Education Committee- House

I'm representing the color. you have an amendment for this bill I do thank you Mr chair and I believe everybody has an amendment on their desk okay we we mended seventeen seventy at the request of the administrators association to try to make it as easy as possible for them to phase in these ID cards with these hotline numbers on them and that's that's basically all there is to the amendments to change the language to make it easy for the schools to other couple schools that had questions about the way they rotate their ID's and we're just trying to make it easy on on them. All right we have a motion from a couple of you really a reserve back up with the first on that so we have a motion to would be pasal Amendment all in favor say aye. Any opposed no graduation okay you may I go ahead and present your bill as amended thank you Mr chair of this bill is is simple as a teacher a long time teacher of thirty three years I know that kids of throughout my career you know faced obstacles but especially in our times with COVID and different things going on just want to be able to give students every resource possible to make sure that if there floundering in their lives or they're having any issues or problems what whether it be with depression anxiety or whatever that they have every resource available and have something really close close by and that this is something we can do through the student ID's is to give that to them and I have a guest with me today who all that introduced himself and and talk further. Yes Sir the dissenters do yourself and who you're with yes Sir my name is Tyler west and I am board member for the American foundation for suicide prevention and treatment because our committee members only thank you for considering this really important legislation so as I said I'm from the American foundation for suicide prevention were the leading national not for profit organization exclusively dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide the local Arkansas chapter carries out this mission across the state the research education advocacy and support. So why are we here today there's some fine weather some findings that are in the bill that I wanna go over how to suicide really affect the young people in Arkansas. So the most recent accurate data that we have is from two thousand and nineteen this is pre COVID two thousand nineteen according to the CDC the state of Arkansas lost sixty nine young people ages ten to twenty two to two it to suit to suicide making it the second leading cause of death for that age group according to the latest youth risk behavior since a survey also from the CDC more than one in three Arkansas high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks in a row. Nineteen point seven nearly one in five seriously considered attempting suicide. And eleven and a half percent more than one in ten attempted suicide one or more times. Those are staggering numbers this sounds like a complex problem and it is suicide is a complex problem but it doesn't mean the steps along the way can't be simple like this bill. We want to college numbers in twenty nineteen from the American college health association's national college health assessment found that sixty six point four of college students experienced overwhelming anxiety in the last twelve months and nearly half felt so depressed it was difficult to function and nine point three considered suicide. Let's think about the challenges that a high school student going to college basis they're leaving home sometimes they're leaving this the community support that they have grown up with and all the sudden across this magical barrier where they're in college and they have to have their things together things in order a lot more pressure without all that support so what can we do what this bill does provide easy access to act to timely mental health care. We also know that upwards of ninety percent of individuals who alternately die by suicide reliving with a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death often untreated or undiagnosed to prevent suicide we need to recognize that mental health is as important as physical health and courage those struggling to seek help before they reach the point of suicidal crisis. The statement now what does this bill do the stigma around mental health creates an environment that discourages showing signs of vulnerability which can contribute to a reluctance to seek help or self to close mental health concerns or suicidal thoughts mental health is central to student success as a whole and well being and we owe it to our students to ensure their supported a mental health just as they are other aspects of health. By offering immediate help to to any anyone and everyone that may need it crisis lines provide invaluable support at critical times. Lifesaving information like how to access Chris crisis lines should be easily accessible that's what this bill does it's a simple initiative that would accomplish this goal and provide transparency around suicide prevention and mental health. The one other thing that Arkansas has done that we're really proud of you you guys have been really forward thinking and implementing a state run suicide national suicide prevention lifeline call center. We want to build on the current existing laws that Arkansas has passed so would further support schools and colleges in preventing suicides by building upon the foundation in place by relating existing Arkansas laws requiring that public school personnel received two hours of training in teen suicide awareness and prevention every four years and state institutions of higher education provide information to entering students on of on available mental health and suicide prevention services upon entrance to the to the institution with your support we cannot to affirm the state's commitment to mental health of Arkansas's young people and preventing youth and young adult suicide across the state the Arkansas American foundation for suicide prevention chapter appreciate your consideration and we look forward to working with you and your colleagues on suicide prevention efforts moving forward please feel free to contact me or McCollum with any questions or if you'd like additional information. We're we're happy to entertain any questions Mr and I thought this was short bill. Represent Lowery recognized. Yes thank you Mr and I'll try to make the short I didn't I heard your references to it training I didn't see anything about training in the bill of training of teachers for. Yes that was passed I believe it was called the Gatley Smith I've act it was passed back in two thousand twelve okay and it's currently on the books okay I'm sorry I thought I thought you were representing that was part of this bill okay thank you I think he was speaking about a lot of the suicide service out there Richard Godfrey. Thank you Mr thank you represent Michael I think this is a great bill it's really smart and I did notice that you don't include a child abuse hotline AS one of that listed numbers is that and. I just. Notice that that was not included is is that on purpose or was it so what we did was we got a day we started reading these bills around the country we gather the data and the national suicide prevention lifeline it's kind of the intersection of all of those related childhood traumas so we found that the national suicide prevention lifeline was the smartest way to go that's why that is listed number one on the information to be required and the other two just came in order with regard to the data great thank you Richmond back did you have a question. Yes thank you of. I doubt I'd like to the basis of the bill the the concern I would have is in a maybe I'm misreading it but but the public school are low parole. How the Roman a charter school that could I add things to this list. The way the bill is written is that it has to require the national suicide prevention lifeline and they could add other speak more specific like the child abuse hotline or the sexual assault hotline so yes so that would be who would make that decision so what could be put on this. that we have to the institutions a lot of well all of our state run schools have either contractor on site mental health centers we would like for that information to them that's that's an obvious way to go here but we didn't want to limit it too much but we did want to prioritize the national suicide prevention lifeline. My concern would be is that you know there's yeah the the the the superintendents I I'm assuming or maybe the school board from sellers would be the ones that did it would make a decision to maybe insert something additional on this and if that's the case you know the someone this committee said this guy's got a look at the bad actor person right yeah we got good superintendents of stuff but if you had a bad superintendent they could put things on this that would necessarily now but maybe national organizations that people would not approve of the their children participating in your correct representive back and that was a change that we made that I did that I had not noticed in line twenty eight of the first page it says contain the following information without limitation so one of those three. Is the way I read it yeah that's that's what I read hi read it to. The guys so it's got to be one of those for your sign. That is the way that I read it correct. But did you just say that you could add to the other one. This is the following information without limitation so one or all three of those hot line this is the way the bill is written as I understand it now okay I was confused just a quick follow up but. Representative Godfrey as to the question about the child abuse hotline I thought you went to her saying that they could add it if they wanted to and again the bill was changed last minute and so it there was an changes that I that I was confused about my apologies. Okay the representative makes. Thank you so I kind of supporter after here but I'm just following up the representative back to where the bills written as we have in front of a success it shall contain so it must contain those three so you can add a fourth or fifth one if if you want my question is and I definitely support those suicide prevention and the assault ones can you and in the way you've got these listed domestic violence is first can you talk about the reason for including domestic violence I've why think of that I'm thinking you know husband wife tipper type issue versus the one that representative Godfrey why. The domestic violence verses that one and why the ordering looks like we put suicide is the third most important of the three here. Yes Sir thank you for questions those are listed in no specific order. Okay so all of my back to my from my original question why domestic violence versus the child if we we at we added those two because when you look at the data four reasons why people become suicidal you look at specifically childhood and adolescent trauma those two the national domestic violence and sexual assault where they to right behind right right behind just mental health concerns that cause suicidality okay all right thank you. Are you have no questions. Censorship okay the censorship yelp of the system I really of. I'm curious about the without limitation phrases well I mean if you if your listing three specific items that would be on a badge why have the words without limitation. I mean that would that would seem to indicate as representative back is saying that other information could be put on there that may not be listed in the bill and I think that that is problematic. The way hi read. The way I read the bill is that the definition the identification card or bad shall contain the following information without limitation the following invitation being those three hot line so you can list one or all three of those hot ones. Well actually it's a shall contain the following which means those three. And then without limitation give gives when that that usually is a phrase that we put into we can we draft bills when we want to have at that list to not be exclusive. So I I think that that is very very confusing it does open up concerns about that if we're going to pass this would like to know what's going to be on those badges. I mean I'm I'm still trying to look at this there's certainly no intent to leave it open like that so I keep trying to look at it and say it shall contain the following information so to me it seems like it will contain these three without limitation of these three. It's. Right that's what I said without limitation of these three. I mean I understand if you're saying a phone number and a an address without limitation that tells is that other information about those three hot lines could be included but that's not what it says it says the following one two three. Following without limitation that would seem to leave it open ended that as representative Beck said that a individual school and and I know a number of you you know really embrace given that local control the superintendent wants to add two or three other hotlines they could do that but right now this comes before us to give them that authority or not. I just. I don't think that it hurts your bill. If you remove the words without limitation and if you'd be willing to do that I you know I have no concern. Second. Yeah. Okay we're happy to do that okay. So you want them to do that. All the Senate in and to bring it back for concur that would be best if possible. Okay. I got one more for you represent guide for your next thank you Mr chair and development represent Larry's concern I guess I'm not as concerned with the without limitation because wouldn't that allow districts to you know to my question add the child abuse hotline and also add any kind of pertinent localized I'm resources I I think that could actually be helpful to include without limitation in case there are local and numbers are hot lines or or resources that students can access that are particular to their district that would necessarily be and spelled out in this bill do you see that as as a potential benefit of leaving without limitation. So the bill has been the bill has been passed since in several states both ways yes and inferences Wisconsin they wanted to make sure that let's say the university of Wisconsin Wisconsin to put that number for their mental health care center our counseling center on campus so there are strict in shadows to teach. Russell of. Thank you Mr and so first of all let me let me address something I spearheaded the effort for the state to to receive the gear the Smith grant. And with that we the and I'll work with the Arkansas department of health to ends into input the suicide hotline most of these hot lines that we have for these these three especially the three our national hotlines had ever. The state being created the state specific hotline for suicide in so with change in this I will tell you that what will happen is if you want to list these three national hotline because Arkansas does not have a specific timeline for domestic violence or for sexual assault when now we might have some agencies that work with them but they don't have the hot lines except for suicide in so when you begin to to stay without limitation you want to limit these national hotlines the end that will that would be and just make it Bills three national hotlines without being in the state specific. There are some things that you M. S. works with the poison control of the different things that look into that hotline so if we begin to restrict the and I think that's going to hurt the the state specific timelines that address like suicide and so I think I would caution that now what I do understand what representive Lowery stand is that we can add a lot of different call the hotlines I don't think that was the intent of the bill I think that ten the bill is to make sure that we do have the state's a fifty cow line that we have but also include these three national highlights because in some in some instances you will not get any of this information if we don't have a national hotlines on the cards and so. I think I think we need to be very careful in just thing and that we want these three specific hotlines because then you would exclude to the detriment of our students the state hotlines they actually go out to the communities and some of the things that you M. S. is doing over for the control of the assist these hotline so I would say that in I think representative McCollum if I if McCollum that path I'm not mistaken did you can you all did you all speak to that specific that we do have a state specific hotline however in the the other two domestic violence and sexual assault we don't have a state specific hotline for those is that correct that that is that is my that is what I understand and just with just the members know when you call the national suicide prevention hotline it routes to with the Arkansas call center here the goal of a representative representative loves work on getting at a state run suicide prevention hotline is because we do have one and whenever kids or our Kansans would call they we talking somebody in Dallas or Memphis or Nashville so Arkansas took the bold step to build a national hotline in house to make sure that our Kansans would be helping our cans and so yes the national suicide prevention hotline does route directly to the Arkansas call center representative our give anymore. General questions. We have to Mordella road there okay representative brown. Thank you Mr chair the witness whose name I did not catch and representative love both addressed portions of my what I want to say or quit ask but I believe Arkansas is the only state that has have you call that national suicide hotline it Arkansas is the only state that rings directly to Arkansas so people can get Arkansas support. It's the only state that has a state run call center. other states do have call centers and it's based on the area code that you're calling from your right to to that state but Arkansas did not have that prior to represent representative loves work. Okay that's. Wasn't telling my understanding of it but it's okay to make point reserve bank. Thank you Mr I the action alike representative comments and I do like the the the local control aspect for the local control nine my question would be is don't you think it'd be a better bill if you may be pulled it down and put a mechanism in there that would say that the superintendent of the school board or something like that could I add something on here or so sometimes the mechanism that would say who could put things on to these these badges you know it's obviously a school board those are elected officials so that would be some reckoning to the local area at that point I just think it make a better bill and and I think I could supported at that point would you agree. All right see no more questions this represents Lowery has one now okay. I you know I appreciate the the direction the representative back is wanting to go with this of giving the local control aspect but you know what. We do have the responsibility of passing this legislation and it is open ended and I'll just tell you in preparation for another bill that that I have that hopefully will be heard soon we've had to submit FOR request to find out whether our local school districts are contracting or working with Planned Parenthood. And Planned Parenthood they're hotline could be put on this badge if we have without limitation. So I have a real concern of this bill if if those words are not stricken from it I think it's it's a good bill if we're limiting it to the three aspects which we you know the statistics the information you gave us is very compelling that students need to have that both at K. twelve and also higher and they need to have that information available I'm just very concerned about what could be tacked on to that if we don't limited to those three so I just would echo again my concerns about it being open ended. All right the scene no more questions. Will move to testimony from the audience is there anyone in the audience of the like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Would you like to close for your bill. thank you thank you Mr I think we would like to go ahead and and to try to ease some of these concerns I mean they're it every bill their multitude of maybe better things or other things that you could do with it there's also of a time just to to take a stand and and do what you want to do with it but I think that we would like to go ahead and an amended take out the without limitation because we think it's important enough that we have these numbers on there and there's no intent to add anything else or to do anything tricky or anything like that so while I do the the idea of the local control does appeal to me I think that that can be addressed may be at some later time if we we decide that there's a way to do this but we think that it's important right now to have these three on here and it was not the intent to leave it open to add what anybody in the world wanted to do so with the chair in the committee's approval we would like to amend that on the say will amend that on the Senate in and to go ahead and go forward and and and be closed for the bill. All right your clothes for your bill was will committee. made a motion to pass have a motion to pass for. As amended yes from represent Godfrey. A discussion on the bill. Already been done mostly. Yes I think we discussed more than we've actually ask questions so all right. No shoes is amended on the Senate in okay all right all in favor say aye. It opposed no. Graduations pass it please amendment on the Senate in thank you Mr thank you Committee. All right I have some senators here run bills if you don't mind of I'd like to let representative English run her real quick that I think represent or what has a couple. Are you ready do you have your part you ready. Okay I was like sure. I know love Senator Irvin has more than one possibly run to. Good morning Education Committee Jane English Senator district thirty four and basically Senate bill two thirty five is a cleanup bill from transformation changes some language and for career education and Mr Cody waits the Director of the skills development is here to answer any questions. All right to request. Build speaks Mr represent speaks about that first thing going to jail now. Thank you Mr chair. As three this bill I just wondered why you took the plumbing out of it. To. This section of. It it's out of all the way down through there that yeah and just remember when we were going through the county Westchester obstacles element apartment commerce we're going through the bill drafting process in and looking at the plumbing code and appreciate pieces to it it didn't belong in this specific section it was being dealt with through the licensee section of the plumbing code and so that's what we wanted to get out of there okay thank you very much thank you. Any other questions. Seeing none the one the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill like clothes for your bill. I'm close to the bill. I have a motion do pass for a representative makes any discussion on the bill seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no regulation thank you very much that's a short bill. All right Senator Irvin. I believe you have a couple bills if you want to run on which one you of sub to you. Do what you want to do their first okay that would be four oh six seven to correct. Okay Senate bill four oh seven. And you are recognized to present. Thank you senator Missy Irvin District eighteen I am actually going to turn it over to a representative Jamie Scott okay a good morning colleagues Senate bill four oh seven is the companion bill to House Bill fifteen ten the S. R. O. bill that we extensively talked about earlier this month in March and it's already passed the house in the Senate and so I'll just briefly read this paragraph and I won't go into all everything that I wanted to last time in doctor may is here again if you have any questions will be happy to answer any questions the school resource officers are members are a lot of our law enforcement community who teach counsel and protect our schools school resource officers often build trusting relationships with students while serving as resources to educators to help problem solve for the students the issues to students are facing. Senate bill four oh seven and miss a lot to institute a memorandum of understanding between the school district board of directors and law enforcement concerning the jurisdiction policies and procedures of school resource officers this bill also requires that all school resource officers within eighteen months of being hired complete a for a forty hour basic school resource officer program that has been developed by the Arkansas center for school safety this bill. has letters of support from the chiefs associations the stairs sheriffs association the department of education and the governor's office and that training will be put on by Dr Cheryl may who is the director of the criminal justice institute Happy to answer any questions at this time. All right reserved makes your first. That's a short version of it sorry thank you and it and just look make sure I understand this is a companion bill the bill or okay fact also also so question the process then that offer out now just because I like asking questions And I have to welcome our Senator here to. I on page two where with the then the memorandum of understanding it talks about that the roles of the responsibility of the school resource officer should be included and as part of that section talks about use of firearms in making arrests on school campus could this in any way and impede the police officers. Ability to do his job and what I mean by that could a school policy set up on a no school board set up a policy that says that you know a police officer can't arrest anybody or that he can't you know use of firearms things that would impede him from doing what we would all consider the normal course of duty for police officer. Representative makes if it's okay can I bring up doctor show me to answer this question for you I wanna give you may if the facts thank you okay thank you. Okay with me if it's okay with them the US funds all races but. Dr David just introduce yourself for the record please. Hi good morning I'm Cheryl may I'm director that criminal justice institute in the Arkansas center for school safety easy question to answer and thank you for your for your question now it's not going to have an impact all right awesome thank you in their job. Any other questions. Seeing none. anyone the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill. Would you like to close for your bill. Yet what and members of the committee are I really want to thank you for your I think due diligence on all of these issues. I do want to say I really appreciate representative Scott and her hard work on this issue this is something that is critically important to make sure that we have these memorandums of understanding because every jurisdiction is different and we have to have clear good communication and guidelines when you have a situation that arises unfortunately on your school campuses and so making sure that your local jurisdiction whether that be your county sheriff's office or your police offices And so could be a combination of those those memorandums of understanding are critically important to ensure that time is valuable and that we save lives and really that's the aim of this bill and then the second component of it is critically important to is the training aspect of this and it's really important that you understand that training aspect and how it's a different scenario it's a different environment and so you have to be trained to differently in order to address any issues that come on to that campus and so the training you know we're super lucky and fortunate to have the criminal justice institute in the State of Arkansas that leads a lot of this training for us in the state and then this the Arkansas center for school safety has been established in Greenbrier Arkansas and yeah you should visit it's a wonderful wonderful place and I hope maybe we'll have a meeting joint meeting there to really get a little bit more in depth into actually what's going on in our campuses around the idea of school safety and our school resource officers so I just thank you for the opportunity to kind of share this is been a passion of mine and every since sandy hook as event occurred and so I just I appreciate working with you on all of these issues representative Cozart are working on the other bill together and then representative Scott I just really want to thank her she did a lot of work on this and this is really her bill and so I just appreciate her very much. Thank you all right your clothes what's will committee I have a motion to pass representative makes any discussion on the motion. Seeing no discussion all in favor say aye opposed no regulations you have passed your bill thank you would you like to run as a sixty four I will do that thank you so much Senate bill sixty four is a really it's a technical clean up bill for the department of education At its just amending these various provisions of the Arkansas Code co concerning public education and it's just the clean up clean up bill. Basically it all right. Of represent McKenzie have questions. Thank you Mr chair I have a question on page this I think it's Page ten looks like we are removing the requirement if I understand correctly that the schools publish the School report that school performance report in the newspaper. Page ten line twelve and thirteen has that the public school district and also may publish the school performance report in the local newspaper. About that for striking languages as a thing. We will chat. Yes. I'll have a second chance in must have for you thank you. Johnny keep part of education. we work with the press association on on this language it reflects language that if previously existing the elsewhere in the code regarding the types of reports that districts have to publish so we just wanna make it aligned with what's currently in another in another section law. Follow. So joinder stand correctly so you're saying this provision conflicts with another section of I'm saying that the original language that restricts stricken. Conflicted and we're bringing in alignment with. the other section. So we previously had not required it was just you may. In the other section it was amended I don't know a session or two ago to reflect that they may published in a newspaper the reason is that there are a lot of a lot fewer local newspapers now than there were when these reports were first required close to twenty years ago so press association did contact us about this and the original. Has filed version of the bill said something different but we worked with them to get language that they would to be okay with. Any other questions close enough. Seeing no other questions. I'll go to the audience the one the audience like to speak against the bill. For the bill I have a quick. would you like clothes for your bill. Yes I that this is just again I I do appreciate and. Station on a the bass so I appreciate a good vote was will committee I have a motion to pass representive all the discussion on the motion seeing none of what I'm sorry we do have one she's over to my blinds us. McKinsey thank you Mr chair and I realized you know it's a clean a bill that seems maybe I'm still confused it seems a little sensitive to me as far as I'm not entirely clear if the if we're removing the requirement but I know that I I would like to see us keep it so that's just where I am as far as transparency we which we require the schools report so much back to us department of education and I think this is helpful information I realize that there's less publications out there but none the less there's a significant amount of people that I think to look at that and find it helpful so that's that's my one problem with this thank you. Any other discussion. Seeing none it rubs the back of instruction. Yes not I'm in I understand the cleanup aspect of it also but I was referred to McKenzie I I I just. You know if you put it may in there and school has a bad rating and they have a local newspaper they're not going to put that they have a bad rating you know that there that school right so I I I I would like to see it. Where if you know maybe there's mobile if there is a local newspaper that we could. Now they should put in that they have to put in their affairs local newspaper I certainly understand there's not a local newspaper you can you you can't do that but. Local newspapers at the poor house brings these by because of Little Rock now so I mean it does have hot springs to they actually were doing away with it the end of this month so we will have a paper it'll be online only so that's kinda get I have a local newspaper. Representative of makes. Yeah I will say just following up on this question if if you look at the the that section of code further up it says that the report shall be made available to parents upon request it will be posted on the division's website and it will be posted on the local schools website so it will be out there were parents can ask you to sunset and then it allows if they so choose to publish in the local newspapers we all know newspapers are going away things are shifting to online and what this does is it requires the online to still be there and take place but says they don't need to do it in the local newspaper if there is no local newspaper so in my view I think it's fine just the way it is. All right any other discussion. What's will committee where we have a mission we do have a motion or I'm sorry motions there The ward's question all in favor say aye. He opposed no. All right motion the yes yes I have ties have it. And you know it's really funny on that same discussion of the the the newspapers when they do print that it's little bitty thing in the very back somewhere where you don't even fight it so but it is on the website is required to build websites this might all right I'm sorry I do not have your other safety bill on the agenda today I can't presented today. Did you have another when your president and I have Senate bill five AM to represent Vaught thank. Do you want to we were going to pass that a okay and then Senate bill two fifty so you wanted to fifty I can do to fifty. We'll let you go ahead okay members of the Senate bill two fifty is a bill that Allows for these two Arkansas state university and representative Evans and I are sponsoring this bill together and sometimes they have the ability to receive different funding levels of I can let somebody from Arkansas state okay you want to go ahead and speak for a representative. I have a great I let him come down and help me with it is to allow them to have Extra vehicles. But there's a purpose behind it. What you also have Arkansas state is walking yes there is an area would come running he's in the bill. Thank you thank you Mr zones of committee members about two three weeks ago I presented this proof a provisional bill regarding positions for these facilities what this does is is it every two years at a higher rate goes back to these universities and does a survey with them to see what their needs are also in regards to vehicles what this bill does is it provides a issue Three Rivers they're seeking to additional vehicles one which has been donated to their campus and will be at the new selling county career center this going to be located on I. thirty is gonna open up this fall the other vehicle is for you A. P. B. they're seeking three additional vehicles if you remember from the position provisional bill there expanding in doing extensions to their school of agriculture and fisheries and Human Services a so these three vehicles will help facilitate those two programs. Happy to take any questions or questions. Anyone. Seeing no questions. Anybody in the audience like to speak for. Against. Seeing none which like close reveal close for the bill motion to pass a motion to pass any discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor say aye. He opposed no resolution pastor bill thank you so much members of the Catholic you madam chair from the other end. We will be coming to your committee shortly with some bills I'm sure. All right I have a real quick I don't know if she's ready but I think we have a resolution from Scott. You want to run your resolution real quick then you can get out of here. I'm still kind of I've I've got we're trying to get a little we're little head of our schedule I think today so far so thank you good morning colleagues. That's a house resolution one thousand twenty two correct okay go ahead and teacher appreciation week has become an established tradition and school districts throughout the United States but few people seem to know how it started the ideal a teacher appreciation week came from a teacher in Arkansas who is an African American woman who taught in the segregated south during the early nineteen forties Maddie would reach an Arkansas teacher decided that educators should be recognized for their contributions they make to society and made this her mission miss Woolrich wrote to every governor in the United States and correspondent with a host of politicians leaders in education stressing the need for a national day of the honor teachers in nineteen forty four one of the many letter she wrote was read by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt miss Roosevelt acted upon this letter asking that eighty first United States Congress to consider setting aside one day per year to acknowledge and honor the work of teachers miss what rich gradually saw her plan to honor the work of teachers materialize as she continued her work as an educator in the Arkansas Delta eventually serving as the principal or north in elementary school in Helena Arkansas. The United States Congress initially declared March the seventh nineteen eighty as a national teachers day but only for that particular year. When teacher appreciation week with established in may nineteen ninety nine representative rush Holt a congressman from New Jersey delivered a touching speech as he discussed national teacher day before the one hundred sixtieth United States Congress on August fourth nineteen ninety nine just three months after representative rush Holt gave his speech miss Maddie will ridge died at ninety years of age. and this is basically just one of our hidden gems in this state and I don't know that a lot of people know a lot about her and I thought it would be I just was reading a battery somebody. Mention it and I'm I've fallen in love with the delta and roll Arkansas being a state rep and I just thought that this was something that we should honor and recognize to kind of bring some attention to her work and House helped us nationally and that's all I have. Okay there any questions. Seeing no questions I'm sure there's no one in the audience to speak for or against like close for your bill. I'm close I have a motion do pass for a representative makes. The discussion seeing none all in favor say aye. Any opposed no. Election you passed resolution to committee representative Bentley we've been waiting to see you. We have a house bill seventeen hundred. And I believe she's gonna run after that you gonna run replies Senator Ballinger bill correctly okay so we'll have to. Good morning college this is my first time to ever be in Education Committee about lustrous career so thank you all for listening to me this morning I bring to you house bill seventeen hundred of a bill that I'm really excited about I know that many of you as I do go to our schools in September for take your legislator to school month is a visit with students many students ask have or clueless on what crew they want to do where they want to go so it's really that the reason behind this bill the reason I want to bring it forward to spend a passion of mine to make sure that our students are aware of every opportunity is available then we have so many opportunities in the state and I talked just students even at church that I might we're gonna do what I have no idea so I am trying to always come up with options in those but this is a bill that will help those students to know one of the top careers out here in Arkansas what is it going to take for me to obtain that career how much money it would cost me to get that degree or to get go to technical school or whatever so this is a a bill to help enlighten our students on what's available for parents to know was available even starting in junior high so they can start preparing for that and getting the knowledge that they need to make it happen also we know was a as a home visit with my principals and friends of mine that are principals and teachers they do not have the time to obtain all this data that's necessary so this is a way for them to clearly see currently what's available for those students we can help our career coaches that we recently put in place in our schools that can help or our educators to be avail to know what's going on a first students in four appearances that's the idea behind this bill so I'll go to some technical parts but I want to see where my heart was on this to see what can we do to help our students be successful every student or school is to be successful and there's an opportunity we have great resources whether lottery scallops we have so much available that our students do not know about they do not so this is what the the the reason I'm doing this bill selection of beforehand so in that there are two things that we're going to do with this bill or an invalid but we ask the department of education. To find that one of the most jobs that are in demand what is the cost for those with student loans are available to them what's maybe the default rate of some of those loans and before it I would briefly share quick story with you have some employees that work for me that got the lottery scholarship went to college for the first year and didn't have the backing at home weren't really prepared and then they dropped out in ten years later they're still paying off the loan that they encourage because they dropped out of school and so I think it's really a disservice for the students not to know what's going to happen if they drop out what are available those two employees a minor great I'm so glad that I have a but they would have been a lot better off if they could have gone to our U. SEC and local school near me to get a little training and at a much better career so this is really to get them to know what they need to know what's going to take for me to graduate so again these are things of the department is going to gather together do they have other programs are doing now to gather this data yes I'm and then use any program now any debt together they're already using but to develop what we call the student who writes a database so students teachers parents anybody can get on this database and see what's currently available for careers in the state where the top careers available how much is it going to cost all those things ever talked about so the the the data base in the second thing is for us a publication to be distributed to the middle high school students from the Department of it to know exactly and with the top majors out there for me what's the seller can expect to get out of that because I can tell you I was with students and taught them about being working for Tyson how much that might just be a maintenance person for Titan Tyson they make of like eighty thousand eight years craze of the moment they can make in their clueless to that so my whole idea is to do two things create the database and you know with that database we have GIS here as a state agency they can use that so my whole idea is to have a very usable friendly database that our students parents and teachers can use in our career coaches that we put in place and that for this publication go out to our junior high and high school students that my friends is in the not shall open. And talk to fast for my chairman of their benefit did apologize chairman because are you always talk too fast. The baby of six I told you that I have to. Of Merriam will start out with the questions yes Sir it is not already something out there that does this there are some that do that and I as I said we can use the data that's already out there but it's not as available to parents or as updated as as I think it is I thank you have a bit more often can we use that database surely I don't there's not a publication going out to students now in junior high for them to know something the database is going to be published and out to students as not if we can occur this objective with what we already have on file with that I just want to be something that are like I said they can they can use and we're not gonna publication out to students so that some the defendant we need to do. If we can take this on what we're doing I'm fine with that so get give me just a second we're trying to the impact of this bill. Shall we have fiscal impact. I don't have one in my files so I'm trying to figure out does it need one. I thought it was zero that was sent to me is zero but. Well this. I don't. Really thank you I know that I can't get in here that it so it Central I would it was appropriate in that area so. Well as well I don't know if that requires effect kind of files as far as power is. Because it. When was not everyone was there okay all right what does not what do we got a lot of questions appear so representative Deffenbaugh your first up. Thank you Mister Mister chair I'm not I'm really not kicking against this bill but that do not A school counselors do that anyway and and and also the career day staff most schools do today are that what I'm asking is of the you don't think you do an adequate job or they're not don't have enough time or what I just think with excellent tool for them to have to they have some information yes but as a business some even with my principles and different folks that my district this is not available to the extent that were asking them to have it available to them so do they have some of this information yeah they do but they don't have all that I'm asking for them to have in this especially we're of students or not how much debt is going to court to them and. What is especially the technical part with it in for under the car other career things they're not college. Ready if that makes sense coaches really sure all those areas so yeah okay thank you. It is required is higher it so it was does not require fiscal impact of. President makes you have a question you have not okay a written guide for your next. Thank you Mr chair represent Bentley I think there's a lot of really good information here but I do have a couple of questions and first of all I think that it looks like that the statewide information and I think I'm a lot of this information really varies a lot regionally and is will this be compiled as the state of Arkansas as a whole or do you have intention for regional breakdown of some of this information for students this is really gonna be statewide I'm sure that as our guidance counselors uses in the career coaches can make it more specific but it's really as a tool to be statewide thank you Follet Mister you're recognized and similarly I had a question on page four and talking about some of the information that'll be in the student's resident database yes as a race and ethnicity information what kind of information will that be I think this challenge for motion of what's at each school I think was. General information about what race and ethnicity I guess the question what's what's of at each school so if that was interested I don't know who would be carried or someone might be interested so just trying to get every information think about about school not trying to be. Anything but just sharing information so would that be. The number of students in each major that incurring debt is that broken down by race and ethnicity what I'm just curious what kind of information that is going to because I do think it varies not only regionally at to my first question also for students of diverse races and ethnicities understanding what that race and ethnicity information will be how you imagine that disaggregated resting out just students enrolled as a student enrolled okay and one more but I can get thank you I'm good thank you thank you got a bunch of so risen Love. Thank you Mr chair in represent representative Bentley I think in leased a portion of this is already done by the department of commerce so I guess At. I'm looking in this section Page Three of your of your bill when you name out the The department shall work with the following entities I would I would I mean since the department of commerce kind of collect some of this information I would just I would just recommend that you kinda added and the the department of commerce and department of labor that they have the statistics in order to enrich them in in rich you are. the data collection of what you want to do but I I think this is a great deal and hi I would just say is it was a great deal but just I would I would expect not be happy to be happy to add that I think I need to admit I'm I need a D. I. S. and there's well so I take any suggestions that you have to add to that list there I I don't want to make it difficult I want to make it as easy as possible and as thorough as possible so I appreciate that suggestion represent eleven and we have to add them to that list in the in the men's this is not you saying this is going to be in our website mmhm you know we website version and it's going to be available to all kids throughout the state correct and then also there's a publication of the like to go to the students something handed to them specifically in junior high and high school district right awareness to the database and to some things to highlight to students I think we need to start in junior high give these kids a thinking about some different careers they had thought about just open the discussion with them and their parents and and their teachers okay all right thank you thank you. Richard brown you're recognized. I'm going to pass basically just have a comment. A reserve all thank you Mr chair so online Page two line twenty you reference vocational schools but we don't have vocational schools in this area and I'm glad you brought that up as it should have had two years in there so we work with I. Thought I had said something to be a larger correct that I guess I did not so we need to correct that to make sure we include to your schools and can I have of what Mister chair. You may and are you aware well everyone I know that we just passed it's coming toward us senator Ervin's Senate bill three ninety seven which does this exact thing and I don't know if you already know that I do and I was with her about as we discuss this but I just think it enhances again there something's included here that she does does not have so I I think it is enhances which is doing makes it even better I think goes hand in hand I think has more technical stuff and the data that is handed out to the students and junior high so I wasn't trying to compete in anyway I just think complements what she's doing. I'll get back in the queue. Rosi's speaks. Yeah one okay rectified. Thank you Mr chair a reserve Bentley I love this bill I think this is a great idea I'm wondering if we have any examples from other states that you saying that are doing this we're going to be the leader on this. I don't have any from any other states at this point so we can we can be first then I would love to. President Maddox. Thanks chair email already answered this but as the department of education good with this order we need to hear from them what we know the first thing I did was sent to the Department of educate their input on that we've been working on and I've made an amendment specifically to what higher in some things that would and I thought the voter acting was thing had taken out so I've been working with them all along I know they had some concerns about duplicating but again I was something that we can really make this a compliment to what Senator Irvin statement and I don't want to do okay I said specifically it is whatever data they're already collecting for another whatever's another statue that we passed the pretty use any other data so yep you. I wouldn't dream of bringing something this committee with that but going to the Department of it. Article background president Godfrey. Thank you Mr chairman represent Bentley I don't eat here my questions as opposition I really think it's a good thing I'm just thinking about some of that and the diverse needs of students at that's why I asked about kind of regional differences assault at Nick and racial differences my last question is about an immigrant students who get some of that and the details in this bill that you would would include which I think it's helpful are not applicable to all immigrant students they don't qualify for a they don't they're not able to and professional licenses and some feel because I'm just wondering if you considered immigrant students and and how maybe to modify or include information that would be specific to their needs whether they're documented or undocumented sure can look at I'd like to get this up off the ground could add that in a later time I know we have a new career coaches so that's I think every year we come in here we modify thing so I'd be happy to look at next agency we can do it and that I know that I'm sure you're aware with that fifty percent of my students and dampened artilleryman great students so I'm happy to help those kids out there doing I see them thriving you know some and then we did help them happy to so that we won't look at it next session to be happy to thank you thank you. Robson Vaught thank you Mr chair and can I ask for Dr Markham to come to the end of the table. Your bank because I have a question for her I think that's right okay. Maria Markham division of higher education. And so I was under the understanding that you are already working on a website for this kind of like this one that you're looking at launching well it's not hi read it's actually a statewide websites call the ready for learn that I mentioned I believe that Department of information services will actually be coordinating the information that is there so it's going to be cross sector data education employment various sectors and that's something that that is under development can I have a follow up please. Is this something that we can incorporate some of her ideas into instead of have an. Is that something that instead of developing a whole new website is it something that you all can. Yeah I so I think that from the the beta versions that I've seen of the ready for alarm most of this information will be contain there I think there are some things and representative Bentley's bill that work plan to be there but we we can definitely add. To some of the components on ready for learn and can I have one more pretty place again and will it add to your can you tell me about how much you spent on the one that you're getting ready to launch I cannot that did not come out of Division pirates budget so I don't know what the what the cost is there I I think that we're actually using COVID funds for that to for the development so okay thank you Mr. All right I don't I don't have any other questions of the city of Robson Beck also you know. Okay I'll thank you. Okay so like you are on the side the best for last apparently The question I had actions Dr Martin might. It seems like the focus it in I'll let you to decide on this the it may be the focus of the websites are a little bit different like yours is more of a. I thought in a representative Bentley seems to be more of a. Focused on the student and says okay here the opportunities are better for years for you where's yours is maybe a little bit I'm not saying it's bad I'm just saying it's maybe it's a little broader and it's you know talk about Arkansas education opportunities in arts and job which might In my opinion I I like the idea of focusing on the student yeah and what the opportunities are for them because I agree representative Bentley said earlier I have people all the time that just when you talk to on their graduate what are you doing in that they that they don't really have that guidance and I I'm I'm not the only thing they are cancers aren't doing that they're job or whatever but I'd really like something after this is right here this is your opportunities this is the path that you can take so I mean the question I guess you have do you guys agree that maybe there I'm not saying there's room for two but I would actually say one focus more on the student would be the the better approach right I think that we have some existing resources that you know of a that would represent Bentley to talk about. She doesn't want to start over and I think that's we want to combine a lot of resources that are already available one to seven it's easily digestible for student so I think we probably are going to have some further conversations because we have a few existing websites that are focused on students we do some things with the economic securities report enter consumer information guide in our there are several things that we already produce that maybe we could package in a better way to provide for students and they're definitely some opportunities to leverage things that are going on in other areas of state government and not start over with and with a new website so maybe that is a conversation that that we probably need to have but I think I understand your intent and but maybe there's some still some work to do on really getting our arms around the resources that are already available and just making those work better for kids and families. The the other possibility might be that representative Bentley's would probably give you more of a financial footing outside a COVID of funding them to continue this thing on and in the years to come out of the city thank. That's a call right any other questions. Maybe. No other questions are. Anyone in the audience like to speak against the bill for the bill you for or against. The just for okay would like close the bill. Collins thank you for your time today I know that we all have a hard for kids to succeed Mr with the emphasis behind my bill and we can be happy to work with the department to make it I don't want to duplicate things but I think we need to make it towards updated every year there students are made aware of it every year and we can get our students successful so with that I'd appreciate a do pass did I hear you say you're going to do some amending on it yes we will do some amended twenty here in yeah something's need to add yes we'll make sure the committee knows a okay I do have a motion motion do pass representative fight. A discussion on the motion. Representative brown. I just wanna say I think this is an excellent idea to be able to take a two students of interest. And after use and help them think of careers that they might not otherwise think or to take into consideration what resources are available to them should they pursue a college degree right now or should they do a technical. Job and and percent and you know just really spell out those options for them and I really I really appreciate this legislation thank you. Representative Paul thank you Mr chair I too appreciate the legislation I think it's a great idea but I do want to encourage you to please work with the higher ed just so we don't have a bunch of competing websites that could actually have different information. That's contrary to what everyone is saying to the other does that make sense and so I hope that you'll work with them and and we'll try not to duplicate a lot of websites out there. All right we have to no words Scotian. All in favor say aye. The opposed no. Graduation to pressure bill. Is amended the other in. Yes Sir I'm a grandmother bill that's right all right you have a representative of you have Senator Ballinger bill SP three eighty nine. Okay I guess with me today I will let them introduce himself as well Senate bill three eighty notice for Senator Ballinger is built I'm bringing forward today or if you go ahead and do so if you're a into you with you be recognized talk. Lance Kinzer with first amendment partnership and thank you for allowing me to speak to the committee just really briefly first member partnership is a Group that works with some of the nation's largest faith communities with respect to matters of common concern especially relating to first amendment freedoms and for many people of faith and religious parents in general the long recognized legal right rights of parents and directing the education upbringing of their children is among their most cherished rights and the role of parents as important stakeholders in the education of their children is best recognized by its public schools through open communication and respect for the parental role that's really at the heart of SP three eighty nine which is the bill that essentially provides of its very limited scope bill it provides notice and opt out rates with respect to sex said sexual orientation gender identity instruction if that instruction includes items that are outside or not required by the Arkansas academic standards so to begin with this bill does not apply to any kind of instruction that falls under the Arkansas academic standards and that's something that Senator Ballinger worked with the Department of add on in formulating this bill the bill also does not apply to limit the ability of teachers to answer questions with respect to any of these issues that come up in class or to make reference to these matters in the context of other instructional items that may occur in so the bill is limited but what the bill does attempt to do is simply say it doesn't direct the light from hitting its district teacher a particular curriculum it also doesn't restrict their ability to teach any correctional they wish you it merely says that if the district makes a decision to teach in these areas outside of the requirements of the Arkansas outside academic standards and parents will be provided notice of that fact an opportunity to opt out our hope is that this bill will avoid controversy it will make parents feel as if they're not being caught by surprise in the kind. Thanks to the district decides to go down this line we do know based upon the the best data we have invested we have actually gathered by a group called the gay lesbian straight education network the does reports on each state and they said about eight percent of secondary students a couple years back in Arkansas were receiving what they call the fully integrated a curriculum that is in in a curriculum where instruction on sexual orientation gender identity was part of the instruction being received by students generally speaking those who favor fully integrated curriculum desire to see that curriculum across grade levels and subject areas and again this bill takes no position on whether school districts should do that or shouldn't do it merely says that if school districts choose to do so parents should be aware of that up front and provided opt out rates it's very consistent with the way that many many states have dealt with a sex ed curriculum over the years and so with respect to the committee's time all I'll stop there happy to answer any questions. Richard Murdoch you're recognized. Thank you chairman I just wanna make sure I understand. The you want this to be clearly defined prior to the use S. correct will to students you want parents to be notified about these particular subject matters versus math science or any other social studies the entity to my question is why. Because it does seem to be underlying purpose but I want to ask you a question to determine the truth to what I maybe the what I'm actually assuming so what is your purpose of why these subject matters versus any other subject matter that the parent could be concerned about social studies and math language specifically tell me why this yeah so what I begin by saying is that some states have taken the view that there should be just kind of a mass dump of information to parents about all curricular areas in advance and the concern is that sometimes too much information it is worse than no information in terms of the ability to process thirty seven states have determined that. Notice in advance an opt out or opt in rights with respect to particularly sensitive areas of instruction for example sex education should be provided should receive some sort of particularized focus so I would have no objection to a bill that said there should be some notice goes out to school districts about all curricular items so we do think specificity with respect to items of particular sensitivity like sex education or sexual orientation gender identity education meets a real need that we're hearing about from parents all over the country who at times see the curriculum comes home with the child that they weren't aware was going to be a provided to them they're concerned about that and they simply would have liked an opportunity to know up front so we think these areas are particularly sensitive there matters that parents I think understandably have concerns or would like advance notice of and so I think it's reasonable to make sure there's specific focus on those items follow please you're recognized representative Bentley answer in it And as you sit there for Senator Ballenger my my question becomes education so education is what we prefer to provide information to students in the form of of history and or data and door deal factors around a particular subject matter education does not say is consent to it is a you know this is a lifestyle or anything it's just education so why would we. Necessarily have to provide opting to opt outs for education education is information is is not a compelling of someone to do this be this is just education we educate in many areas in some of those areas are good bad or ugly but we still provide the information we give it to the students and we allow and we without commentary we give it to them at an informational says I guess my my my question is and my concern is that we're dictating. Two maybe dictating too much as to what we can do or what our students should be allowed to have for our state board of education are superintendents in a local school boards can even have the ability to do you know the authority they should have in prison this so what's what's the issue here with us providing education the information I appreciate your question representative Murdock I do I know your hearts for students in minus two I know and I'm not sure that my thoughts are if you look at the the very end of the bill this is outside of what are the state academic standards are so in this and academic standards we expect that to be taught to our students that they a representative Cozart just passed a bill to allow parents to see to be transparent what's being taught so parents can go and see this allows parents to see was going to be taught and these are areas that many of our parents and including myself sensitive areas we're just asking to be notified that these are going to be taught and allow them an option to save my students not any part of that so I think we don't either we want parents engaged I think sometimes we forget that parents are key parts are student's education to have the involved and engaged in this will make them I think feel better have a better relationship with their school board and with their with their up with the faculty so they can say you know this is this is an error we're gonna teach and you have an option Bruce did not to to attend if you'd like to I think it bridges's better communication and better outcomes for students if we work together on this as well so that's really what we're the heart of the matter is on that so yeah last quick could be real quick chairman we we wanna hear something a little bit about reading and and a little bit maybe today and reading is something that we think is fundamental but is taught in many ways and some people agree and disagree with how reading should even be taught so how far do we go with this this this sensitivity to information versus allowing those that we have we've given. The authority to if you will to present the information and we trusted them to do the best for children the educators my point being parents I'm a parent I could become swayed by the various things there's been read in the media social media today they can sway my thinking as a parent there's a reason why the professionals that are there to develop curricula are there in that we entrust it into the local school board to oversee them Xcerra. Don't we have a concern that we going too far with this not that you can't care but you entrusted you elected you selected people professionals to take to educate your children. Well I would say representative Murdock that not all educators are the same okay not all legislators the same we have some teachers that do a great job and I support a hundred ten percent but there are some that may just like to inflict their personal beliefs and to encourage things so I think that given the sensitive nature of this you know we can't you know we can also all educators are great they are a past majority of work so hard specialist co is that I cannot say how much I appreciate our educators but there are some that would use this opportunity to inflict their thought so my my my concerns for my parents to hear from a great deal that are concerned we're our country's going are concerned that our kids we need there to learn and these are outside again outside academic standards those within academic standards does not touch and I think we need good education for students all around these are things that are outside academic standards and that's why that was specifically worked out with the department of education thank you Robson got for. Thank you Mr chair thank you representative Bentley and. My first question you kind of answer because it was about represent Cozart bill that we passed about giving parents the opportunity to to opt out of learning materials I wasn't really sure why we need this and but really I guess my my main question is you mentioned that as being very narrowly tailored but to me I read the bill the bill is very broad in what parents would be required to inspect beforehand specifically materials I read that as you know any book in a library any website the student would utilize to do a research project especially but self selected research which is standards aligned to have to have students doing independent and self selected research activities and instruction of any kind that's very difficult to inspect beforehand and when that happens dynamically and and I'm kind of in the moment in the classroom I don't understand how parents are able to inspect an activity or inspect instruction before hand and that's something that that happens live in the classroom I'm is often modified based on student interest you need sentencing questions so I guess that's the question is do you do you see it as broad as and as income by saying aye I do to include materials which again would be any website a student could use any book in the library and any it says instruction of any kind so anything a teacher is doing are leading or facilitating that that would have to be provided to parents beforehand I don't even see how logistically that's possible that we let parents come read every library book see every possible instructional move a teacher can make I I don't understand so can you help me that would have brought it it seems to be written so the bill is narrow in the sense that it does not apply number one to any kind of materials curriculum activities or anything else that is linked directly to the academic standards it's also in. Narrow in that it provides specific exemptions for the kind of classroom conversation circumstance that you're contemplating so couple of hypotheticals you're in a government class and a student asked questions about Hey how does the the sexual orientation of one of the candidates how do we do you think that's affecting the democratic primaries the bill's very clear you don't have to say stop everything we need to go notify parents before we have this conversation rather in that free flowing conversation related to other curricular items that can occur life wise it's clear that if in the context of discussing a historical matter another matter of public concern the issue of sexual orientation or gender identity is necessary for contacting that conversation that's completely appropriate and not not restricted in any way the by the bill so the bill is narrow in the sense that there are a whole host of things that are are just not covered at all we're is broader is your question suggests is that we want to say once a school district makes a determination that we are going to have materials curriculum activities or other instruction that relate to sexual orientation gender identity then we do want parents of of the bill is drafted to at least receive notice up fried Hey we've made a determination to provide these kind of materials and hospice say to the the parents if you would like to review these it doesn't say you have to send everything home but if you would like to review these here's a process by which you can do it and then provides an opportunity for opt out rights and so the reality is that states all over the country have notice and opt out provisions are even opt in provisions with respect to sex that these kinds of processes we try not to be overly directive with respect to how local school districts will manage them they've got a lot of flexibility in determining what's. Reasonable but yes it there's a whole host of things impose things that it doesn't touch at all but in the areas that it does cover we simply ask for notice up front the determination has been made to provide this kind of instruction so narrow in one sense but I think you're you're you're right to say if it you know this would say if you're going to have an activity related to sexual orientation gender identity instruction you just provide notice of that in advance and then parents can decide do I want my child to participate in that or don't I want them to so that that's what I would answer the question at least. Resent five. Thank you Mr chair and please help me if I'm misunderstanding anything about the bill to me the three key words were outside academic standards so would this be if you were having at the school were having at a special Speaker come in for a special perhaps unit of study or something that is outside the academic standards in my reading that correctly that's right it's possible that school districts and we see this all over the country they choose to have a your curricular items specifically focused on and they may do it in the contacts of say a locally adopted anti bullying or anti bias curriculum is often times coached in those terms that don't link directly to the academic standards with the status established in the school district were to decide to do that then this would apply if it's a program along those lines that falls within the academic standards than the bill doesn't apply obviously there's reliance on good faith with respect to the school districts in terms of the way in which this would be implemented it's a very small bite it's a small out from our perspective in terms of just incorporating making sure parents are aware and have have some rights I think book legislature could watch and kind of see how it develops there may be need for adjustment but it's attempted not to be overly directive to the local school districts and to apply really where they make a determination to go beyond what the state's already requiring. President back. Thank you Mr chair thing that a lot of knowledge concerning this. My question is this if you have any information feedback related to this could the fact that the parents being notified baby notified of of where they can find this information that is being proposed with that is do you have a day that would show that the levy aided a parent's concerns is okay yeah I had a concern about some kind of sexual. Class or something like that but now I see the date I'm fine to go is that around that the information I have is really anecdotal in that regard and not data driven the reality is that because the implementation of this kind of curriculum is relatively new and quite candidly most states that have so the thirty seven states that have notice and opt in or opt out provisions with respect to sex that generally speaking don't include sexual orientation gender identity instruction in where notice an opportunity to opt out as provided and so states all over the country are having conversations about whether they should alter their existing notice and opt out rules Arkansas is a little bit unique because it's in the minority of states that haven't really set forth state standards but here's what we do here even in the context of a a recent item was in the news and the school district in Washington DC where they had a pre K. program where children were shown a video a cartoon that dealt with issues of sexual orientation gender identity in a way that many parents found concerning and a lot of the feedback around that was even parents who said Hey I'd be fine with my kids seeing this they didn't like. Kids coming home especially for young kids with a lot of questions and a lot of confusion without having some contacts for them as parents to place what occurred at school into and so our basic view is just this parents are critical stakeholders. Parents obviously do not get to dictate what the curriculum is for an entire school ultimately he we recognize parental rights in the sense that you can move your kid to a private school or home school or do all sorts of things but with respect to particularly sensitive issues the vast majority of states for many many years have said that giving some extra notice and some extra parental rights in these areas simply help school districts and parents work together better as opposed to having surprise create conflict that could otherwise be available but I I wish I had specific data for you but what I really have is just anecdotal evidence. President Murdock you're recognized good okay. All right seeing no other questions. I'll go to the audience anyone the audience like speak against the bill. For the bill. Would you like to close for your bill. Colleagues thank you again for your time I think this is a great bill to help parents and schools work together so I would with that I would really appreciate a good vote. All right what's will committee. We have a do pass motion from representative speaks all right discussion on the motion represent Murdock. Thank you chairman and. Thank you I resent Bentley and the gentleman is presenting represent fight help me a little bit I thank and trying to say this is outside of. Maybe what we call the educational pursuit I mean this is something supplemental that you would be concerned about and that makes some sense to me but my general concern about these type of bills is it in the commission of the state what they're doing sometimes people just follow people they just do things because of the people that don't is legislation is looking for reason looking for or just trendy you know I like for to be real and something that's truly defined in has been data driven and not just. The order of the day and that's what I'm concerned about with not just this but others but I I do respect the part about outside of the educational. You know weighed in in in that supplemental fees can get in my concern and reason why probably can't support is is because the box that we putting education in I mean so much of of what makes me. Thank you for that I am to be honest with you is the information that I've been allowed to receive C. and process it's not me being put in a box and I only get to see. Certain things I've only been expects supposed to serve thanks to all of that will make me part of it is not possible but I guess misuse properly but I think the grand total of it is what makes us us and what makes a person whole total and able to deal with. Things that they will be faced with in life as we try to put things in a box education my schooling gave me so much value ability to be able to do the things I mean to discern to see understand then make better decisions. But not in a box so my concern with these type of legislation is not that is not of this no I'm not concerned about. Safety in and the things that you annunci eight but I'm concerned about in general what we're doing with education with this so that's why I'm scared of this and I can't support it but would represent fight did help me because I think this is some good to this but I think overall of this is scary for me. President Lowery. Thank you Mr chairman. Your representative Murdock is exactly right sometimes people follow people and that's exactly the reason that this bill is needed is because we we want you know the the people the young people we want them following their parents and the parents or the final arbiter in the best arbiter of what information especially in this very narrow aspect that you're talking about that information should be coming from the parents those discussion should be taking place of under the direction and in in synthesis or conversation with with parents you know I I remember gosh decades ago was when the first time the phrase in regards to education the phrase change agents was being applied to teachers I don't think we had any idea at that time how Concerning disconcerting that would be because this these are specific areas where we do know that educators are being change agents. And frankly the parent should be the change agents and they should and all we're asking is for them to be able to have a review of that ability to review and then decide if they want their their child to opt down I'd especially appreciate the the the listing in there of parents being able to review surveys. Because we're talking about student data privacy at that point where you're asking students personal questions about their view points maybe even about the views of their family of their parents and parents should have the right to be able to review those questions are being asked and so I think this is a good bill I think it's very timely and I appreciate you bringing it force and I'll be voting for. Thank you any other discussion. Seeing none. All in favor say aye. All opposed no. Allies seven your past your bill thank you all right you committee I appreciate your time here is the next procedure I have a bill that I need to run is seventeen forty four that we're going to give the last bill the day is going to be Senator Clark's S. B. three forty nine so mine should be hopefully short if you all are nice to me. Questions your. Yes we're passing over five oh two and seventeen eighty three today. Represent Cozart you're recognized president house bill seventeen forty four thank you Mr chair and committee members this is a Clean up on a bill that I ran about two sessions ago on the US citizenship civics test and so basically what this did in two thousand eighteen two thousand nineteen in order to receive a high school diploma in a public school you had to Of. Take the citizenship test that test with one hundred questions at that time and you had to make at least you have to get sixty of them the Bill pass that that test is been expanded to a hundred and twenty eight questions now so all we're asking is striking the sixty and putting sixty percent which still would be the passing grade so that's basically all we're asking is just changing that language from sixty questions answered to sixty percent of the questions answered so I'll be glad to questions. Any questions from committee. President fight you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair why so low. It's just a passing grade. Barely barely that's correct yeah I mean you can't Slocum if they don't do pass yeah. Representative McKenzie thank you Mr chair just curious what do we require of the folks taking the citizenship test for immigrants you know a I do not know that a. We don't know six sixty okay and sixty also. Representative makes. This may be a little bit outside the scope but I'm wondering since we've been doing this for a couple of years and maybe we do this later but I'd be interested in a report to see how our kids or our students are doing on this test do you have any preliminary information I have no information like that is just clean up bill it is not trying to change any of the language. Any other questions from committee. Say none. Reserve that. Twenty one years thank you for the bill. Against the bill saying now we have a motion to pass representative back in discussion on the motion. I was closed. You're already close. All those in favor of the motion say aye. Close may. Graduation thank you Committee. Next up. Senate bill three forty nine representative Brooks to be presenting for. Senator Clark. Senator Clark and I want to stay at home I think this Sir Clark is coming back okay I think he assume that maybe the committee would give you a lot more grief than they did on your bill so. I was trying to by this time if you would have your guests to recognized herself and she's with that she will be. Yes that would have. Be able to talk I'm sorry. My name is adi eligible and I'm a reading advocate. All right you're recognized to present your bill thank you Mr chairman is Keith Brooks representative district thirty one here in Salina Pulaski County also like to invite the Secretary key to come up if that's okay. I think he's back there that is up to him. All I should ask him is that okay secretary. All right I guess we can. Or just not to come up I guess be read have a. So presenting that Senate bill three forty nine and police or Clark will be in here in in a moment I thank him for running that on the Senate side were passed unanimously central three forty nine a little background in two thousand seventeen this legislature passed the right to redeem act in two thousand nineteen is amended to require a list of specific programs that districts have to choose from primary reading time for children learning is kindergarten through second grade and that's what we focus on the science of reading about time yeah the state of Arkansas currently still has only about forty percent of our kids that are ready to read this laws intended to incentivize districts to get in line with the the legislation that was previously passed within our with our legislature gives opportunities for school districts to have more than two years so it doesn't go into effect until two thousand twenty three and twenty four school year so they have in excess of two school years to to comply with this legislation to ensure that the curriculum that is use in kindergarten through second grade complies with the rider for the the science of reading act that was passed additional portions the legislation looks set an education ombudsman which as we all know just a few weeks ago we pass our we we moved back the time which with which schools have to prepare for some of the prior legislation due to COVID which was was necessary obviously the ombudsman just given a chance to for the Department education to oversee insuring that all of the requirements of that within the legislation and without a week I think any questions. The start with the representative makes. I have two questions which okay Mr the the. The first one I have the first section of the bill talks about that or not going to allow the three queuing system model of reading can you tell us what that is and why we're not allowing so I always glad to defer to all the on top of the specific questions if that's okay. Yes that is a key component of balanced literacy it's a visual what method of learning to read instead of a phonics necessarily there five components reading the science of reading addresses all five components thoroughly and the way the the visual the three queuing system is shown to work for less than about half of the kids in this in for it to teach him how to read whereas the science of reading it showed up in the nineties to teach kids how to read so it's just that it's it's that's a theoretical model of teaching versus a scientific way of teaching reading the English language has a twenty six letters forty four sounds ninety five ways to write those sounds and it's about eighty four percent predictable but the way we have been teaching reading is it is basically a. follows go guessing game and it isn't is a systematic way the science of reading is a systematic way to teach reading versus the way that we have been. Okay And I thank I thought we mandated signs reading so I don't know why we need to out to outlaw that other one and then my other question is can you talk to us why we need this education on Bodmin what are they going to do that the Department already doesn't do or the Department can't do. What can address that first about mandating signs reading we did in two thousand seventeen and again in two thousand nineteen when that bill when the right to re legislation was changed it produced a list that the state maintains with the with the the science of reading programs because of multiple programs that the district can choose from. However we're in a very unique situation in the state of Arkansas we're we're about to get I think it's somewhere around thirty eight million dollars a grant money to buy curriculums and this is just an incentive to make sure that we are in line with the science of reading. And then the educational ombudsman. Perhaps the Commissioner key can speak on that I can also speak on it in that this ombudsman is a focused amount mainly on literacy and as you know the right to read legislation we just pushed it back due to the COVID in the in training restraint and that kind of stuff to show that teachers are. Proficient or aware of the signs of reading depending on their level of teaching with they teach K. through six or if they teach seven through twelve so this would basically be another set of hands working with the department to make sure that the state move that legislation forward and we can make that new deadline okay I'd be interested in hearing from the secretary at the appropriate time. He is on his way also. We will hear from him and then we'll. I move to the next. Jon Kate part of education. A representative makes you know since the first legislation on dyslexia was passed a decade or so ago one of the concerns from advocates as well as members of this body and and including myself when I was a member of this body they have concerns about the enforcement of the dyslexia laws and as those have as we've added to those laws regarding reading the the to to ensure that someone is out there monitoring the the the work and it's being done correctly and that they can intervene and appropriate way. Is it what we've had so far are specialists and specialists jobs the job is to support our districts it's not really to be a an enforcer you know they can go and point out things that may be a district to it is doing incorrectly or maybe where they are following the law and they could leave them or help them with support training whatever it may be but there's really not an enforcement to their not being from the Forsman agents then to write anyone up for a for any anything like that or compel them to do anything so I think the idea of Senator Clarke has had this written into this for the ombudsman which just just so you know at one point we were talking about two separate bills here we had in the Senate as originally filed there was a bill on the reading system and a separate bill on the embarrassment we requested the maybe they put the bill together and extend the date which Senate Clark was willing to do which is why we're supportive of the bill but This this will be an independent the ombudsman will be I mean just the nature of an ombudsman is some independence and they will bring that personal bring reports to me to the State Board as necessary so that any type of a next steps I can take place but we we are supportive of of this effort and as a matter fact to and personnel committee in the morning there's amendment should this pass and in preparation I think there's an amendment to add a position to our appropriation. Because I figure that'll be a question I would ask later I'll just go and get that one out away. All right. Robson got free. Thank you Mr chair in any of you can answer this I guess I want to know if it's your understanding that if the district is. Compliant with the science of reading meeting those requirements but also using a reading curriculum that utilizes queuing that visual cueing are queuing for meaning that that would that that's impossible it do you under it is that that if if you're using a curriculum that utilizes a queuing system is not automatically out of compliance with the science of reading yes okay follows. You're recognized and I'm just and again and if you can answer this can you talk to me about what you know about the science of reading pedagogy for English language learners. I would just like to. Audio law again but I would like to the only thing that I can tell you regarding that. Is this bill is dealing with K. through two so if we look at reading rights across the state we look at the state's largest. school district. There forty eight percent Hispanic and they're at thirty seven percent reading ready. And the closest one that I could find who that is the queen which is sixty one percent Hispanic and they are fifty percent reading ready the queen has got a reading ready growth rate of ten point we're Springdale has a reading reading ready growth rate of minus two over a three year period. The queen is used the science of reading for years. Versus Springdale does not. So those two districts are dealing with English language learners more that sell than any other district. Of representative we can see. Thank you Mr chairman and Representative Godfrey about one of my questions there but. I support the signs are reading a hundred percent and yet as I visited with folks after folks after folks over this over the weekend I try to get as many as I could from different viewpoints. I've got some problems with this bill some concerns so if if we're saying then you can't use this program may be this program here that utilizes these queuing. And they already have and I could I could get on board and I understand totally we mention the about. All these funds coming in we don't want you to purchase any anymore curriculum our Long come on this but to say if you've already got it and you can't use it at all is that the understanding and if so you're going to be in violation of this and and funds will be in jeopardy here's is this that the understanding here. Representive Senator Alan Clark for the record thank you of. You're alright if you're not using the science of reading already in violation. Of this part of the laws we've already passed as part of the rise program. The we've had that battle since two thousand thirteen we had it with higher education we've had it with local school districts started off with of a Bruce Westerman when he was the Majority Leader not been able to get bill out of this committee that we would use that we would have our teachers take a test coming out of college it actually change the tests that they were taking the the would include signs of reading on it. at the same time Senator Elliott was of carrying of bills which he did pass on dyslexia and I frankly thought at the time that. my superintendents were against that and I thought that was just a for some poor out liberal thing that just to. the. Put more things. or schools that were unnecessary. And I learned but I was very wrong. The as we went forward I begin to look for a between two thousand thirteen two thousand fifteen I talk to superintendents I talked to teachers. Of in the hundreds what is the most important thing we can do an education. For the least amount of money. What's this to change education in Arkansas for the better. And that swelling of I was contacted by RT that was not aware of the bill that of Bruce Westerman run didn't know within two to such a rating because that's all or. The. And. And I teamed up with Senator Elliott are in the bill that said that our teachers coming out of college would have to that rotates teach K. through six would have to take a test to show that they knew the science of reading she ran the bill that said that current teachers would have to be we would provide the retraining that's par the rise program. Of. Two so that they would have it and I have you talk about talking to people what whether I sit down and meetings with teachers of whether I'm calling parking lot I'm constantly of the caught by teachers who thanked me for the fact that they can teach kids to read I don't know but but from from teachers have been teaching close to twenty years the set I can now teach history that I never thought I could read. And sometimes with tears in their eyes to what is frustrating to have teachers who are just are new in the classroom St fresh out of college saying until I took this training I couldn't really teach kids to read. Of and I'm not saying the other doesn't work all of them work of in fact the the one that was named Waldo works for forty percent of kids very well which for flex our reading rates in the state of. But the science of reading works for ninety ninety five percent and dyslexics of. But we were not properly going for this Lexus but why not use a system that works for them when it works for ninety ninety five percent for everyone else and it is the science of reading. The as we move forward. With the rise in all these things we we put in law this is what you use because it works if you use it with fidelity it works and Stacy Smith does a great job of explaining it. You know I have won the best group of superintendents in the state of and one of those schools of. It made sure the Hey finagle to make sure that they got in on the first training they go on the best dyslexia program to anybody any larger school could pattern after them both on the reading and they're just sauntering there is like to a school that of frankly rude didn't want to go along at all they but they consistently are in the top improved schools in the state and K. through six rating because they are now. Drag it we've dragged him kicking and screaming. Of their and then two years ago I took the worst political beating of my life. When I said why do we send kids to school. What do we have public schools. Let's let's talk about that what we have public schools. Rich kids rich parents are going to educate their kids. Public schools are no I mean we're used to this idea but middle class parents are going to educate their kids with with a public schools or not so the fact is we have schools for poor kids. And so when we we talk about all the time and it's not true it's true that it is harder what you you look at what the party lines it is harder the higher the poverty line is but that's what we have schools. And if if why do we go to school consented to school if not to learn to read. And. The. So are in this bill but said that you know ever. Every two years as we do adequacy ever bill our system with this and says the gap that we were using what was called an SLA funds and is now a is seeing. We have so many other names but in SLA funds to close the gap that's the whole reason that that money existed between kids in poverty when the rest the kids and every year annual experience this if you attend the meetings if you're a part of that minority that really gets in there and dig some does the hard work of this committee. You'll be told that we close the gap. Zero. And I said if we're going to supply all this money. To close a gap what would do more to close a gap then to teach the kids to read why are we spending it for all kinds of other things some of them were good some of them were absolutely not. And I took a beating on that because of that I was contacted by a lot of schools mostly small and rule. Who said would you please just put this off two years it is two years now by the way. Would you please just put this off two years because we bought the wrong thing. And I said. So we're going to let kids not learn to read for another two years. But then I also want to eighty and I said what are we dependent on a curriculum specialist and every small school to try to figure this out when they're getting bombarded by vendors like I do as a supplier both all these different ideas why don't we since we we know what works and what doesn't work why don't we put out a list well we've never you know we don't want to get in to recommended one vendor over another into I said but we have to. We have to take politics out of it we have to come in here and say these work. And so that's why we have the list. That the schools can go by so that that so that every little school doesn't have to be an expert we have laws that this is how you'll do it we have a law that says because we had to pass a law to get it done we will all this so that we now have the list and now we're saying. Do what works this is already pointed out the difference between these two schools those who do it with fidelity. Takes a sauntering with fidelity that means that the teachers are trained that ministry onboard. It's working. And again up there is nothing to get a program that teaches forty percent of kids read very well teaches forty percent history very well. But that leaves sixty percent. And the the what we. Yeah I didn't intend to be here this morning because this battle should be over the science of reading is. Part of the basis of rise it's how we're gonna teach kids to read we know is that the Arkansas was one of the first although we're your Mississippi's way ahead of us and reading because they did it a few years before we did it but but but we are we are one the first with this this is happening now nation wide because it works and that's in this bill I have no pride in authorship because the department of education and the governor came in a completely rewrote my bill without my help and then I read it and said it's good. Of but of this is exactly what we need to do I hope I answered a question. Recognized. Thank you Mr chairman thank you so much senator Clark I I sherry your and commitment to literacy through the signs of reading I think it's absolutely vital for all learners I I think may my question is just kind of going back to secretary Keith comment that and these two types of instruction or completely mutually exclusive I just want to dig into that a little bit more because not I have experience at the. ESL teacher teacher of letters the of young students and I I remember so specifically at at a reading less than I did with that first grade English learner and I taught using a phonetic approach using sign to reading before it was signed in breeding talk it's not too gas taught kids to it to sound out and decode and deconstruct but this student you know read the words spoon in a Buck and sounded out this. nine and said spoon and but the man had no idea what the words meant he could sound it out phonetically but he's a language learner and didn't have meaning to attach to the sounds to construct the meaning of the word spoon and so my understanding of this bill is that a school could not intend them to complement the center reading instruction could not utilize an additional supplemental not not a replacement curriculum that a supplemental instructional program that would equip teachers to say you know what makes sense what makes sense based on the syntax of the sentence what makes sense based on visual cues of a picture of a spoon you know in in the picture back that's my understanding is that we can't you know train teachers to to use those queuing systems that would enhance constructing meaning of the word in this case plan we couldn't say you know what makes sense in this sentence what would you use in a to eat your ball of super what what do you see in the picture that helps you understand the word spin and I correct that we cannot even have a complimentary or supplemental instructional program that utilizes queuing. Represent Godfrey I can't. Overall you know I can't give you my expertise over the commissioners expertise but that was not my understanding my understanding was that you had to use the signs reading you had this have the science of reading but that you could use something else intent that was my understand I appreciate the clarification because that's not my understanding secretary he would you clarify. Board of my understanding your question was systems we're talking about K. two Your K. two programs of nothing will replace the knowledge and the experience of a teacher to use. His or her knowledge and experience to meet the needs of an individual state okay so that's the we're certainly not saying that. But the adopt a district adopting this these systems as their reading program that's what we're saying because that's what we had that's what we've had for twenty years maybe longer but and as has been well stated by Senator I think our results speak for themselves so we're not going to be Yeah and I and I Dr Kitty Pryde is here and she and her team have gone through extensively the reviewing the the programs that have been submitted the case to programs and others and and she could come up and and talk about it in a much more in depth way up at the pleasure of the chair and if and the members here but that she could talk about all the five components of how it works in the science of reading and how that is different than in the three queuing systems which only addresses a certain component of things so it at whatever point you want to hear from her she's here and prepared to speak to that. Of this get the questions of the way that will bring her up with the I think I've got three four more Roberson Murdock. Thank you this questions for the secretary on page three Lines six through nine eight clearly states that the this but it's been that will be hired cannot be a superintendent of former superintendent do you agree with that. We understand that the that that language is problematic for some groups of where we. What we're neutral on whether that stays in or out the premise overall premise of the bill is is solid but this was a we we didn't have this section this was a carryover from one of the previous bills and I would suggest maybe Senator Clark or others would speak to that more so than I would but as a whole the bill is is a solid what we have solutions speak about the yes. I mean well the other with it we have a signed up to speak about that I will go ahead yeah but Senator Clark but not my issue within the bill that's fine as photo to the you know special equivocation that were you given to representative there the art so I think we're okay with that but. And I know it's being utilized in several districts I'm aware of that that takes ages get in super tennis training that. But my point is the the the department has the ability should have the ability and I think have the ability to hire that person this is necessary for you to put state who they can't hide and sometimes we tend to exhibit gender can be great hires specifically with something of this nature that's very agree just to me that that's in this bill I mean that's messed up from my standpoint that messes up this bill why you have that in there. Senator Clark. A representative Murdock this. Not my authorship of the as I've said many many times I've been the best group of superintendents in the state I can think of many former superintendents that would be good. the but there was a feeling from the proponents of that often what is happening as as we were finding problems where kids are not being taught etcetera that they want somebody that was born that might be more an advocate and that might not be of as tied in to the establishment I don't. Again that's not mine. But place but that's what's in the bill is your bill it is my bill yes but you know how bills go represent Murdock they don't they don't but not everything comes strictly from you of and so again I would not have a problem means as I think the bill is fine the way it is I think there's lots of of good people and I think there's there's lots of places for former superintendents I have advocated that we have a a system where we take us some of our best former superintendents and pair them up with the some of our worst performing schools of because winners win and they could show some these others how to win but so I your point is well taken I think the bill is good at it the way it is but but I understand the objection I want to be on board. All right representative Beck. Europe. President back you have a question. Thank you Mr chairman. I will apologize to the group before us is question because I think I will take it down to. To a more simpler level. I'm somewhat confused if if the science of reading is a program that we're using in Arkansas. my initial question was going to be is I would this bill just eliminated all the choices down the one which is assigned to reading but not so my question is is it that is in fact the case of. What we do with this bill other than I mean you it seems like it'd be separatist site okay you will teach assigns rating if you do not to to signs reading the penalties that are in this bill could apply so it are there other pro I guess the first question is are there other programs that we would say yeah they're not to sign to reading but you're okay use cells and state of Arkansas. The science of reading is not one program there are programs that follow the science of reading and we have a list right now that has dozens of programs on the science of reading is a framework for how it's teaches the entire scope and sequence of the English language so it's not it's not a program it's a scientific body of how the human brain learns to read to process the written work thank you for taking the bail did that answer your question it is all that is not just one program if there's a bunch of programs that you can choose from representative speaks recognized. Thank you Mr chair. I don't know who I need to ask a question to but I want to know who's but who's going to fund this. The two positions who is and what budget is. They. It to read asked that gal the address there all right. This is this one position and it's okay we don't currently have in the department and as I mentioned earlier there's an amendment to the. Our budget that to is in committee tomorrow personnel committee tomorrow that adds this position to the eighty budget. Follow up. So this will not come from any of the schools budget then manage that they are receiving. No no this position will not okay okay I I would just go a bit further because this may be a question that comes up at some point. In the districts that may need to purchase new materials obviously I think it was mentioned that the districts that maybe had just recently purchased something they realize now Hey that's not on the list so what are we going to do obviously there is some some time that's built in here but I will say that districts through the S. R. three the latest American rescue plan funds and the answer to funds. Los learning is a big focus especially Bester three so we would surmise that districts that needed to purchase materials for loss learning for reading to help catch kids up you know that would be an opportunity for them to use some of those funds that they have until twenty twenty four to use them to to help them meet the requirements that for for getting up to speed okay thank you. President medics. Thank you Mr chair and represent speaks actually kind of touched on exactly what I was what I was thinking about my my concern is do we really need a full time permanent new position as an arm arms but it's been for said that correctly can we not distribute delegate these duties to existing staff is it's it but once it's in place it'll be fairly simple I just. That is that necessary we need a new. Well I I would I would say and I think of this is. The senator I don't need to speak for him on this but just the history of this issue has been. And I've I've asked the question of her the questions asked me why isn't the Department enforcing the dyslexia law why isn't the Department enforcing the the science reading and and what someone is asking when they ask that is one or two making a the district do what they're supposed to do. The existing staff that we have do a great job of providing professional development out there encouraging and and provide directing resources and all to the schools to help the train the teachers to help them understand the materials. But there but there's a big difference between enforcement and support and that's where it's been problematic and that if you become known as the enforcer of the dyslexia law in one district the district down the road is not going to call you to come help them with their dyslexia program because they're gonna be afraid that you're gonna. You know you're welcome with some something they're not doing right so that's been a challenge for the department and that's why we believe in retrospect we we at first we read this we thought well we don't really need this and then the more we thought about it in the agency the more we talked to Senator we realized this actually helps us fix a problem that we've had for decades. represent McKenzie. Thank you Mr. so just still learning here and I want to learn and I'm enjoying this just I'm trying to learn more from the teachers from the that that the Committee here and and the people here testifying what I want to get some clarity on because that help me a little bit here because as I visit with the folks and everyone told me of course there's the teaching the science of reading the question was supplementing conjunction that kind of thing when do we get out of compliance how strict is this because I took this is and and I think there's some confusion here how strict this application is yes we're all supposed to be teaching science of reading and I supported what my kids while they're beyond that I think it's great but when could you give me some clarity on when you're out of compliance. Anybody please. Representative of. The. First of all let me say that you know. I don't expect that anybody will ever have funds withheld of but a a law without teeth. Is a suggestion. And that's helped some of our schools not the vast majority the vast majority of we will you have that group that are always just jump in there and go after and then you have the ones the babies that come in behind them in a really and then you have the recalcitrant then this is only designed for the recalcitrant of those one I mean if you know Stacy Smith if you know that team they're not out there trying to punish anybody they're out there doing everything they can to hold hands to to teach to trying to get everybody up to speed and this the only thing this is designed for and I can for this I can speak for it because I work with them on these type of things and no the. The. It's just saying it because one thing that schools do understand this funding of for sure is it is you're going to have to it is the get them to come on board if they're trying if they're working in trying this is not coming after them in anyway of that is does that answer your question. Yes somewhat as I visited with folks it seems I think maybe that and maybe the confusion is you're logged into your but going back and forth that I'm still learning on this program I learned a lot as far as that it's not just one side there's a lot of different things that following this thank you for reading curricula earned a lot still have a lot to learn as I visit with folks and just ask their thoughts people who taught you know and everyone raved about the science of reading I didn't talk to anybody who had a problem with it they all thought it was a very good step in the right direction but I talked to some folks who had some you know I I said educate me on this this one here and that this whole system here this queuing system new Duolingo to me educate me on that And circle would say as much as I love signs reading there are a couple of good components that that that we found valuable and they seem to. To convey to me that they believe they could use that anymore they said I do miss that and I think with the ring the baby out with the bathwater as were a couple times again everyone I talked to on board resigned to reading there was a little bit of disco man I do miss this one component that with what I used occasionally with certain students it was helpful valuable and so that's where I think maybe I'm having a problem with it and maybe there's some confusion with teachers as far as what can and you cannot do. There's always a fear as you know when you put a bill out there and understandably so what what houses an expression in its cage now this going to affect us of I think as they communicate if they will with the department of education they will find out that that from what you said about on they have nothing to fear of this is about schools who said. We know we're using the wrong thing. and then the and schools who know their used Roth again at. As long as we're using science arenas as the framework on the bases anyway we can teach kids to read we want to teach kids to read we never want to lose our common sense and and if the Department education started doing that kind of thing they know I would be screaming as much about that is is I have about other things so of I think this just some fear and lack of communication because once they communicate if you any of you who know Stacey Smith the bill would not apply but she's passionate about and I'm so glad she's with us cause he's passionate about kids reading and she's passionate about the science of reading and she and her team will help schools in any way that they want help and if there different schools for different levels but wherever they are the part of education will do what they can and dog but someone you know is to catch kids the individual kids that they're having problems and also because we're we've got problems so that they can get it again that's not intended to punish either that's commencing Hey we've got a problem here how do we how do we correct it because we want every child in the state of Arkansas learn to read because once they learn to read the whole world is open up to. Mr chairman from a at what we're talking about here is the adoption of programs of instruction we're not talking about of what is a mention before what an individual teacher sees of age that a child needs that will work for that child and and that's where I would just again encourage that a doctor pride be able to come up because they've they've looked at all of the things that come in these packages are in these programs they reviewed programs from I don't have any vendors dozens and dozens of vendors and some of them say we're based on the science of reading when you dig into a little bit you find out okay not so much it's like when common core was adopted and everybody put a common core sticker on their textbooks to say we're aligned with common core well they weren't but it you know so and that's where we have to be able to help our districts will support them in making the right choices when they do select programs but I I really would encourage Mr chairman if you all if of this be right time you have to bring in the okay. Good morning give me pride this is a commission of learning services. So you just want me to address how the problem yes that is the question all right so primarily through our process of review of materials we were really focused on again as you talked about the theoretical model of the science of reading and I guess the best way to explain this may be that there are two parts there's word recognition and then there's language comprehension and so as we review these resources we were looking for those tenants within those sub skills with in each of those parts so you know I know you've heard people talking about biological wherein is the coding site where word recognition those sorts of things those are under word recognition and then we were looking in terms of language comprehension you're thinking about those things more about background knowledge vocabulary language comprehension verbal reasoning literacy knowledge cells types of things so as we look at these programs there may be some programs that may have a preponderance to use the three queuing system which means they're actually asking students to skip a word and come back to it that might be a prompt look at the picture and guess the word try word that could make sense and so it's not really reliable and as you know stop reading is multi faceted it happens over time and if we're using a theoretical model that over time is not as reliable for student they begin to get have big gaps so as we review those programs we're looking for those reliable strategies that are based in the science of reading it's all about how the brain connects the written word to the spoken word and so those are the things that we're looking for in terms of those programs and we indicated to school districts by component if if a certain program might have this program may be really strong in language comprehension however there is a prevalence to use balanced literacy in word recognition and so I district we need to supplement word record right recognition and we have supplemental programs honor list we have the. Court programs who would have a preponderance of using the science of reading for both parts of skilled reading which again is word recognition and language comprehension so our list does have those strong core programs that would include both of those facets of reading we have supplementals in case districts needed to supplement a piece of that and we also have of course you know intervention programs dyslexia programs. I have two questions left on the previous list represent got for you're recognized for another question thank you Mr chair and thank you so much for the explanation I'm wondering if you can just clarifies for me a little bit to represent mackenzie's points and then we talked about earlier if the district is creating their own curriculum their own program of instruction for literacy and have found ways to utilize the science of reading but also and being intentional to integrate best practices of science and reading within a program or a kind of a methodology that utilises queuing is that in violation of this law. Senate district created. Curriculum or distributed program instruction that finds ways to to kind of Mary the to instructional models. So I just wanna make sure initially question so you're asking if the district has sold in this law this is about the purchase of curricular materials so you know in terms of being in violation of it be if they purchased a program after the twenty one school year it would have to be from our list and grounded in the science of reading so that's the language in the law so I guess I want to make sure I understand your question is that I guess I didn't see anything about purchase I only see use a program of instruction and and some districts create their own program Mister of instruction they write their own curriculum and are not purchasing at by a particular person so this goes back to the law is currently on the books that if they do not choose a program that is on the list they have to submit justification to the Department. Dr price team will review that justification at that point so to say it we can't sit here today and say they will or won't be in violation of the law because there is a process to go through thank you. Rustler you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair at Elland I guess I just direct this back to up Senator Clark of I know it appeared that you were kind of walking back from your support of the language about not hiring a superintendent but I am but I want to I mean look specifically at what the home but it's been would be doing that maybe it would have been years since the superintendent actually done that which would be working with an individual student if there was permission from the parent is that not any an important part of this bill is that that but it's been is actually a reading specialist and that they could work with teachers but they also could if given permission they could work with with students individually is that correct. Correct then again again I have been never helped create a position that I had any idea who that person might be I always stay completely out of that but. We're hoping that it's The superintendent general or not literally literary specialist generally you know. That's not the training and that's who we hold. In this ombudsman position that it that is somebody who really that has a real understanding and and let me say we certainly did not eliminate teachers. Yeah the in this position of and and again as you put things together that mop if it just been me personally as a tolls replica Murdock I wouldn't eliminate superintendents but we did not eliminate teachers and but we're hoping the in a direction sometimes. Sometimes things tend to go in a specific direction. and the and I think again proponents didn't again they won't be sure that somebody who's really pursuing the literacy aspect of and specializes in that area. Just a brief follow up okay reprieve yep and I would just advocate that you not give up ground on that because I mean I understand that you don't want to do that we don't want to limit to we might be hiring but. Yeah we're Thomas sentence very critical very hands on me to boots on the ground me we've all heard the research that if the child's not reading at grade level by the fourth grade they're never going to catch up and that's really what is created so much more problem even we get to secondary schools is that you can't go back and teach that child to read it if they've not gain those skills early on well that's a that's a boots on the ground a hands on job that. You know maybe it's like I said maybe it's been a law you're one of the things that to the advantage of the superintendent is that they've had years of service okay at various levels maybe as a teacher and then a sister principal and a principal and the superintendent but because of those years is it not the case that it probably may have been decade a decade at least since they've actually worked individually with the student absolutely okay thank you I think to your point representa Lowery if I may the goal of of the ombudsman is to have someone who is a subject matter expert in literacy because our rates are so egregious and so challenging and that's not something that any of us disagree on that our goal is to make sure that moving forward we do what's right for the kids of the state of Arkansas and so it's best as we see it to have someone who has spent a career within that specialty not not that a superintendent hasn't done that but as you said a lot of times they may be removed from a by someone who is current within the science of reading current within all the the the be important advances that are made in teaching how kids how to read and that that is that is what their area of expertise is. And an ombudsman. If if you get a true ombudsman whether it be an education where the B. DCFS whether it be a new services wherever it may be a true ombudsman the whole idea is that they're independent and we so you will want to create somebody who is independent. From the education system but yet they can be very helpful there and could. and again with the literacy background I would hope for when you look at what we're trying to create here. Okay just remind everyone we stop testimony at twelve. We go into closing so we have four minutes. To do it we have two more listed up represent Murdock. You're a. Okay Sir chair and I really hate to belabor this point but it I just think it's absolutely ludicrous that we make a predetermined decision that a former superintendent who could be a little rivers passes everything that you're talking about they could have that ability and the secretary of education and the eighty can make that determination that you that person I'm not saying it has to be but you're saying it can't be. That is not that makes no sense because that person can be everything that you describe everything that you're describing but is it has to be you're saying it can't be that's terribly egregious. Was it a question. That was for debate of representative Paul let's have a motion at a proper time. I have to wait to we have a motion and everybody's done so I have still have testimony from others out in the bill so if we're through with this one we will go to the against and I have a son the two different groups let's hear from Mike Hernandez. All right of my commanders from the administrator sociais Haitian and so Get it here to testify against the bill and and honestly the bill is is is. For the most part really good you know we do take issue with the section related to the ombudsman of you know. Sir Clark commented earlier about the that he thought the the science reading battles over in it in fact is you know we are very supportive of the science of reading and it's taken a lot of work to get there and and my former work history of been working across the state trying to make sure that districts do implement the science of reading of working alongside people like Stacy Smith and and give any pride in trying to do that work and for us in order for us to move forward together you know I believe that that this language that that strikes out even a person like myself or any superintendent that has may have experience in doing some of those things is basically left out of it even being considered for a position like that and so I think that that's I think that is kind of a slap in the face to to administrators that that might be interested and and also kind of puts a wage in between you know district superintendents who are charged to lead this work and implementation of science of reading Sir Clark also commented that there were no teeth in in the current language and and I would say that if districts are following the law which is been been on the books for awhile there is a mechanism for district gets found to be in standards violation which can require removal the superintendent or removal of the school board so so with that you know we are appreciative of the ombudsman position we think it's a good position can help mitigate some of the issues that we all know or are in common and you know we want to be part of that solution But would prefer that that that language be be taken out thank you. Any questions. Seeing none. Thank you hello anyone like to speak for the bill in the committee audience all right next up then we'll be. Lindup a little. Correct. My name is Linda it'll I'm an instructional specialist at Springdale public schools I've been in this position for seven years I was a classroom teacher for twenty five years before that. Before I get started with my prepared remarks I want to set the record straight Springdale schools is using science of reading principles in their instruction. I want every committee person here to note that Springdale schools is all in on science of reading. we have diligently complied with the right to read act and see great value in this work we developed a thirty six hour professional development to train all of our teachers our teachers were enthusiastic about the science of reading principles and have really embraced them. In addition to this additional thirty six hours we are supporting our teachers with building level PD as we speak. So that our teachers have the tools to fully implement science of reading principles in their daily instruction. We are seeing the results of this work every day in our K. through five classrooms there is exemplary direct instruction in phonics and phonology in all K. through five classrooms and we are continually providing resources to support our teachers in this endeavor. In the twenty seventeen twenty eighteen school year we adopted a correct a curriculum a reading curriculum we thought fully chose this curriculum because it offered structured systematic and explicit lessons on the skills and strategies of proficient readers. We have devoted a lot of time energy and dollars in this endeavor the passage of this bill will not allow us to continue to use this curriculum. This reading curriculum teaches fluency vocabulary and comprehension none of which are in conflict with signs of reading principles. There are some lessons in the K. to curriculum which rely on the components of the queuing system we understand and appreciate the concerns of the queuing system we are currently reviewing all the lessons in our curriculum and we are making changes to those lessons to be in compliance with science of reading. For example there is a great unit in kindergarten in which students learn that they have super powers they have reading super powers one of the super powers in the curriculum is that students have picture power using the picture to help you understand the taxed this is not aligned with our state's vision of the science of reading instead our teachers have been teaching students that one of their super powers you sound power using the sounds of letters to to code words. We want to keep everything in our reading curriculum that still aligns with the science of reading structured systematic explicit instruction that spirals through the grade levels intense strategy instruction in the habits and skills of proficient readers targeted feedback targeted small group instruction and very importantly for many of our students and spring dell supports for English language learners. Our curriculum is so much more than the queuing system. It has been a joy for me to sit and PLC's across our District and listen to teachers plan lessons since they have had the science of reading training they're looking at standards they're looking at curriculum they're analyzing data and opening up their science of reading binders to check their notes making sure to deliver the best possible learning for all students in their class this is a big deal we know through the work of many researchers that teacher efficacy. Their confidence in their ability to promote student learning can positively impact success for students. Our teachers have had so much professional development and coaching in the science of reading that their concerns they are extremely confident in their abilities to promote student success. Passage of this bill will certainly result in a loss of this efficacy as we will need to start from square one with the new curriculum. It is also been a joy for me to watch the learning in classrooms all over our district I have listened to a first grade student using phonics skills to do co tricky words. And then during interactive read aloud discuss how at first they thought the character was mean but as they read on they realize the character was scared and just seem to mean. It is not in the interest of our students to stop this meaningful work. This curriculum was initially chosen because we saw that it got results this was confirmed by the well respected American institute of research which review this curriculum. What I am respectfully asking you to do today is to not go forward with this bill. This bill would stop the positive forward momentum that we are growing in spring Dale school schools it's a process we know from research that it takes four to six years to to have a good implementation we're asking you to honor and respect our commitment to this process and to not give up on us or our students in Springdale why we are making sure that all of our students can learn thank you for your time. Have questions I do have a question. So I you mention you're a spring to a curriculum specialist so I'm assuming you're an employee of the school district is that that's correct that's correct so my question is are you down here. On paid time off. A personal day okay so so so you so you came down as a as a private citizen to testify on the bill yes okay all right awesome thank you. Sharks rectified. Thank you Mr chair a. Okay you for your. This is this is a whole new thing for me would would this mission whether the. Is there any way that your curriculum can be adapted we are continuing we are adopting it we are we are fully adopting it we are keeping all the good parts and we are making sure that everything we're doing aligns with the science of reading principles so it would not cause you to lose all the money that you've invested correctly where to obtain it's more important than the money is the training that our teachers have had their confidence in using this program we know that confidence is really really important to student learning thank you. Any other questions. Thank you ma'am. All right I have no one else signed up for or against it is a one in the audience for or against seeing none. What's the will of committee. Representive all. I have a motion of do pass. When you get a of different motion. I have a motion to do pass what's the discussion on the motion all right reserved Godfrey will start off the thank you Mr chairman thank you colleagues I worked with Linda at all for the three years I was a curriculum specialist in Springdale and know that she is completely committed to student achievement to research based instructional practices into the science of reading itself I I know that and professionally and personally with her my opposition to the bill obviously at that a representative Springdale and is that it does seem to you know to read and and and I'm not sure that I got you know certain clarification today that spring does curriculum even to represent a fight the point that it could be adopted in and could be integrated and aligned with the science of reading that there you know instructional materials of that particular curriculum would no longer be permissible and I just think that that. It just goes too far in an instance where there is such great work being done such great progress such great thoughtfulness to integrate good practices of literacy with the science of reading I just I hate for for all of that good work all that awful intentional work and to to be undone again I and I worked to Linda I have very high expectations for quality curriculum quality instruction believe wholeheartedly in the science of reading I just I worry that this is too limiting and and excludes some of the good work that's being done to find ways to integrate other models and and programs with the same to reading and so I will be voting NO. I apologize to the sponsors I did I give you chance oppose someone back up if you don't mind the committee and give you a chance for brief closing because we are way past our time and we do leave here at twelve fifteen. So representative of senator Clark I know you guys you have less than four minutes to close thank you Mr. The. Whether we teach our kids to read or not my kids know how to read. The. Well I said I have won the best group of shipment and state I'm a big fan of of doctor Hernandez's. My cousin. Of suave as an educator. they got hold of me but three years ago. And the member the exact time and they had a child young child who hated school did want to go to school and they didn't know what to do. Beside themselves and the child couldn't read. Third grade I think. And. I contacted the she said do you know anybody can help and I said I think I may and I contacted audion already big big can the help Billman of they thought they were making great progress. sometime later it turned out they were making progress and when they finally got the hearing. it turned out that the course we already knew he had dyslexia at that point but it turned out that the. The what was being used to Fortner lex the selection for him that the school had a letter from those folks saying. That it wouldn't help him. Yet they continued. The this is not a bad school overall we have these problems too often. But this wouldn't help him. All he had to go in and fight as we have to do so many times across the state. Finally had to follow up and finally all the parents as they paid for a different curriculum or will pay for that all they asked was that their son be able to use a room that wasn't being used to access the internet because they did have the good internet access at home. And they weren't allowed that and so finally had to follow lawsuit. In order that their son my cousin mother sent educator. Could learn to read in the state of Arkansas and this is not uncommon enforce a talked about all the good ones I didn't want to talk about the bad ones. Superintendents have lots of jobs. That they. can apply for. It won't hurt to have one that they don't. We want to stay away from a good Ole boy system. For the ombudsman the independent person. Doesn't want to go against the local school district. Although they're not following the rules under follow the law and they're not teaching the kid to read we shouldn't have to be following lawsuits. This is a very simple bill but just says you need to follow all the Lucy Calkins and spring Bills using did not apply to be part of the curriculum didn't apply for them to even look at it because they know it does not have enough for the elements of science of reading. To qualify. That's what's not on the list not because it's not even been turned down they don't even apply. there for their free to apply. But we're either going to exercise to reading or not going to societal reading reading on two seconds are you know we're not going to stick his rate and if someone wants to kill bill because of one little part. Again. I know what you to close quickly we'll talk about it again in two years and we'll see where your kids are. All right it's close the bill we still have a motion to do pass correct with motion do pass of since we're out of time I'm going to suspend the discussion with or had some and we're gonna go straight to a vote. All in favor say aye thank you pose no. seven. Thank you Mr chair thank you members of the committee thank you for you guys for hanging in there and of we are adjourned.