who you're with please. Thank you Mr I am doctor Michael Hester superintendent of Batesville schools and we appreciate you hearings today we have incorporated in our school community model approach for the last three years each month the central office instructional folks and we go into the buildings we meet with the principles the teachers the counselors the nurses we we talk about care it's called CDC care and data cop councils and we we first talk about care we say what are the things that you need to take care of your students and what's going on because we all know if if they don't know that you care they don't care about what you know so they go through a list of just what they're seen with their kids and we do it all we do a pre K. preschool through twelve so we get the whole scope of the needs and then we talk about where there's resources or will our job is central office will be let's go find them resources that we can in the community model schools helps us to optimize the resources in the community and by us talking coordinated it also helps us to not duplicate those resources because you know a lot of times there's a lot of things that they're doing the same thing. And then it also allows us to customize to the student's needs that student what is that student at that great or that age level and or that building in that community and so that's what our temps aren't that's what this does for us we are the guardians of the galaxy of data and privacy our job is nothing but the minor's other than a few eighteen year olds but but minors I with that that we are the experts at that I mean with our state assessment privacy's with our for but I have a simple were one to one on sep and how we guard all that that is we're that's our power we also when I hear you say that I appreciate that but believe me we are layered upon layer on privacy and I'm with data and we are very careful especially to our testing and our results of what we lay out that we do not identify any student or family in the in any data or figures that we put out we are trained very well on that from eighty to all kinds of other resources so I'm very confident in our levels and handling with the data and what's going on there so as but this model is a we were not sentence what you have to do what we're saying this is a framework that says here's three years of experience from school that and we're just showing people all the things that we do and connected so that if they want to take pieces of it or if it gives them ideas to spur something that to strength in their community it's it's just meant to be a framework for other people to use if they want to and to maybe spur ideas and then we hope to have a network that then we learned from too because we all know there comes to whenever I come to the table is all kinds of things that you learn from. Mr ready for take questions yes a representative brown you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mister chair Mister Hester thank you so much for being here I have two questions. one of them yes I read us some information that you all and I don't know if you needed to do this but that the program has enabled us students to have access to broadband in their home have you been involved in that it can you explain absolutely when we customize to what families when they're at home either virtual or remote we're talking about specific family situations and who needs it and we were able to give hot spots out to people so that of course were in some rural areas and we even have difficulty with even getting cell phone service to a lot of our mountains and hills to so what we also do is we work with churches and community centers and we pop internet out to their parking lots and we make sure it's lit in camera. And then it goes to our filters on the internet so we know what they're doing and where they're at because we've already got all the super filters and things on there so we work with and we work with not only minorities but we work with poverty and we work with bilingual type of issues through all those care thanks thank you and and I just want to say that I want this engaging young people in their community because I think they'll be better citizens and in more functional but one other question because we are talking about schools have you seen an improvement in their grades. I will absolutely when it comes to when it comes to. If the kid was hungry when it come to school. At did they learn better because we fed them or because we sent back at pax home with them because in one day we set twenty thousand meals home before Christmas break absolutely we see better results because of that the learning loss from just the general covid. Is mixed in there currently that were not happy with obviously we've all learned that on site is a lot more effective and we have those things we're dealing with now but through our efforts and the model schools using community approaches it's been nothing but supportive and our surveys you don't have to do a survey our surveys are a customer satisfaction survey. How did we do what could we do better and those are the kinds of questions that we have and those surveys are not and if there be anything identified anybody there's no reason for us really to put those out other than it's an internal use for us to figure out what we can do better and again how not duplicate services how to be get better at it and find other resources just to confirm you have seen improvement in their grades yes thank you resent break you're recognized. You're recognized yet another question okay rich Lowry. Thank you Mr chairman Dr Hester thank you for being here and thank you for the time that you spent with me as I was rolling in. To the meeting I was envious what's that your indulgence yes you're allowed to as we let you have this for. You will be so in the and I do appreciate everything that you do in your community I know representative Smith is has bragged on what you're what you're doing of Stu it's been telling me about of the the great in roads you're making but I actually I I kind of go back to the question that representative Eubanks asked on the floor of the house which is if you're doing this already what is the necessity for this bill for this program and I know Stu said well it would be to be able to apply for federal grant dollars. Your in your experience both in Batesville I think you also mention that you'd come from Topeka Kansas it is not your experience that when you do take federal grant dollars you apply for those you receive them that there are guidelines that you are tied to the you have to meet based on receiving those dollars sure. Sure and again. I'll work on it we're going to meet the needs of every kid walks at doors whether it's the care or the achievement of that student no matter what state local people do we're gonna give it our best efforts and so if it adds to our abilities to do things that's a blessing that's that's great but every kid wants that door we're we're going to take it that we can meet their needs its students first and so that's our approach to it and if this to me this is kind of neutral bill and that it should just help any and everyone to the degree that they will. And that's how I see it and if we can just get smarter by art framework and sharing with each other and if it makes somebody eligible for something else and helps them then then I would want to partner with that to help. This one brief follow. I'll just take one more follow up and that it had to you know I notes to which was focusing on your partnerships with local you know technical training and things like that you've mentioned that the internet I know a lot of our plastic County district also during because of COVID had made sure that they have hot spots available and all those things have been able to be done without this legislation the thing that concerns me and maybe you can speak to this the there really had been a discussion about this are the wraparound health care services that could be provided by an outside entities coming into the schools working in the schools or maybe even sending the students to those entities can you address that aspect of the community school approach. Yes and I would also refer real details to miss Laura Howard R. coordinator community schools but I'll give you an overall view we have imho use with our local providers whether it's our care UAMS our own local hospital that that we have partnership for they come in and they can provide health services but that isn't that is handled in every other way through a parent permissions and they have to give us their okay why the with the reason I like the way we do it is parents have to opt into anything that gets into specific or privacy or health type of issues they have to opt in on each individual basis and what I don't like about one form for everything I really want us talking of those parents on every occasion because it just it just one size doesn't fit all and all the needs that you deal with and so through our model is we're having the parents work with us on every situation whether it's health food mental emotional we're working specifically with them and so they're right by our side just like they are on all things and all these laws apply we make sure that everything is checked off. And I would refer that miss Laura Howard has she just knows what to more questions we'll get to her resumes Beck. Thank you Mr My my my question is I'm just listening to the committee here it seems to be that or some. Concerned about the survey process now you just said that the surveys are sort of like how we doing type service we provide are you meeting your needs sell sell a dive my question is first I want to confirm that that. That I heard that right then the second serves then where you're getting your information from not that I don't mean this is the in a doubtful why I'm just asking the question so. I'm providing service acts to this individual how. The maybe it's obvious that the person needed this entered the child needed this. But how are we hi how are you getting your information in it if you're not asking and right to work that way that's why on our data council and data consuls. We are we're saying to the boots on the ground the teachers the nurses the counselors the administrators what do you seen and what you need and they're they're with them every day and so they now our SROs we make home visits and things so we gather that from our people who are with the kids and and they also interact with the parents and understand the needs so that's where we get the bulk of our what we've done the last three years and then we establish what or committee model schools helped is this framework is helps them to get past the walls of our school for just we can do and it's network does them to other resources and what other people are doing so we can use that in our situations or get them to where they could be more effective a lot of them are one is affected because they didn't have the kind of information we had on these people need these things they're willing to do things for. Thank you. Person speaks. Thank you Mr chair in looking back it's it appears that there are several schools it's already doing this I'm not correct. Yes ma'am looks like there may be about eight or so and I know I checked with my superintendent and. I don't know that the they are doing it as much as you are put he said we are doing already doing some of this on DO want to we need a bill to. If we we are already doing this I guess is my question. I don't know that I can answer that fully for you I'm scratching my perspective and again thanks for the question but for me if it helps other people find and get more it would be a collaboration across the state because we all know we're smarter together and if it helps other people that's what the framework that we developed and the ideas we generate to me would accelerate people who have needs or maybe they don't have the the momentum to get it going this would help them get network to get it going can I just comment I really appreciate that question you know I mean Dr long he's phenomenon these fabulous and and talk to him about this so they actually layer and and utilize Technology to assist them and really trying to understand where this information it's already collected to put together on the dashboards they know what there's so it's so important you know that students you we know that students are an academic crisis right because they get a greater than ninety miler test or whatever however you there also kids who are in life crisis and so being that and you have people that you know and that information is really critical in a shared memory and I talked about this too because there needs to be some more communication so that the schools can step in and go okay what's going on here with the students one of the gentleman who is actually from Mountain Home develop software to assist in the US you know I'm talking about and you know why he developed it because the school called him and said that we had a young lady commits suicide. And all of the flags were there we just never saw them in one place but we could have come in we kind of worked and help that young lady if we had just had a place where we all were communicating and talking about what that need was for that young lady. And there there were different pieces and bits of information that we're kind of in this file cabinet this cop okay it is ability to bring it all together and that technology has been very helpful in there's a lot of schools that implement that technology that he developed but it was really designed about you know from a school that said help us prevent this we don't want a young person if we know something's happening can we step in and help that young person so that we can say that young person's life and that's what they were motivated by an and I think there's probably different scenarios that you might hear from different schools that are implementing this type of a program because of what they're seeing and being able to have that information you have to ask the question or you just don't know and if it's something that the school can say pick up the phone and call a different resource and say Hey how can you help us with this then that's what this does but what I've always said is we've got some schools that are doing phenomenal stuff I wish we could bottle it up and share it to all across the state that's what this bill does. Thank you. That's all the questions I have for. Him and I believe we have. Laura Howard. So next. State your name and who you're with you're recognized to speak. Good morning I'm Lori Howard community schools coordinator for Batesville school district thank you for having me today. Well as I mentioned I'm the community schools coordinator for baseball school district I'm a native of Arkansas graduate from baseball high school so privilege to get to come back to my hometown to continue my education career I have been in the teaching because a profession for thirty years as an elementary teacher and academic coach a career coach and now community schools coordinator since July of twenty twenty. And I'm here today to share with you information about base bills model so that you can make an informed decision. A large part of my role as community schools coordinator is to coordinate relationships and resources to meet the needs of our students education their social emotional needs and their physical needs. We are braiding together a range of support. And opportunities personalized to students and at times even their families. A large part of my work is structured around four elements family engagement community engagement student centered learning and development and health and social services support. As Dr Hester mentioned our mission at Basil school district is students first and keeping that mission in mind we set forth identifying if you goals that we would work together to achieve when we began implementing the community schools model some of those goals include that children are ready to begin school and that they attend school consistently. Students are actively involved in learning and involved in their community and families are involved in their child's education. We want to improve and engage our families and community. improve their engagement we want students to be academically successful we want students to be healthy physically socially and emotionally. We want students to live in a safe. Supportive and stable environment we want our community to be a desirable place to live and prepare our students to be college career and civic ready students and build strong families in healthy communities so those were a few of our goals so we set to work as Dr Hester mentioned we have been implementing this for roughly three years I came on board in July to help coordinate these efforts and as a result of our work I could go on and on for days about all the great things that are happening in baseball school district really they follow around three areas the first area is improved family community engagement involvement in here are some of the ways that we've been doing that R. E. three internships and apprenticeship programs farms the family food distributions. We've established upon your parent academy because of COVID in the guidelines we know that we weren't able to bring families right into our building for those after school meetings for them to get information and learn about important topics that affect them and their children so we put together a video series releasing videos one maybe two per month that we share with their families on social media and through our remind system and and we've had such positive feedback by giving them the information that way. We also have not Beyonce wages are college and career planning tool as I mentioned we want families to be involved in their child's education so we created parent accounts so the parent can log into that account they can view but not due and so they have an active role in discussing with their child about. Career and interest in survey inventories that their child may take about colleges and scholarship that their child might be interested in and even selecting courses for their child to take in upcoming years so we're looking to get families more involved. Of course we've been involved with impact educational education excellent plan we are coordinating meetings with people all over our community from faith based leaders to our city and community leaders we want to hear from them we want them to be involved as well. There's been a lot of discussion around our needs assessments or as as you guys are calling surveys. They're one in the same. I was the one that put those together for that we use this fall for our students that were in grades six through twelve for our parents and guardians and also for community leaders and our faculty and staff. And as Dr Hester mentioned those are really about how are we doing what can we do for you and how can we do it better. We purposefully did not collect any names I didn't want to know who is completing that survey I want them to feel like they can answer those questions honestly so when we reviewed the data. with our site teams and that's another thing that we've done is we created community school model side teams at each of our campuses and we were able to take our data and pull out. data specific to a particular elementary campus or data specific to the high school campus work with that site team ten analyze analyze that data and use this the strategic doing model to figure out what we can do and so our campuses have made decisions about his dad wishing leadership programs for their students ambassador programs how can we use engagement tools more effectively within our school and even how can we get parents involved in accessing and using those engagement services as well. we've also I've heard a lot of discussion about improving academics in attendance and we definitely have done that we have personal of pathways and got a pathway services to help direct students through four two different career academies but even as Dr Hester mention when a student is at risk come together as a team to develop a pathway to help get that young person on track academically or based on attendance or whatever they need that they have and we call those meetings Karen data consoles that we meet every month with each individual campus and chronic absenteeism is definitely tract so we're looking to improve that. S. starter Hester mention we've brought a low cost broadband services to our families in our community the locations have been identified the equipment has been purchased we're in the process of getting that all in place the hot spots that he mentioned also to help our young people who are learning virtually all remotely so that they have access to internet services and are able to log into their Google classroom and complete their assignments M.. So I mean that's just been very effective for us as well. I'm we also have lots of partnerships with our a local business and industry and in addition to that providing opportunities for career and technical learning at our community college and low cost tuition at our community college for students and then also we want our children to be ready for school as I mentioned before we have amazing programs established within our districts that are home visiting programs that are very successful and that reach so many children ages zero to four and their families these folks really need us and we're able to provide those supports in getting those children ready to start school. Our preschool is top notch are students are rights teachers are rise trained and we're looking forward to the preschool rise a program coming down the pike also we're involved with cannabis which is another way to get our young people ready to enter kindergarten. And also another positive outcome has been that our educators are more equipped to offer support to students and their families to ensure students basic health and nutritional needs are taken care of and we have several programs within our district but also those partnerships are so valuable to us that we have within our community we have a program called coordinated care network which is just an outstanding program that meets the needs of students and the that there individual campus can't seem to meet it's a need that might be greater than what they're campus can take care of it so within forty eight hours of that needed being identified. Collaboration with the parent those needs are met through partnerships and services that we have available also Independence County cares another research our resource very similar to coordinated care network that is coordinated through our baseball area chamber of commerce so there is another way that we can meet students needs. I've heard you guys mention McKinney vento Services you know we access those as well but our food pantry all my goodness it. Families are in need of food I know you guys know that and so our food pantry is so important and we ran that are able to apply for grants. And have that established to help distribute food food to people in our community but also to help supply those backpack programs on each individual campus Dr Hester mentioned our partnership with our care and we also partner with UAMS for wellness exit exams we have immunization clinics we work with Arkansas children's hospital on dental sealant clinics but we've also partnered with some local folks within our community fort diaper donations are Stanley's that are. I participating in our Well I lost my train our home visiting program our parents that are visit our partnering or working with our home visiting program they are in need of diapers and that's something that we just can't by so as the coordinator for district you begin thinking about who is that important to for young people for children to be in clean diapers well it's important to our hospital so very quickly with a few phone calls and working together with our hospital they were able to provide doctor donations to us three different shipments they get that at a very affordable cost me something that we would never be able to do ourselves also car seat donations working with business partners in our community to help supply car seats that we can give to families in need. PPE donations smoke detectors and it's all about about networking so we work with our fire department who then worked with home depot and before we know it we have twenty five smoke detectors there were able to distribute to families that really need them. So that's a large part of what I do developing relationships and coordinating those needs under the community schools model and I've heard it many of you ask well how's this different from what we're already doing and it's not just providing those spot services that happen periodically it is it is about planning and we have an intentional effort to connect the student support minimize those duplication of resources so that we can know that students receive the services that are vital to their success. So that's a lot of information I know we have a lot going on and I'm happy to take questions. Reputable if you're recognized. Share I just have a motion to motion to end debate a motion in debate that's not available it takes two thirds corn majority majority of a quorum okay I'm sorry majority of a quorum. All in favor say aye. It pose we have a debate so we will take no more questions and for you that are signed up to speak for please raise your hand if you for this bill. Thank you all right You. Yes Sir I have another motion yes your sister your motion I would like to make a motion that we go ahead and do pass so I'd like to make a to do pass motion we would do pass motion a debate on that motion. Saying no to but you have to break both of debate the ideal because I can see over there are representatives. Thank you Mr chair and I'm I realized most folks probably have their mind made up I just want to bring in a couple of points when we say there is a lot of people here sign up or to speak for it in fairness most of our constituents don't know this is going on in the ones that do don't don't necessarily have an opportunity to come up here and speak so I think we always need to point that out I know I learned last session a lot of times and I got back home on Fridays at one club I heard from folks who said we didn't know that was coming up we have an opinion and so. I wish we would just recognize that we are our constituents need to have a little bit more input in in some of these matters that I think are gonna matter than the ones I have reached out to have many concerns. I think we all agree if and I brought my school appear schools and you put your schools up here they're doing a lot of these things and I'm I'm I applaud but the school is doing But this is a federal program here at least my say aye this is lifted I encourage you to take a look at that that Senate Bill that was before the and last session and bring up again take a look at it this language is lifted right from this this is not just an idea this is a program and I have pause when they when they say well we may or may not Institute the federal guidelines for their concerning take a look at them at least get some folks input I realize that. As I mentioned this is there's a philosophy and some of us differ on that we joke around here a lot the jury and some of my friends over here are more of a big government overreach love it and I'm glad you're here to challenge we should always challenge each other but some of us have the of an opposite philosophy and some of our constituents do and this could be this is really expanding the role of government in our schools and in our lives many many good things I believe we should be doing here but this is a this is a program that I have many concerns about when I have sent this out to constituents not trying to make a point of some of the just Senate tool because I don't want influence their thoughts. What are your thoughts on this. And they're concerned about what message we're sending the kids that the school will take care of it all that the school is going to play an even bigger role and the community and all of our kids lives rather than as a mention standing in the gap for those we need to be tending to it's a big worry some program that I think deserves thought more reflection from our constituents and a recognition. We already pointed out that we doing this anyway and it sounds like that right now that this program places doesn't have a federal guidelines in place but it seems like from what I heard we may institute that. And this is a step in the direction I'm not sure that we want to go so. I'm in no one this I realize I maybe a lonely no one that but I know I've got a number of constituents back home who are very concerned about this and at the very minimum want to learn more at and that's all I'm saying thank. Your emotions we are you have a question I'm sorry. You're right you're good to have the adverse. Thank you for your testimony the those who did get to testify you know hearing is especially hearing you reference the Committee school models that Batesville has I almost wish we could take the time and and draft a bill based on what you're doing. Okay the best practices I think it's the best practices what you're talking about. But I'll I'll echo what represented the Kinsey said that. we need to accept federal money you accept their guidelines. Part of a large part of the amendment language that we got today was the leading all the sections under Legislative findings and I told representative Johnson said that's not necessary you understand that most of us understand the Legislative findings are not codified into law. But they were deleted wall I think believe that they were deleted because the exactly point out what represented the begins the saying is that this was lifted straight from the federal guidelines for expanding community schools because it gave us a tip off gave me a tip off of really what this program is it's going beyond what Batesville is doing successfully it It saying we are going to implement. What do you want to or not you take federal money you're going to implement their guidelines you're gonna follow their guidelines because they're going to make you they're gonna make you do it we've seen this through the through the years with many federal programs what I reference the other day and in debate that when we tried to transition away from the park yes to the ACT. I knew that we were going to be successful in doing that and I ask the question well then why are we gonna go through one cycle of park testing with its so depressing and so upsetting to so many kids and guidance counselors and parents and the question the answer was well if we don't we're gonna lose two hundred million dollars in federal money. And so we ended up putting our kids through a testing regimen that didn't even doesn't even help because it was a one a one off deal we didn't have anything to compare it to because fortunately we transition the next year to ACT but we went through that because we were gonna lose federal dollars those federal dollars always come with hooks they always come with requirements and that is my concern I wish we could slow this down. I would love to get involved in helping to draft another bill that's calls it the Bates bill. Model for perfection because I do think that you're doing some excellent things and I think that you can continue to do them without this legislation it's so I'll I'll be voting with you representative McKenzie so you're not to be by yourself thank you rectus moves you're recognized Mister chair I didn't get a chance to close bill what we're not close it you get a chance we're still on the bike okay records I approved you stated before this committee school program at baseball is such a positive difference maker of for so many and I've seen it firsthand it's a beautiful thing and it helps open doors provide opportunities that will benefit not only your community but the entire state of Arkansas and I'm very proud of my school district for being a pioneer in this area that being said it also would like to recognize miss Howard she she didn't she wanted me to but she's a former student and a track athlete for made up when she was in high school but just a minute I would like to make it okay she did not get a chance closer bill. We passed over that then and we were supposed to debate okay we gotta got hung up with trying to her this long because I know that everybody was speaking the same thing so if you like would oppose the bill that I re recognize him thank you I appreciate that just wanted to point out that this is permissive however the language in the amendment is mandatory and I think that's really important to point out that a community school strategies require that public schools obtain consent from parents and legal guardians of public school students for services provided that's that's mandatory language that was requested behind the amendments also we have deleted references to without limitation to narrow that focus also it's important that and if you see on the second part of the amendment again mandatory language that if you participate in this model that any data required under this subdivision of this section shall be protected by all applicable federal and state data privacy laws and no additional data mining is permitted under this section so this is permissive but I wanted to point out the amendment does a lot more than just removing sections that's not code a fight but that actually puts very strong language into the bill about that's mandatory so I think that's our good strong and changes to the to the bill I would just close by saying that it's important that you that we as as committees understand that we also have rules and regulations and we have to approve those rules and that goes through a LC rules and subcommittee and it also comes through with Legislative Council so I will I hear your concerns representative McKenzie and represent Lowery I do understand those concerns there is no intention to circumvent any type of privacy issues what so ever and it's important to know that as this is if this does pass and as we implement this that we continue to be and. HM this issue and that we continue to be engaged to ensure that those roles of implementation triac and are exactly what we intend for them to do that's why I supported the constitutional amendment which required that the Arkansas Legislative a legislature approve rules and regulations because too many times we would pass legislation and the rules would not follow the implementation of the law that we passed and so I actually was one of the lead sponsors on getting that constitutional amendment onto at the ballot box so that we as a legislative body could understand to make sure that any legislation we passed that the rules for implementation we're also approved by us as this body of policy makers the other thing that I would just say in closing is this this really does take everything that but fails doing and puts it in the bill and so that's why the bills here my dad's a graduate from Batesville high school and some prickly proud to be able to work with them on this on this piece of legislation and so that's what we're attempting to do with this and so. I understand the concerns I think there's ways to address those concerns as this process unfolds and so I appreciate the time and the attention and everybody that came to speak for the bill thank you for my for you what you're doing it's incredibly important especially an area like mine where there's a majority of kids that qualify for free and reduced lunches there and I have one young man and the only opportunity he got to play soccer with because the bus dropped him off at our soccer field after school and his family had no car and so the only way for that young man to get into town was by riding the bus and the only way he got to participate in any athletic events was because the bus partnered with our Mountain View soccer association to drop him off at the field for after school and then we I volunteered and gave him a ride home afterwards but I think about I think about David's when I think about this bill I think about him I think about how his family struggled so much and health I can name so many different kids as a substitute teacher where I have to call the football coaches and I had to call the State Farm insurance agent and say Hey this kid needs close I need to put him on the football team because he didn't have any clothes he needs a uniform he needs practice uniform clothes so I need to put him on a football team and I need you all to do that and I called the State Farm insurance agent and I said Hey I need you to help me by this kid clothes he has nothing. I want I want us to understand the students that are impacted by this and that that's my passion that's why I'm supportive of this bill because I've seen it first hand with these kids and so I just implore you to you know think about the students think about where they are in life and how we can as a community come together and try to help them and support them and their families and their parents I mean I could go down a whole list of what you're saying about please please don't we are in a hurry. I'm just telling you. J. The time and attention I have passed the bill well we have a do pass motion and we actually took the bait and closed after that debate was supposed to been ended so I did apologize committee that I did not follow procedure once we made the motion we were supposed to vote so we will now vote all in favor say aye hi any opposed no. seven. Thank you members of the committee and only reason I am proud I have three just walking out right now we have another meeting yes and we're going to be slow so we have a final fours are correct yes. Thank you yes five oh four members of committee for US Senate bill five a four is a teacher salary equalisation fund I think you've also heard this bill representative This is just the opposite same bill we ran in here aren't you have a companion bill don't you do of ordering the bill to and it's the same thing as our teacher of salary bill I think everybody knows what it is and I don't believe there's any questions on the bill. I have a motion. Okay. I'm sorry. It's Vaught. Motion of all. Any others no debate on the bill correct all in favor say aye opposed no. I'd like to pass your bill thank you members of the committee for your time and attention we will hear S. beef four fifty one real quick I have a a person back there that needs to get out of here as quick this gonna help me testify on this bill so. Mr. Represent Cozart you're recognized to present Senate bill four fifty one we have a guest they would introduce himself for the record please you're going to show. It was on okay. Hi my name is Angie dissenter I'm the assistant superintendent for secondary education for the private school district. Walker Mr chair this is a S. B. four fifty one senator Hammer bill and a and mine and we love letter explained what we're trying to do she knows a whole lot more about it than I do. Well thank you everyone for this opportunity to speak with you today in support of this bill first I'd just like to clarify that we're not wanting to limit fine art choices for our students but currently are seventh grade students have the ability to choose their fine art course that meets the requirements under the current law our sixth grade students they must take both music and art and we're under a middle school configuration so they switch classes you know every period every day unlike our elementary peers who they're in a single self contained room and they have art music one time a week. So this creates a major scheduling challenge for us at the middle school level and we would like to offer our sixth grade students the same choice as their seventh grade peers so if they have a love for band then they could stay in band all year long and not have to switch their classes so this bill would allow them to do that to have that flexibility for a middle school configuration so I know I'm here speaking on behalf of the Bryant school district but as a member of Asia which is our professional organization for curriculum and instruction for administrators I did speak to my colleagues and on a recent soon and I asked them specifically about this bill and the impact that it would have for them in their school district and at their schools and those that have a similar set up like we do we're you know six and seven grader in middle school configuration switching classes they were very excited and very supportive of this bill they had nothing but positive things to share those that were in a traditional case six model where it's elementary single classroom I asked if there was a negative impact for them and they they could not see any negative impact they didn't see any negative repercussions so I thank you so much and trying to be brief but thanks for letting me share information with you today. The questions have any questions. Representative Godfrey recognized thank you Mr thank you for this bill I think it and definitely clarify some things I just wanna make sure I have it and have it right to a fifth or sixth grade middle school would have. Would have the choice of visual or performing arts if there sixth grade middle schoolers yes they would have the same choice as the seventh graders to follow up and to a sixth grader in in the middle school would also have the same taste but what it had both it in elementary school if they're in fifth grade yes ma'am okay thank you. Any other questions from the committee. Seeing none no one signed up to speak for against the bill it will go to the audience is anyone here to speak for the bill. Against the bill. C. nine represent Cozart recognized I'll close close for your bill. I have a motion representive all vote on that motion on favor say aye. Photos NO. Regulation passion bill thank you thank you Mister chair I have something I would bring up that and I know your next just take me one minute I need to explain something on a bill that Senator of anger but I have filed about a hold harmless for schools about last year's rates of trying to hold that and get on the same funding could I call us secretary key to the table just to help me explain this and take one minute you're recognized for that privilege. And we're only doing this to let our schools know what we're actually doing is only resort that were pulling the bill down and it's not gonna be needed we believe instead of fighting the battle we have another route around that and I'll let Secretary keep coming to play and how they're going to do that. Johnny keyed up part of education thank you Mister chairman of so earlier this week we issued guidance to all of our public schools regarding the ESR funds all while there are many uses available for these funds basically anything under any of the federal education laws are will be eligible expenses but the flexibility also extends for districts to be able to use these funds for budgetary shortfalls that are due to covid and as you all know so many of our districts in the state have seen a reduction in their enrollment this year which will impact their state funding for next year although there there's not been a cut in any of the funding because it's enrollment based the net effect will be potentially at lower funding next year so schools are able to use their S. or funds to maintain equity and what that basically means is to continue operations without disruption without ripping teachers based on the just based on those lower enrollments they will be receiving under current law the the. The funding that they get under declining enrollment so you will see an increase in the overall amount of declining enrollment that goes out which of roughly is going to be about half but of of what they would have received but this federal funding will be allowed for them to fill in those gaps it's also important to note that this will extend as a bridge until the funding or till enrollment has stabilized so we might expect that there will be an increase and some of those kids coming back but it may not all happen in one year we don't know what the with COVID pandemic will do so there is some flexibility three two into twenty twenty four of which give some comfort and assurance to the districts that they will not seek cliffs because of this loss mineral. We thought this was a lot better solution than running a bill to just a temporary fix this will fix it for the time being we hope this works for schools of the schools will be happy with this that was just for information thank you Sir. Thank you. The representative Vaught you have the next bill. We're going to start with us Senate bill one twenty. You're recognized. An when senator Davis and I did the school counseling improvement act last session we've got to give the rulemaking authority so this is just allowing the rulemaking authority and with that I would appreciate a good vote. Questions. Seeing none. He won here speak for the bill against the bill. Vaught you're recognized close your bill because for my bill and they do pass the motion to pass the discussion on the motion the nun will vote on the motion all those in favor say aye opposed nay graduation bill passes. And Mister chair can I ask Mister David Longmont Ranau. To come to the table to help me with this bill that was. One. Yes you may. I just wanna make. One one one sixty. The correct yes okay S. B. one sixty. And first I would like you should have information on your table is a courageous act we should have some information the table about this bill. What you're recognized recognized if you'll stay his name and he's with thank you. Good afternoon everyone I'm David right now and I'm a junior at Little Rock Central High School okay you're recognized okay I would first like to thank Mister Steve on a hill and his team for asking me to join them in the effort to pass this legislation and all three of my girls actually did extensive research is on the Holocaust it wasn't because it was being taught in school it was because it was something that they were very interested in learning more about and through their research I even learned more about it so it meant a lot to me that they asked me to join them in this effort at this bill would require Holocaust education to be taught in all Arkansas public schools the education curriculum designed by the state board of education in consultation with local state and national experts in Holocaust education this bill would also recognize and define the Holy Cross in Arkansas state law as a systematic state sponsored persecution and attempted annihilation of the Jews and other groups by the **** regime in Germany between nineteen thirty three and nineteen forty five which would route which resulted in the murder of approximately six million Jews and five million other individuals. And with that I'm gonna turn it over to my guest here so he has he has a personal Tied to this to this bill so I would like to turn it over to him. Good afternoon thank you for having me not only am I a junior at Central High School I'm also here representing grassroots committee of the Holocaust education living proposal committee in support of SB one sixty. Next year my classmates and I will graduate from high school without receiving any consistent or meaningful construction about the Holocaust this is a terrible missed opportunity with potentially dangerous consequences. S. B. one sixty six to correct this deficiency according to the FBI the reward document and extremist and anti semitic incidents in Arkansas during twenty nineteen than in the previous fifteen years combined including a police shootout with the white supremacist in pine bluff the vandalism of a hot springs Hanukkah display. And the Boonville Business spray painted with swastikas and other **** graffiti. Unfortunately I witness anti semitism and intolerance first hand and I've been the target of hate speech because of my religion. Hakkas education teaches students about the importance of standing up against injustice and acting as allies to those who are unjustly targeted. It can make students more open to different viewpoints and create a more tolerant outlook. The dwindling number of Holocaust survivors and World War two veterans combined with a lack of Holocaust instruction in classrooms has created a learning void that is eagerly fill today on social media. Those who deny the very existence of the Holocaust spread misinformation online while promoting hatred and bigotry. Arkansas has a duty to teach the Holocaust so students are armed with the facts and knowledge to combat the flood of misinformation and the Niles found online. In a recent fifty state survey of Holocaust knowledge among U. S. millennials Arkansas millennials and is dead last only seventeen percent of younger cans and surveyed could answer yes to the most basic questions about the Holocaust SB one sixties endorsed by the chancellor of the university of Arkansas system the president of Arkansas state university dean skip Rutherford of the Clinton school civil Arkansas school superintendents the northwest Arkansas business council and I diverse list of religious and nonprofit organizations across the state. Arkansas can be a leader in our region by passing this bill we can eliminate the Holocaust knowledge gap in Arkansas and we can slow the spread of hatred and bigotry by teaching tolerance to students the lessons of the Holocaust. If younger generations like mine do not learn from the mistakes injustices of the past history is bound to repeat itself we must never forget I respectfully urge you to vote for SB one sixty I'd like to say thank represent a vote for her leadership as well as Senator Hester and I'd like to thank this bills many co sponsors for their continued support thank you. Fifteen. Fifteen other states already have laws like this that make states teach at arts education be taught in their schools and Arkansas has a chance here today to be a leader in our region by passing this legislation and with that we'll take any questions. Watson got for. Thank you Mr chair thank you represented by thank you David I am a co sponsor the bill and in full support but I do have a question because I noticed an amendment that was added that the curriculum is going to be developed for fifth through twelfth grade but also that all schools have to be in compliance with providing Holocaust education but I know that some elementary schools in our state are configured K. for insert the curriculum is five twelve all schools are required well elementary schools can figure K. for be out of compliance this is my concern saying that the curriculum is developed for fifth grade and up they won't be out of compliance okay thank you. Richard brown. I'm going to make this a question. I really applaud this legislation but I would like to know would this preclude or encourage students to investigate other a similar Holocaust the conditions that occurred in other countries. I don't think I understand your question well not not necessarily the Jewish people but people in other countries there have been mass mass murders of people in other countries with this sort of encourage them to be receptive to. Learning more about these other situations I do believe so so I don't I mean I would try to list as many places as I could about where the four victims of the Holocaust actually happened and I think that it would cover all of those yes ma'am thank you China and Russian different different groups yes so a lot of different states have had Holocaust curricula for many years now and the state of Virginia they passed a bill about Holocaust education in two thousand nine and it kind of laid the groundwork for teaching about mass genocide mass murders so they ended up I think it was this past year adding more about slavery education and indigenous peoples to that bill and adding it to the curriculum. Okay thank you very much. Any other questions. Seeing none. Hey everyone the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill. I close the bill I'm close for my bill and I appreciate a do pass you have your motion do pass motion do pass the discussion seeing none all in favor say aye any against no you passed your bill you want to run representative start senate starches bill yes Sir SP five twenty four that will be left bills that cannot ask that someone from the Department join me just in case there's questions this requires districts with five percent minority students to develop a minority teacher and administrator recruitment plan with an emphasis of recruiting African Americans and other minorities and encouraging minority students to pursue a career in education this will broaden the scope of the plan to include recruitment and retention it also shortens the plan from ten years to three years there goes my little fuzzy thing requires the plant to be posted on the district's website and it requires eighty eight to develop and a strategic plan and set goals for increasing the number of teachers and administrators of the minority race and ethnicity and it requires the Division of higher education to collaborate with stakeholders to develop AI companion strategic plan with recommendations for institutions with educators prep programs of other of other methods of reaching goals set by eighty. With that I'll take any questions or she'll take some questions. Thank you Mr chair just a quick one and I love the focus on encouraging students of color to enter the education profession do you know how schools are currently doing that is that through clubs or particular you know education tracker Academy or mentorship I would like to know how they're doing that currently well I so court is all sorts of the Department I probably wouldn't be the best person to answer that question but I will say I think districts are using various methods and one of the reasons we want this is so that we can learn that so we can see in their plans what are different days different districts using identify best practices and ensure that information out with other districts but I know there are different various grow your own types of programs of clubs apprenticeship spot you know different types of internships things like that thank you thank you Mr. Any other questions seeing none anyone the audience speak for or against. He was like closed because for my bill in motion to pass a motion to pass the debate. We have to make just quickly want to speak in favor and thank I represented by in particular for her work on the docket teachers legislation at that the past all the way through will become law I think that will work in tandem with this bill I'm in full support thank you any other discussion all in favor say aye opposed no. This past so we have a consent agenda Brian I just realize there's consent agenda for like six bill so we're going to what is going to do pass on all of those and roll the vote so overall okay right. Just kidding April fools. We are adjourned. That's.