Education Committee- House

Today we probably will try not to go too long I know the ladies some of the ladies have to leave eleven forty five is that sound right. That's that's thirty minutes to get up the stairs. Hollar slow. Is Your organizer might talk to them. Hello never mind. All right of. Anyway we'll get started I get going here Rosa Penzo you're recognized to take the seat there and he's gonna incurred of. Runs best B. two eighty seven. And you have anybody is going to speak with you I have one listed is a they're going to give you information or just come talk for after. thank you Mr I'd like for and yet none yet to join me okay. Okay let's go ahead and have the introduce yourself my name is a non UK Bangor and I am a senior at but no west high school incident in Arkansas all right thank you so you're recognized to present. Thank you Mr Senate bill two eighty seven amends the eligibility requirements for the Arkansas governor's scholars program and the Arkansas high technical technology scholarship program currently the scholarships are available to U. citizens and green card holders this bill adds to additional categories students that are here under the compact of free association to the Marshallese students we have in Arkansas and also federal for minus seven six six work permit holders or they're the children of those of work permit holders. Amid the vegetation estimates to students will be affected in this cycle of the deadline for the scholarships is March first that's that's what they're trying to rush it to the the Senate get it over to us so we can actually have it to the governor's desk and signed Monday if it obviously passes the house so um we're kind of in a rush to get this through the students of work toward to meet the requirements and I believe they deserve the scholarship so all that Gnagna say few words. thank you chairman and committee members for providing me the opportunity to speak in front of you today as you know I'm a senior I've and the west high school and cents in Arkansas I have been attending Arkansas schools since kindergarten and I wish to continue my higher education at the university of Arkansas I have worked hard to earn a thirty four on my ACT at qualifying me for the governor scholarship. Not score was a result of numerous hours doing practice tests learning dist different concepts as well as the use of a few Saturdays to take the actual test. And I am a student dedicated to my studies and I have I believe that I have earned the governor's scholarship by all academic measures and with the support of the committee I would be I would have the opportunity to apply for and receive the scholarship just like my fellow peers thank you and I'd be happy to answer any questions. Yeah read a question. All right any questions. represent doctor. Thank you Mister chair and thank you for your story in your good parking represented pens that thank you so much for bringing this bill I'm in full support I did just might ask why and eligibility was limited to I A. seven sixty six work permit holders and not other work permit holders like I seven sixty five. The I believe the I. seven six six requirements cage The the majority of the individuals that would be. the need to apply for the scholarship amend I'm not I'm not sure what and that requirement would do differently. Thank you I seven sixty five would include daca students and they're excluded from this version of the bill but. Was that intentional exclusion I don't think that's accurate. It's my understanding that all of the residents would be the all Republican residents would be included in this bill Senator Hester if you want to shed light on that you're welcome to come by that may just be my misunderstanding I apologize and thank you for the clarification thank session okay one which is bill that I just if you need to do so. All right any other questions. Seeing no other questions I have of it okay. M. okay I have nobody else signed up to speak against or for the bill I just make sure there anyone in the audience would like to speak against the bill for the bill. Russian Lowery of motion. Motion to pass motion by the represent Lowery do pass is there any discussion on that motion. Senate fight. I would like to commend and non yeah for coming today And speaking so eloquently and being so diligent in her studies and such a great asset to the state of Arkansas. Thank you Representative of a site. Right and the upstart Rosa Beck you have something Wilson number nobody anybody else. Okay. All right of see no more discussion all those in favor say aye. He opposed no graduations your pastor bill. Thank you Committee. Members next on our agenda is house bill forty sixty four represent Cozart you're recognized to present your bill. Mister Speaker I have a sector key here if I need some help you with if you say okay I would like him to join me I believe are here so. Johnny case secretary of education you're recognized. All right. Committee this is a. A bill that we had some discussion about a couple weeks ago something similar in path from represented Lowery that was was that he had and we talked about this bill and he ran a bill that failed and what you know not trying to be belittling here but Iran twelve thirty one so this is kind of some information to help try to. Help people when they have those problems with with things like that so this is an act to are to add Arkansas Code a provision forty an opportunity to challenge structural materials and associated events and activities. Of the problem means to which parents or legal guardians my influence curriculum instructional materials and events and activities supplemental to instruction with public school district administration local public school district board of directors. Public school district board of directors has a power and is required to approve and select curriculum so The rights of the parent legal guardian a person having a lawful control of a student. To inspect what they're gonna be taught upon request of any instructional materials used in addition in the educational curriculum there's procedure for granting a person of this subdivision reasonable access to destruction material with a reasonable period of time after public school district's sees a request for that so it's opportunity to challenge or express concerns over structural materials and events of activities associated with classroom instruction. The procedure established in this subdivision shall provide an opportunity to appeal the appropriateness of instruction material vents and activities they would bill that to the not limited to but to the principal district superintendent board of directors however the the school district also the border shall make the final decision of that appeal and you can retain deal with whether or not they wanted to of listen to what you want to say and and what you want to do they retain the challenge destruction Terrel and a whole or in part because they can make that decision and limited availability of that material so they can maintain modify or cancel or challenge correction in a classroom of interactivity and so the the primary consideration determine the program this in this material with the or the event. Associated with it is structural material. Activity social classroom and I'm skipping over some words to this account link the because it is misleading factually incorrect or otherwise inappropriate for the intended education. That is kind of the gist of this bill it just lets the parents have that option to challenge anything that their kids that they see is inappropriate for their Students that they are raising so. The sector keep. Thank you Mr chairman. If you when we were discussing the the some previous bills in this committee it was apparent that that there is the need okay parents and caregivers people who are responsible for their they're raising and care of their students are also responsible for their education you know is it responsible we don't just turn over students to our schools and say here you go do whatever. The partnership between the parents and educators is absolutely necessary this reinforces bill reinforces that partnership the the notion that as parent can can challenge materials like this it's already established the Arkansas school boards association has a model policy of that is is drip derived from far but actually of federal law but what this does is put it into the State contacts and actually codifies it as it makes gives a little more strength than just a model policy it does go a little bit further in that it does include the activities and events that sometimes could be I'll give an example are we had a coach Lauren was history is a history teacher and Mountain Home junior high of one my students came through he did an event every year that was a reenactment of a battle of the American revolution and they had students that were the red coats and they dressed up and they got uniforms and and how made the Devices real whatever they need drums whatever was flutes fives they did. and then you had the the. The Wary of colonials with no uniforms maybe if you officers but it was a fun event but it was an event that if if if you know if a parent wanted to challenge that or understand it coach C. would actually take the time to do that well that's something that all parents in all states the schools in the state should have that opportunity to do and if there's something that is found that is incorrect that is objectionable that is otherwise inappropriate then this could be handled at the local level that's where it needs to be handled in the opinion of the department and that's why we brought this to the chairs of the committees to say there is something that we can do to help protect on these types of issues doesn't single out any type of anything in particular any curriculum in particular or any thing like to sixteen nineteen project but it does provide that Avenue that parents can have at the local level to deal with these type situations so the department's fully in favor of this bill. Full entertain any questions if we can thank thank you represent Cozart record represent Lowery you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair what I what I saw an early draft of this it was submitted to me is something that I might carry instead of the. Twelve eighteen twelve thirty one one one of the concerns I had was that it that draft listed timelines that is the principal had five days and then at the parent wasn't satisfied they would go to the superintendent the superintendent had five anyway there was a total of fifteen days three school weeks where the parent though they might have complained or they may have expressed concern they really didn't get any resolution I don't see this bill whether are those time lines what do you anticipate would be would it be immediate resolution or attempt to resolve. I'm sorry I'm a site partially that you know is that sometimes if it goes to the school board to make a decision is going to be every month that that happens and so that would have to happen usually a school board sets or gender fourteen days prior to a to a board meeting so it went to a principle that would be if it was handled on a personal level office handles superintendent level that it could probably be as immediate as I could hand here and it's and that I can't speak for them but there is no timeline in here but it goes to the board of directors that can be a little more lengthy sure I'm father like that about right okay recognized does does the bill actually provide for decisions to resolution to be made by the principal or the superintendent rather than having to go all the way to the school board. Well it in the section see one of the few would start with your personal which is normal anyway anytime you have any kind of a disagreement with something you always start of the principal level a particular level level I'm sorry I just admitted that yes okay okay I have another line of questioning but I'll just go back in the queue there are no others of ask questions so you may proceed okay really. Be back Argento your is this and and I've had this conversation you know at. Representative because are you know that there have been issues over the last probably eighteen months or concerns about activities at the Arkansas school for math and science and I've spoken with the U. of a folks who oversee that and I've asked in the question of they consider themselves a SMS A. A. K. twelve public school subject to all of the K. twelve provisions or they feel like they're under higher ed provisions that indicated to be that since they are educating secondary school students that they would be subject. Does this apply also to a estimates say. Not sure about that but they do they are governed by our in. not K. twelve. So I can't really say we're going to find out. I believe that we do not I look at a as soon as a as a public school because they are not organized under the Public School structure they are organized under the auspices of U. of a system is so where they there are some similarities parallels they're not under the authority of of the board of Arkansas state board of education. Follows Mr. But it is possible that this this bill could be crafted or re crafted in a way that would all actually include that because we are we are talking about students who they're not adults they still you know their parents still have control over them and this frankly that school is even more concerned because the parents are not able to see the kids on a daily basis and to be able to talk with them about what happened you know it's being a residential school is that something that you would consider. Well you know we we we believe in The importance of parental authority in these situations and in that case can pull their students out. And return them to their local school district so I mean I I think it is different and and I don't know how we would fit them into this without Creating some other issues but what we'd like to get this one passed in and if we want to explore that we we can but I just think that trying to add them it It treat them as a public school in this circumstance would be problematic and ultimately if a if the parent disagrees with what's going on there then they can remove their still okay well I have an upcoming conversation with Dr Bob and I'll ask him if he would actually look at this and see how they can incorporate it into their policy so that would be something they would have to do because I really do not fit into the K. twelve sign up they are so and you know they're not in my district but they're in my town so I understand thank you thank you very much thank you Mr percent of back you're recognized thank you Mr and I apologize this may be in here and I missed it or didn't say. Yeah we've had incidents this is were different topics where superintendent do something school board didn't know anything about it and things went on for a while and didn't. Get resolved and sell is there something in this that would assure that. You know that it can't just hit a road block of one person well that's that's normal in any instance you have in a school you start at usually like what I always did start of teachers might that my kids were doing something or whatever something I was concerned about I will talk to the teacher and if that didn't work we went to the principal so if you get that roadblock you go up to the superintendent and that's actually what protocol is on their for their manual that's the best way you step up if you do not have that look you can call board president and you can ask for to be heard from the school board so you can you don't hit a roadblock goal you get completely to the school board and if you don't get it there have you if you've totally passed all your bills and I guess you go up to the Department of it so. Yeah I mean I understand that but going. German Cozart correct that you know we we we we refers parents often back to the district because. We're not the first line of of communication and sometimes parents think well I'm just going to go to the department and we send them back to. Principal local superintendent local board. If they do run into roadblocks on which this for any other issue that is a matter of equity or matter of the district is not following academic standards or standards for accreditation then that is when we would engage in that process and make an inquiry to the school or to the district follow it up I apologize I did make my question very clear I'm not so much concerned as to not getting the decision that I wanted the parent again decision I want to I'm more concerned with the school board not knowing that the principal has received four complaints about this and they didn't know anything about it to be like some kind of a mechanism that was okay once this is requested it should be required to register talk about a different bill this does nothing to do that so Represented back for six years I've been trying to figure out how to how to. You know keep that from happening and and it does but it happens it happens and we know what happens but so no there's nothing in this bill it's going to make that not happen. We hope it doesn't happen. All right thank you representa McKenzie recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman I am. Represent represent back hit my question but I want to expand on that are explored a little bit more. If I understand this correctly because I was one as I look at that I understand that you sorry I all over the place I understand and obviously that we want the chain of command and we discussed this but in an instance where maybe it is a short term little two week project time is of the essence I understand this correctly yet we've laid this out principal superintendents board of directors. Order directors has the final approval but for instance if the teacher excuse me if the parent Blake but the before the teacher. Feels like you know I'm I'm gonna I'll address I'll let you know we don't we don't we don't they don't get. Quick satisfaction or answer back they go to the principal and there's the delay there's nothing in here either in this law really in practice that prevents a parent from at least reaching out to school board member not for them to act individually but this that I did want to let you know that I have got this in front of the the the teacher and the principal or the and I feel like it's not moving and I want to give you a heads up there's nothing in this law or practice that present prevents that is that correct that's correct and and actually there's probably quite a few of the center that serves all school boards and I did it for ten years like Amazon and I heard from parents all the time that they had a concern and I said have you went through this process and most of us like what process you know I still go get your kids handbook and it but it's the process and a lot of don't understand at once the place started that process there still not have any I got a lot of calls and so I would always you know I hate to you don't mention it but I would always call superintendents I listen I've had a concern from a parent but I think you need to probably be aware that this is coming down the pike so a lot of times it happened so that's the best I can describe that there is no law no the legislation it really helps you make that any faster. Sir Murdock you're recognized. You're good represent love. Thank you Mr Secretary key who usually refuse the the instructional instructional material. The teachers are using. At a local level. Yes. Well it is the responsibility of the school board to approve curriculum and days so part of what they submit US district submits every year to the Department is a an assurance that that they have follow the law and and done all those things now does that does that mean they get into the nitty the dig details no typically there's a curriculum committee or instructional committees at the schools that review and identify and develop curriculum but as far as adoption for the district that is the responsibility of the the state of the local school board okay so would they not have already. Actually been taken the steps as far as not as uniformed appropriateness and. Not necessarily because there could be things that teachers bring and I mean you know it's if you don't you don't have just a static document that teachers use teachers shift they they make changes through the course to do things that that inspire and and and engage our students and it might be different depending on the that particular class so that group of kids you have I said no it it's not necessarily going to be everything at the beginning of the year that or in the summer that you're going to look at and say okay everything we're gonna do is here in this package tied up neatly with a bow there could be things that happen through the course of the year things that brought get brought in guest speakers that get rowdy I mean there are a lot of things that that can happen in a school that's not necessarily a part of the the pre approved correctional. Okay within follow Mr Cher could this producer chilling effect then. One on the creativity of teachers and in the educational process I don't expect that it will this thank said this some some a version of this policy has been in Arkansas school board association model policy first the number of years now as to the inspection making materials available to to state our to our parents the this doesn't in intend and I don't think it will have any impact on the creativity. Tivity needs to be aligned with state standards. Thank you. Fred I like your deep deep thought after you hear those. Correct onus. There's no other questions from the committee. judge close for your bill. Well. Yes I would like close from a bill I thank you for this like I said this is been model policy from the school board association and we're just bringing that up and caught a few notice was ever codified so we'll make that into something actually a little more teeth to it if it's needed it's been used for years and up the process has been used for years so we just wanna make sure that we can make sure that people are out there know about it so with saying that I would to make a motion for do pass. The motion to past chairmen Cozart on house bill fourteen sixty four. With the wishes the committee. Discussion. C. K. thank you Mr. I of I like the concept of this You're putting more power into the hands appearance courses already there you know I remember my first term first maybe two first two terms I sat next to represented Charles Armstrong who had been a little rock school board member and every time a conversation would come up about whether charter schools have an unfair advantage or whatever and he would lean into me and he'd say you know if we had the same level of parental involvement at our public schools as we seem to have a charter schools. We really would have zero problems my concern is whether there is that activism by appearance how the hell did they know how is it communicated to them that they have that rights I mean the there's nothing in here that says that a memo is going to be sent to parents so that they know that that is the case I think the lag times or a potential problem as well but I think this is a good first step towards being able to to put more power into the hands of the ultimate local control richer parents I wish that there was something in here that would give the parent especially since there is that lag time it possible potential lead time and decision making that it would give the parent the right to to have their student opt out of the activity until a final determination been may so maybe down the line that might be something that could be considered but I like the concept of it not I will be voting for. Any other discussion on the motion. C. number vote on the motion all those in favor the motion say aye. Pose may. Is haven't graduations represent Cozart pastor bill. next on the agenda house bill thirteen eighty nine represented Bragg you're recognized Senator Bill. I'd like to call a state forester Joe fox here to. Thank you Mr chair the purpose this bill is is to encourage Our students to pursue a degree in and forestry in and to create a mechanism to to increase and sustain the you know the supply forces in Arkansas. Just a little bit of background you know the force industry over the years is has been somewhat cyclical sense sometimes there's major cycles and you know there's ups and downs in markets but you know in the early seventies you know there was uh the big bubble curve of baby boomers moving through the house you know the the system and housing was increasing and jobs were increasing and and you know the force industry was increasing sawmills were being built plywood mills paper mills to you know sustain the demand mainly driven by by housing and over the years it it kinda level out you know and and and their worst against cycles within that period but for the most part it was the kind of leveled out and then if you remember in the in the two thousand two thousand six seven eight you know the housing bubble burst and the forest industry was was just almost really really severely hurt devastated and in some areas you know sawmill shutdown paper mills you know the jobs did just disappeared and for center city some of the major landowners were or fracturing up their ownership so you know kinda led to a decrease in in an employment you know the market conditions well now that we're we're seeing a rebound this is not a bone but it is a rebound and the industry's growing housing is coming back but that big bubble of a baby boomers is is moving out of the job market just like any industry to every industry is experiencing you know this and so it's it's left up a shortage of of foresters and and so this bill is intended to to increase interest and and for sure curriculum and and for sure careers is fairly simple straightforward it's it's a scholarship be managed by the division of forestry in the department of agriculture by. Chiclet of full time you know freshman state will enter a state supported you know an institution of higher learning they'll be enrolled in a force or program that is accredited by the society of American foresters which is a standard accreditation program for just about all forestry schools and it's pretty basic submit a application application be reviewed in and approved There is there is a memorandum of understanding with the School for sure university Monticello that they'll work in conjunction with the division of agriculture to help develop the application and in the process and and work through you know developing the specific rules and and methodology for that so That's that's kind of where we stand on on this it's it's like say it's fairly straightforward funding is in place were not axing for any additional funding Arkansas forestry association is is fully behind this and and they represent for the specific forest industry and and know the the job shortages that are occurring now but I'll ask our state forester Joe fox to if he wants to the tail you know some of the funding and and some of the jobs situation facing them Mr foster interdisciplinary with you're recognized by. Certainly Joe fox in the State Farm stir which makes me the Director of the forestry division Arkansas department of agriculture. Currently we have fifty one fifty two forester positions in our agency we have seven vacancies today a lot of that's come from retirement but but that we've we've learned I think it came out of Mississippi State University but for every bachelor's graduate Forrester in America today there's three jobs at least three jobs S. estimation and we're finding it very difficult to have qualified applicants for our jobs we also do not have the authority to spend our funds on scholarships so basically this bills asking for that authority for the forestry division to create a scholarship that we anticipate would be four thousand dollars a semester for one student for each year to attract new students into forestry careers will provide internships during their I love this word matriculation in and but we're not going to promise him a job on coming out because we really don't have that authority to the promise of the job. However if we can if we can raise all the votes in forestry consultants need foresters industry needs far stirs government needs foresters there is a dearth when when I graduated from North Carolina state in nineteen seventy three I was in a class of thirty three forestry students five of us had jobs at graduation at my job because came back to the family lumber business here in Arkansas and it's been that way for several decades until as as a Representative Bragg Told this the best flip flopped and now now it's three jobs for every graduate far so it's an attempt in our small way to to have a program to attract students into the forestry program and training great a bachelor degree foresters so it would cost us what we have for students in the in the queue each and one in each grade that the thirty two thousand dollars a year for the forestry division we we sell timber from the poison springs state for our state every year. Have the lowest year I remember on proceeds was four hundred thousand dollars so we we intend to use proceeds from timber sales and poison springs state forest to cover the thirty two thousand it should not be a problem at all. Mr box is that something you can continue to do every year apportioned Springs yes it would do this is a stable we're we're we're certified by the sustainable forestry initiative and so we have third party audits on our sustainability but on owner cut let's have some management that you do on that front it's a demonstration farms for forestry management right. All right we are ready for questions. The sure represented makes you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman of well as the only state agency that actually has a physical presence in my district I definitely support this and and what you're doing however I've got two questions first off it sounds like this scholarship is going to go to one student per year how are you gonna pick that one student what. We we have a imho you with universe of Arkansas at Monticello the I think it's a school of natural resources and forestry agriculture now. And with them we will we will choose a student they have they have certain scholarship criteria we're gonna do it here to that it'll be of choice in partnership with you AM and so we'll go we'll go down to Monticello and interview students that sort of thing okay not the the second question I have is and I think you've already answered this but the way the bills drafted it says that the funding for the scholarships shall consist of moneys received and deposited into the state forestry fund under code section fifteen thirty one want to wait that are equal to the cost of the the scholarship is that the transfer of money that the poison springs transfer money that's where the proceeds from those timber sales goes we also put proceeds from our Baulkham a seedling nursery sales into that fund and that's all that fun cannot be used for personnel cost so can't can't pay for any pay rolled out of that fund but we can't pay for equipment like builders and trucks and things like that all right thank you thank Mr. Resolute you're recognized for a question thank you Mister chair Mister Meeks S. not my question in regards to fund and sent thank you for explaining that But number two now are are we just talking about one scholarship is this or you come a multiple scholarships for students we're talking about one student per grade per year one freshmen one sophomore won junior so for me so Rep for for scholarships at a time okay in and also is there a fund it is there a shortage the industry shortage around the state of Arkansas there there is a shortage went when I said there are three jobs for every bachelor degree graduate Forrester that's all the jobs and that's not it's not so government industry consultants we are all having trouble finding applicants for foresters okay so I'm going to express a concern that are always express express that during Dr clown and I'm express it now. because I didn't see anywhere where there is no obligation for if you get the scholarship that you stay in Arkansas you practice in Arkansas and I'm going to continue to express that because I feel like if taxpayers are paying this money in the industry is paying this money in the State of Arkansas that the student should have an obligation to stay and serve in Arkansas and so represent a break I'm going to express it again I'm express it every time somebody comes up here in regards to a scholarship there. We should have a component of the taxpayers of Arkansas are paying and for scholarships that the students should. Actually have a some sort of cross the stated she would you will serve the state of Arkansas for certain period of time and so I'm I'm going to express that can you speak to that yeah I understand that let me let me just speak from personal experience generally and and I'm I'm saying generally Forster's generally want to stay in this state you know where they are where they're from I recruited over my career ever created you know Forster's from Texas Louisiana Alabama Mississippi Georgia And. Most of them the response as well I had rather stay in my state you know then then come to Arkansas was nothing negative about Arkansas but they they it's just a general feeling among you know for sure they they generally want to stay in their state now we have hired over the years graduates from you know Alabama Georgia and they'll locate here but eventually they'll try to make their way back to the state so we didn't want to just you know put it specifically in here but I'm I'm just saying from from experience I don't think that's going to be of a big issue here I understand your concern but just historically that that's not a real big issue okay thank you I mean I'm in full support of the scholarship allowance me of direct fax you know we've talked over the years so I'm in support of it but I'll just have a very strong. concerned in regards to scholarship funding and that so thank you thank you for your thank you for the explanation and a Representative love we we worry about our ability to promise a job at the end of a four year period we we really I'd have to to put something that they would have to work for the division of forestry for two years upon graduation will today I can't say that I can employ you in twenty twenty five I don't know what our situation is going to be and that's why that's not in your we considered it for the bill but we decided that we couldn't promise that we could employ them in our agency. Resid love if you put restrictions like that the the school that represent Lowery now referring to all go to math and science school of those that's a pretty good cost to the taxpayers of Arkansas in those schools those kids have no limitation to where they can go after they leave here. Anywhere in a lot of them do so amended the star put restrictions on we got it out to everybody that is taking state money would be tough it is tough and it's and and you're limited to where they can go and work what they want to do so I mean even though you're give it to a forestry degree but there's four streets across the you know a place most of Martha St hell if they're if they're doing it that way but you never know so it's hard to limit that Representative conceivably have questions. Thank you Mr charges wondering along this line of questioning of the bulk of the the students in our forestry programs are they Arkansas students we have many transfers. We will there are multiple state Representative but the bulk of them are our Kansans. Are there any other questions. Represent Becky recognized. The apologize for not. Bring this solve the scholarship could go to an out of state students. Scholarship could go to an out of state student yes. They're not excluded if that's what you mean. And Forster's ten to go back to their state. That that's true. All right. Roeselare in question. Max let just wait for the comment period I really don't have a question. Razorback that happens in the. Veterinarian and dental all the time we will go out of state to get those degrees and come back so any other questions from committee. All right I don't believe I have anybody signed up to speak for or against all asked the audience is three one against the builder for the bill. Seeing none would you like to close for your bill. I'm close I'd recommend motion to pass a motion to pass Have discussion time refer Lowery recognized. I just wanna make a brief comment a in agreement with represent of love knows so he's going to retract twenty is a retract what he said yes yes he was distracted in the record but it is a great concern we we do spend a lot of money in a lot of programs you at the The chair mention AS MSA we spend a great deal of money on the get the Arkansas governor's school identifying Arkansas's best and brightest and and my concern because we is that we've asked these questions before that really neither one of those schools track where the students end up going to college but we know that a lot of them go out of state what would be very helpful would be if they would track them beyond their college experience to see if they do come back to the state I think that would give us a lot more confidence in what we're doing that I just you know it's referred to as brain drain you know that we get the best and brightest we give them opportunity and we and we wanted to have the best opportunity but we would like for them to be able to use that opportunity here in Arkansas and so I you know I just hope that we would start doing a better job of tracking students long term to see if they actually do take these opportunities and then come back to the state so but I support this bill. Russian back you're recognized. Thank you. I do support this bill but but I think that. We should look at the possibility of limited to Arkansas students because I and I I don't know this but they're very welcome the other states that have the same program that are limited to those states so that would. DO tended to brings a student here that by represented brags What what represent rag said would actually lead the state they'd come the state they'd be educated they go right back to the home state because that's or Forster's on the state so we should we should consider that but I will be supporting the bill. You know I've got it I've got to say something I probably shouldn't but my wife does not stick my foot in my mouth all the time but we provide scholarships for students to come play football baseball basketball from other states all the time they can get their degree and go right back health and so you know it I don't think you should limit it to anybody I think if the Forster was coming here take our forestry classes and and have that chance of them stay in Arkansas once again hear the love it especially from Texas your elected by Texas. That's just my two cents on this discussion so anybody else have anything on this question. Seeing none with that said all in favor say aye. He opposed no congratulations you're patched your bill. We're going to skip over represent Lowery for right now thank. Yeah really wanted this here that building yeah. Well I know you did he is going to probably present a little bit of that later on if we have time he's not going to run it today but just give me some information on it so we'll we'll skip over I think we've moved thirteen eighty seven to deferred so you can take that one off your list right now rips incluir. Europe next to fourteen forty five. Do you have anybody with you at all I'm. Anybody. All of you don't have anybody else. Regular Representative district twenty six and shame roadway with a issue system all right Joel recognized. Let's say simple was have a simple bill house that. How many of you know what a board of visitors is. Got two and a half plans. I am a board of visitors. Let me explain. I was a governor a governor appointee trustee to the college of the washer toss Board. The process we aligned with the a issue system the A. issue system has a governor appointed board of trustees so now you have. Two layers of governor appointed trustees. In a world of academia there's a term called the board of visitors which they never seem to quite can tell me what that means so let me explain it from a board member perspective we are the local advisory board all of our agenda meetings all of our board meetings are conducted in the same way that we conducted before except for we we passed something we use the word recommended. So what this does is when our terms expire is a board of visitors the board of visitors no longer needs to be appointed by the governor they can be pointed by a local recommendation with the approval of the governor appointee board of trustees of the system. Consent anybody. That's all this all this bill does he really have a question. Good bill that would be no questions. Resume correct. Can't get off the hook that easy right. So I just wanna make sure I understand this so that the board of visitors isn't Advisory Council to the board of trustees and what we're doing is we're telling the board of trustees that they can pick their devices are. Yes Is that in a nutshell that is and that was currently in this the case if a community college joined a system it was not the case if a technical college join the system that's a discussion for a later date it will clean up. Some nineteen ninety language we need to clean up so this clarifies that epic technical college joins a system then the board of trustees within appoint the board of visitors not together and and this was in talking with concert with the governor's office obviously they don't there's a lot of board of visitors and it's it's a lot more appointments that they would have to deal with so it's just easier to do it this way which handled by the systems themselves so this just adds technical colleges to the community colleges if the joint system. The person got for thank you Mr just a quick question I understand that the who is appointed as changing but also looks like and that board can also determined the term the length of terms in the qualifications do you anticipate any. Large changes from what's currently in code or is that just giving permission to that what is his permission that would probably still have family members you have so we probably still have seven it would rotate off twenty year every seven years and one thing I will say is part of our discussion in the merger agreement and and the philosophy of doctor Welch in our system board is nothing goes to our board of trustees that is not going through if it's an issue an issue Three Rivers or Newport or Mountain Home or BB whoever it is anything that's going to our board of trustees first goes through the board of visitors before it goes to our trusty so that we have that local input and any decision that are system level board what like but I don't anticipate any changes to that structure thank you thank you subject. All right seeing no more. Your question. Several of. Thank you Mr chair Mr Broadway I'm a direct this question to you because you are striking out a lot of language yes I'm going to go down the line when she struck out and see possessed the qualifications under subsection C. of this section what we're. Since subsection C. is not on here what would qualifications what what what we strive. The. Particular in particular I don't see why you want to strive maybe the governor's piece because it is kind of a laborious for them to to be doing this. I don't know about the sermon is seven years no that's here and there but possess the qualifications under subsection fifteen right and that's why would you why would you not want them to possess those same qualifications because we will establish our own qualifications it will be similar you just don't need and co because a gun is no longer doing the appointing that was the language for the governor to give the governor's office direction on the appointees they would have to make since the gunners not only making those appointees will spur will establish our own criteria but like I said a Representative is that is that each each time on the cheek H. system would. Your board of trustees would establish the yes so that would just be a issue and you have a system they have their own Board of Istres for rich mountain for Pulaski tech they will do the same So they have their own. Criteria for who they appoint okay thank you. Any other questions. Seeing none. The one the audience speak for. Against. Hearing none was like close the bill yes Sir we're close for the. Close to bill a discussion on the bill. Seeing none all in favor say aye. You both know graduation depression bill thank you Sir. Of. I made a made a motion. I thought he made it so we'll let you have wonderful. But only when nobody else this. All right. I don't know if we want to skip over Scott's for. Reginald Gonzales is that is he still hung up public health care okay we'll we'll skip over him in a minute we still got one more front of mind he said held for Tuesday will be here okay I wanted to see that all right to represent Scott you like to take in the table. The Bill waiting patiently. Do I bring her up right now you may you may if you want to have a go ahead and do it yourself so she could speak when she gets ready. Good morning Jamie Scott state Representative house district thirty seven. I believe the Rayleigh former foster care. Okay good morning house bill fourteen sixty two is a bill that was tracked it to in my opinion assist a bonobo population and our two and four year colleges. Do we need to adopt the amendment. We have and I don't have an amendment. As engrossed I guess so if it's engrossed or good you can go sorry okay so the amendment that was sent over was by the Department of few services so this bill is. Sorry. I worked at a college for five years prior to my current position and when I was there I saw students who I was a first generation student but I saw another vulnerable population that needed advocates and assistance that probably wasn't there as some of our colleges and when I speak about that I'm talking about a foster care kids or kids who age recently aged out of foster care homeless students because there are some college students experienced homelessness and that also directly connects to food insecurity among start on our college campuses so this bill will give administrators at our local colleges the opportunity to assign someone who is among its current staff it would be no additional costs to this to label someone a liaison for foster care kids who've recently come out of foster care or kids who they have identified who are experienced experiencing homelessness I sent this bill to cease to Arkansas tech Arkansas state you see a Senator Sturch so that he could share with the college in his area and I shared it with president smothers president green at shorter college in my district there's no known opposition to this bill I know that some people as I've had some conversations with some of you some people don't really understand or realize that we do have a homeless population on our colleges but I just saw that first hand when I worked at an institution and as a first generation student college with overwhelming for me and so I can only. Imagine the barriers that the students have I felt like I had support because a she was just an amazing institution I kind of stepped up and saw that I needed to add additional support but I think this is something very simple that we can do that if I college sees the need is not mandatory it's only if the caller sees the need and I see that this population is amongst the current students and with that I will pass it over to miss Elise who is a student at Arkansas Baptist college that idea at work at five years she's a former student thank you might need to move your mask because I could barely hear while ago if she doesn't mind okay. Good morning committee. Name is listed rightly I am the first to graduate in my family I grew up in the foster care system from age nine to nineteen on Throughout the foster care system a. Always told of the sixty six percent of foster children will end up dead or in the jail system after one year of aging out of the system. So. Is that allow the to play my head as a child I decided to take the path to go to college as I arrived on the college campus I didn't realize you know what I was getting into I had so many friends that have family members has sisters mothers and so many people that was involved in their lives and I was on the other side when it was time to go home and vacation time from school to split I don't have anywhere to go or what I have and want to turn to so in the back of my mind I still remember it them saying the sixty six percent of all situation we end up dead or in jail a year later so I continue going to school with the second semester I decided to drop out and I was like this isn't for me because I don't have the support system so when I read this bill and I was looking at the fact that implementing liaisons I thought about my nextel the second semester at that job that I joined the United States Army as I to go to the army and at the time I still doubt I don't have a support system so I found a liaison in the unit United States Army and it liaison is the one that pushed me to keep going to push me keep going I joined the military join ROTC program they had a liaison but it in in the regular school system when I had other friends that was in the foster care system I'm the only one out of probably ten to fifteen to end up doing something with their lives the end up dead or in jail just like they told of the that the system will allow us to do that the only thing that we could do. I joined the military I went on to the offices that in which I want to be a second lieutenant in the United States Army. I was then told again that I cannot do it why because you were a former foster care pollution I serve my country deploy eight I graduated from Arkansas Baptist. Top in my class four point oh went back to school graduated from Philander top of my class four point I'll. In the and now I am now in school getting my PhD in clinical psychology because I want to be that also check out they can relay a message to the the foster kids that you can do whatever you want whatever you put your mind to and don't allow whatever you go to or the system to tell you this sixty six percent of those would not make it. So my goal is to keep a Pat in Palo involves the use that you can do it after the system and when that this bill. It is touched my heart I've been I've been wanting to you know create a bill like this and so come in contact with Jamie after what twelve years. Amazing. So I hope you guys. Consider this bill because it is well needed it's so many children to grow up in the foster care system you would never know my peers I run into people out of work with in my business my employees they like all my god I would never thought that you have grown up in the foster care system because I chose the path to to do something and not become a part of the sixty six percent. And I just wanna add that we included financial aid in this application on me in the bill because to me that's probably one of the greatest hurdles that a student who's coming out of foster care or experiencing homelessness would have challenges with it on a college campus so specifically the liaison might not be like counseling them but they would be the point person that showing them where the resources are on a campus in providing them assistance with the financial aid and with that I would I'm open to answering any questions from the committee. Person fight you're recognized. Thank you and I love the intent of this bill and thank you so much for your comments that's just really encouraging inspiring to all of us I'm just wondering I have called numerous colleges on behalf of the constituent or someone with a question and most of them seem to already have a position of this nature are they at least have an academic adviser assigned to students would it be possible for us to hear sent from someone from higher ed and I just don't want to. Duplicate something that we already have you can ask them if they would like to say anything to would you Miss Markham would you have anything to add to that. Hello I'm Maria Markham director of the division of higher education I think that it's just important that this bill is permissive only so it's not requiring institutions to may expend any funds or employee someone so many colleges have already taken the initiative to assign a liaison or have someone on their campus to takes care of of of various special populations foster former foster youth being one of those so I really I don't see a mandate here I just see maybe some encouragement for institutions to take a look at how their resources are allocated to be sure that these students are taking care of. Any questions for market your record last do you have any idea Dr Markham how many of our schools do not have someone who would be doing this already. I doubt I do not have that information I think I could pull our institutions to see if they have assigned this responsibility to an existing staff if that no that's not necessary I'm just just concerned about duplicating efforts thank you. Per person make sure recognized. Thank you Mr house I ask Representative Scott but I'll I'll ask you a doctor Markham you might be in a better position to to answer this first off to the young lady at the table I want to applaud you as a fellow veteran thank you for your service to to our country and I think most of my colleagues here understand that my brother has adopted a foster students I've been through foster care training and done respite care so I definitely Appreciate what the intent of it what we're trying to do here but it sounds like based upon what you've talked about it being provoked it almost sounds like this is superlative that it's not really necessary because it's something that's already being done something they can already be done you know the universities have liaisons to high school or. So. In looking at passing I'm not which I'm not against the bill but in the in the practical world is it really going to do anything different I mean we pass it will feel great about it but five years from now is a really gonna be any difference because we passed this. The question for me yes at. To me that the the Bill Sensipar there's really there's no this doesn't correct anything so there's a there's no restriction at this point for institutions to participate in this type of activity so no with this more for it the way I read the bill it's more permissive encourages institutions to consider this but it doesn't require or mandate any type of activity so so essentially the the bill superlative basically does nothing except act as an encouragement and and your mind. With that be a correct characterization I don't want to speak for the the sponsor on that but that's the way I understand it yes. The represented speak you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair course of financial aid going to come from that you're speaking out of here. There's not financially but it's listed in the bill so that someone can at fifteen with the hurdles that financial aid applications and just to answer a question I don't know if this is the answer that might answer some of your questions Arkansas tech since I have introduced this bill have told me how they're going to implement this position amongst their current staff so it really is just an encouragement if colleges have this population on their campuses and they don't have the position none of the colleges that I talked to that I mentioned when I said I sent them my bills have this current position I don't know if the numbers from all our two and four year colleges but the colleges that I did mention and I sent the bill to just to get their feedback none of them have this current position at some of those colleges service five to ten thousand students. Thank you. No other questions. Anyone in the audience who would like to speak for. Or against the bill. R. nine herbs of Scott ready clothes for your bill. I think I've I've said everything I need to say and I appreciate you coming to testify I just. I just wanna be advocate for the kids who sometimes don't have a voice. Every school isn't doing it that's why they make it mandatory because I wanted the schools to have the option if I sign the fort and so with that I would appreciate your support on house bill fourteen sixty two. Represented Scott is closed for the bill motion by Representative ought to pass. All those in favor the bill say aye. Opposed nay. Is have it graduation pastor bill thank you. All right to. This is someone here run SP seventy two for starches which. The. R. is deferred okay we'll put it on the for please. The what one. Hello everything else. This page sorry. Yes that's be one twenty four is next. Evans is running that take them to the table please. If you have a bill on the forward that you are planning on running if you look at the back of that I know we have some of our members here that have have those and represent would see your represent workers in Rome in a still has one up moved you to depart because it said on the agenda for a while so when you get ready just let me know will pull that up the dude it's a police today and a half before. The Representative you're recognized he was chairman chair will and all the like to and stay Smith requirement please join me at the table. Thank you Smith Arkansas department of ed. Create to the spirit willing to come to table what really believe this is probably the simplest bill today and then will will need her expertise but if so I'm glad to have her here college what what this does is is is really simply five things and and most all of this is clean up first thing is on page one line twenty eight were removing the beginning with the twenty two thousand three two thousand four school year obviously because that data is already past also Page one line thirty four thirty five removing the October one deadline of one district must submit their statement of assurance we're doing that because that is already in the accreditation standards that have to be followed by the schools just look at the language clean up their page on page two line ten through thirteen so the Department is actually who develops the standards but the standards are approved by the state board of education toward changing that language to reflect that is developed by there's the but is actually approved because that reflects more appropriately what state board role is the fourth thing is just highlighting that in the cases of this credit of this curriculum that is that the department shall be the one that takes actions authorized under the accreditation when a district fails to align the content of each class we talked about this earlier represent Cozart bill this puts that on its upon the Department and then the final thing on page two line eleven and not that I think is a very important point as well is changing the date of which student assessments must be scored and returned to the school district from July one to August one just giving that extra thirty days anyone that is work within the school systems know that once spring assessment is done kids tend to have a vacation on their mind. And so what this does is allows a little bit length your time of instruction in preparing for those assessments and then gives that time. On the backside to be able to get that assessment scoring information back to the schools and be happy to answer any questions. Russia Lowery you're recognized. Thank you for a bring this bill especially that last part because I know the number of US of it may be anecdotal but we still hear from parents who say you know the students finished the end of term and now we're being told be sure to send reading materials or pillows or whatever so they can watch videos for the last two or three weeks and so so this bill actually does put in place the ability to change I understand with ACT you'll have to change the contract is that correct. Yes it allows us to test later and their four ACT wouldn't have to return the scores to S. R. ACT aspire would have returned a score stress until August first right now we start testing as early in early April because we have to have the test in a mop haven't scored and be back by July one so this allows us to push this testing back back into health and to make okay later good and follow up Mr so in that will enable a baby is several more weeks of preparation for the students to be able to take the the end of term test absolutely yeah great thank you very much thank Mr. Thank you look at the time a lot of that when you think about especially this year were school started two weeks later due to pandemic pushing that first semester over into January and then I mean it just seems like we just kind of got started back to school and out spring break there's obviously during that week of spring break there some fall off and by forcing to have that ACT in early April really shortens that window of being able to get the students built back up and ready for that testing so this allows us to push that back a little bit change that date for to build another thirty days and there. Russian got for you're recognized thank you Mr chair Dr says with with this also affect the open to anyone assessment only see two as far. No I can impact all assessment great thank you. Are any other questions. Seeing none. Three one the audience like speak for. Against. Would you like to close for you build closer bill motion to pass I have a motion of do pass a discussion on this bill seeing none all in favor say aye. All opposed no resolution pastor bill. I have a Senate bill one twenty nine that I'm going to run for Senator English want to see I know very little bit this bill so I'm gonna come to the table what miss Markham help me with this so. Mr cheer I'll let you have it again. Represent Cozart you're recognized to present Senate bill one twenty nine and a half century English thank you and I ask the Spartak of the table with me in a letter in addition. Maria Markham director the Division of higher it. All right this is centering wishes bill and like I said she just been the bill Gerald are for so many years she just calls that run this bill for me so I I really don't know a lot about it and so I'm just going to turn this to us Dr Martin Luther. Thank you this is a pretty simple clean up bill for our private Kerr Education Division it was absorbed into division of higher read during transformation and all we have done here is eliminate some duplications of effort the arbitration panel is no longer necessary because the career ed Advisory Board now here's all of those of those complaints because the coordinating board is now the governing board of that department so this is just eliminating some duplications an archaic language as a result of transformation. Basically cleanup language I appreciate a good vote. The numbers any questions for represent Cozart or Dr Martin. Senior questions anyone the audience want to speak for against the nine represent Cozart very close I have a motion to pass motion do pass. Those in favor of the motion hi close may regulations represent Cozart best Senator English bill. That's all we have but I'll let you close but I just to make sure if you have a bill that you opened up more of I'm sorry reversal are content here or you can do it right there if you want to he wants to do a little explaining on his bill that he's going to run next week so I'll do that if you do if you have a bill to sit on our agenda please get a hold of me and let me know if you read right. This chair with your indulgence. H. B. fourteen twenty nine and I'm just. Actually just for sake of a presentation this is not for a vote just to let you know progress we're making on this bill basically what it does what it does is it looks at we have required for home school students that are Students that are wanting to leave a public school to to home school we have required for some time a fourteen day waiting period I think this goes back to the nineties the original intent of that was that at that time you know gathering the home school materials was much more of a process than it is right now so much of it is now it's online you can order it online the home school materials could even be taken online so the need of the fourteen days is not is not there now as we've been. Having communications with school administrators and I would also note that we do not have a similar fourteen day waiting period for students are going from public schools to private schools they were they're able to go immediately so we were the original intent of the bill which to totally do away with the fourteen day period that school administrators have have been meeting with this talking with this indicating that there they have some concern one if making sure you have a lot of students now have of Chromebooks or iPads making sure that there's a period of time where those materials can be you can be assured that their turn death of the students going to private school date what they've told me is that you know they have an ability to withhold records until those materials turned in with a home schooled student you don't have that so I think in Mr Martin's is here and he can probably give a I had died we we have agreed to amend this bill to allow a five day waiting period which would be a school calendar days but we are also going to put Biel put a provision in there that all materials all equipment books whatever that belong to the school district would have to be returned and then at that point the superintendent good sign off and they they actually could waive the five days if they're satisfied that everything was turned in my indication up talking to represent all that is a superintendent he said in his experience as a superintendent. Ninety nine point nine percent of the time superintendents do waive the fourteen day but but we understand that there probably needs to be that five calendar days because sometimes there you know sometimes a parent pulls a child ounces I'm going home school because they've they've been upset about something five days gives them some time to reflect that baby of ballot keep the child in school so anyway I just wanna let you know we're gonna be amending that'll be bringing it back in those are the amendments and it seems to be agreed to change with the educational administrators they seem to be satisfied they're not quite sure whether they're gonna sit down at the end of the table with me yet but they are in a position where they're neutral so thank you for the opportunity to present that in it should go smoothly once we make these amendments. Thank you for that warm up for next week or whatever. All right is anyone have anything else today. Ladies will let you go a little bit early. And thank you for being here today we will see you all again on Tuesday in this room if no other matters come before this meeting today we are Jr.