Education Committee - Senate

Probably would prefer us sitting there I was attempting to try to not spread around terms and because of it conscious but I think it helps our folks with the media so if there's anyone that needs to come to the table with Senator English go ahead and please come up at this time Senator English does have a hand out And so we're gonna be considering Senate bill one oh seven first. Afternoon I'm Jane English senators District thirty four and now this is an act to create computer science education advancement act of twenty twenty one it's an exciting new program or continuation expanding our computer science programs in the state so I have asked Entity to please come and fill us in on all the things they're doing we have this hand out which I think you'll find very interesting you can take away from from the meeting and give us some some information to think about as we go along here Anthony. Thank you senator English chairman and committee members Anthony and Arkansas department of education director computer science in Arkansas has led the nation in the computer science education initiative over since twenty fifteen we are recognized by code dot org in a lot of other entities for that purpose there's no doubting the role that computer science in computing is going to play in our state and nation's economy and the importance to our students for example from twenty nineteen to twenty twenty nine the positions are expected to grow fifteen percent which is faster than any other occupation out there almost every industry uses technology to conduct business in this day and age and we need students that are graduating with those skills that meet those industry needs in addition the students graduating with the Bill to to understand data as you will see in in many of our computer science courses now we have a storytelling with data section that outlines how to interpret and produce data in a way that's understandable to others and then also the importance of cyber security which is been highlighted over the past nine to twelve months especially the median annual wage for computer science and information technology occupations is a little over eighty eight thousand dollars and that was in may of twenty nineteen this continues to grow and. The legislation that you have before you that Senator English has been so gracious to carry is actually just a continuation of the efforts that our state has put behind the computer science initiative since twenty sixteen Mar first task force met they asked the state if we would consider a graduation requirement and at that point the time was not it was not time we didn't have the infrastructure built we hadn't built up the teacher passed in honestly we haven't built up the knowledge of what we should be doing as a state at that time however when the twenty twenty computer science and cybersecurity Task Force reconvened this past year and their recommendations did once again include officially a recommendation for a computer science graduation requirement and that every high school employee a certified computer science teacher to continue to grow the opportunities for students this legislation through the graduation requirement the nice thing that we've been able to do over the past six years to meet the flexible needs of our students is that we built the computer science flex credit that allows for students to take a computer science course and replace their forty or math their third year science or any of their career focuses and if they take multiple credits they can actually replace multiple does graduation those twenty two graduation requirements the requirement for certified teacher is phased in along with the graduation requirement the graduation requirement would not actually began to the ninth grade class of twenty twenty two twenty three but the computer science teacher certified teacher requirement would not begin until the twenty twenty three twenty four school year as I mentioned before the main to provisions of this bill were part of the computer science and cybersecurity task force which was a governor's task force in addition this bill would direct approval of the least for computer science courses that could be taught at eighth grade across the state so eight. Eight students can meet this crack graduation requirement in the schools would not have to take additional steps to get that approval and it would also direct the department to continue development of high quality digital content aligned to our courses and approved pathways and making available to our schools with that the packet I have so submitted for you all I has information on implementation guidance and plans that we have if this is passed and I stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you so much so one of the things that if you can just highlight some of the current programs like east and those things they are qualified is that correct or could you elaborate a little bit more about that so Senator Irvin thank you for the question Eastwood east is not specifically a CS course because there's so many different. However we wrote the computer science independent study with ease to mine so the student could graduate and utilize the computer science independent study credit as this graduation credit okay if the east program there and project that they are working on it significantly aligned to computer science and it meets those independent study our requirements outside of the east classroom okay okay thank you senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question. Thank you you have said that the requirements for teaching with ready kicking in twenty twenty three is that right the requirement to employ a certified CS teacher at every high school yes mail what will we do now we're just calling on somebody who may or may not know it so Senate Chesterfield thank you for the question it's a very good question we actually out of our office have made significant strides since twenty fifteen to increase our teacher pool if you go back to when this initiative started we were able to identify about twenty to twenty five teachers that had some sort of certification in computer science to teach we've actually grown that to over five hundred teachers across the state of Arkansas this is not sufficient to meet all school needs and all program needs but we will continue to grow that in addition we make options available through virtual Arkansas and other digital provider such as a state that could also meet these requirements of schools could tap into well one of the and I'm I'm particularly interested in this of course one of the things I'm interested in is that the little guy gets it. So I'm wondering about a four and rules schools will they be the last ones to get this or are they being treated equitably and the distribution of teachers because we're having a difficult time attracting people's. The schools who don't have the quality of life that perhaps and Bentonville or spring the other in a little rock for instance so what is that what has been the challenge and has the challenge been met should we go to areas in the delta for instance or in other places where when the northern part of the state that does not have the same quality of life that would attract people to teach this course thank you Senator great question and our office is taken a conscientious approach to exactly what you're outlining I grew up in Star City out talking in Arkansas so I'm very aware of the challenges that face those small rule school districts we whenever we start placing our computer science specialists which our state funded grant funded positions to train our teachers I was very conscientious that we place those around the state they are all listed as state wide specialist because they all have unique needs summer cybersecurity expert summer robots Act robotic experts but I place them around the state and bearing areas because I didn't want or mischief to forget the little guy I'm so to speak to use your words I wanted us to remember that we do have to reach all areas can I set up here and say that that a hundred percent it is equitable no ma'am I can not because you know we look at the teacher shortage in math and other stem areas and they're facing a lot of the same issues however my office is putting a lot in the eighty is putting a lot of resources to ensure that we're trying to grow those areas in addition I didn't mention this but are the governor actually authorized our office to provide two thousand dollar stipends to CS teachers per year are bonuses to teachers for each year that they teach a high school course for up to five years so we are seeing significant growth in number teachers that are stepping up across the board availing themselves to those bonuses. are we putting them in out of the collapses where are we creating that study in the collapse so that those individuals who rely on the collapse of their professional development of whatever are there any E. R. is that training in each of the collapse around the state so I do not have specialists in all of the all the coops however my specials provide training in every single Cooper we've done that since the first summer we had five core identified trainings that the very first summer of twenty fifteen to twenty sixteen when we brought on the specialist team R. twenty seventeen withdrawn specialist team that we provide all five of those core trainings and everyone the coops across the state we continue to do that now under cove it it's a little bit different situation we're providing our training online digital means we will start pivot some of that back toward a face to face but we will continue making that accessible across all Cooper is one differences our office also pays for all that training we do not require school districts or schools to our teachers to pay for any of our state providing training we provide that at no charge thank you very much thank you Mencia. Thank you I'm also Ural at let out of allowing concurrent credits corrects to be counted as this graduation requirements so does that not also help alleviate perhaps somebody if you don't have somebody on staff that might be trained thank you the students can take advantage of that concurrent credit or that two year college or four year college that might be near them yes chairman we actually established nine concurrent credit quarter concurrent credit course codes under RCS initiative that schools can enter into MOU under concurrent rules with post secondary institutions we also actually have nine weighted concurrent credit course codes that that does require additional approval but any entity that utilizes those property that would meet the graduation requirement I think of the U. A. F. S. university of Fort Smith program they have a robotics program that they developed with Tyson and fan tacking a bet robots and those students are receiving that computer science credit like going to that certification program okay I will also point out that all nine of our state a state develop pathways or approved programs of study under ACT also. Okay Senator Elliot you're recognized for a question. Thank you medical thank you madam chair out of are we seeing or do you anticipate any up tick and students who might be taken AP computer science to fulfill any of the end of these requirements so centering Senator Elliott I'm sorry Ellie. We actually have that information and I'll wanna charts here okay and we have seen an increase so if it's on page nineteen of thirty eight okay we actually identified the number of students in our higher what we consider higher level computer science courses and as you can see I thank my printing actually cut off some of the information on that but the orange grass the orange bar graph is actually on AP courses so you you did see a little bit at the up from last year to this year in AP very you know not significant but also something that we need to pay attention to but yes we have seen tremendous growth growing growing from three hundred ten the initial year or the year prior to the initiative to over seventeen hundred currently taking AP courses that's great And at the other kind of following up on a part of what senator to field ask and a dozen other way I'm I'm I was thinking about it is it's kind do can we map right now where the issues are geographically in this state and have been the teachers we need to and all whether or not we are getting the thank kind of participation we like to have. Is there a way for you to grab that and all or all right if you just off the top of your head tell me issues are because and that will be good for us to know as well because this is this is a good thing and I wanted to be everywhere Moule let me say that I know anecdotally the issues but and yes I think we could map those and look at that we have not done that work we have looked at a student enrollment and how that looks geographically I don't have that information with me and we do have a list of teachers and what districts they are there licensure is applying to and we can pull that information we could create a map from that information yes ma'am but we have not done it but I can tell you the predominant needs as far as licensed teacher going to continue to be the they're gonna be reflective of the areas that that the pay is also issue so right now as we're trying to grow the number of teachers we are we're we're feeling that need but we're also looking expanded flexibility so just this week alone and you can see some of this information are out on page. On page eight of thirty eight in talking with other individuals there was a request made that we open our technical permit to allow for additional flexibility beyond what we already do we allow for technical part have allowed for technical permit for people coming with industry experience to come in and teach what we have actually done as we open that to classified staff members within the school so if you have instructional facilitator are a tech person who is very interested in teaching this and can show the the the dedication to students in dedication to the skills a school could utilize them as a certified teacher. And I you have been some takers on that yet that's yet to be determined that is that just launched I honestly Johnson week so we have not had any takers but I've had at least two superintend six press extreme gratitude for that flexibility and so would those people also be required to go ahead as I know part of a program we have you may start as the as a para pro for example but you matriculate on to get a degree we are offering them that kind of thing or is it somebody who already has a degree that so there is not a degree required with this particular technical permit the the requirements that we have for this new technical permit would be that they have to have had at least one year of direct interaction with students in a public school setting we want to see that they have to meet certain either training or certification requirements that are in line with our other technical permit in addition we have we are developing a sixteen hour classified staff classified technical permit trying that would basically be a checking in two days throughout the school year one of the following spring and then I have to enter it mentoring program that the school provides so the school has to provide them some sort of mentoring program with a mentor teacher some of that nature so we we would allow for flexibility but we also have tried to instill certain things that would keep the liberty to the process okay thank you thanks Jeff all right Senator Sturch you're recognized for a question. Thank you ma'am chair and I am gonna be very open and transparent with you I have issues one is you mentioned a little bit on the flexibility that's what I'd like to hear more of so when I see somebody requiring something is only so many class periods in a day four years so I want to know either are we taking something away are we getting someplace but you mentioned that was the fourth year math that we could waive or science or whatever so I want you to kind of go a little bit more with that and then I'll go on to the next question sure center starts thank you for the question we have tried to really look at what the load is on our schools and our students for this we actually research how many right now the state requires twenty two graduation credits we actually looked at how many graduation credits are our students typically graduating with and we found that over fifty percent almost sixty percent were graduating with in excess of twenty five graduation credits so there is flexibility in that along however our computer science flex credit is actually a national model it's held up as the way to do this you know a lot of states have the conversation of should computer science replace a mass should be assigned should be you know a foreign language we don't have a foreign language requirement here in Arkansas but our flex credit actually allows for for the computer science to offset one of the four graduation credits in math so that top level graduation requirement or the third science credit so and it could actually be more than one so they have to credits they could actually offset both of them and then we require all students to have six career focus credits and it could offset those career focused credits plus all of these courses are part of a program of study and would meet that that program a study as as long as a school as went to the process to have that recognized. And I saw you look over your shoulder so I'm looking over there make sure I didn't miss speak on the former state foreign language requirement. Thank you. So. I guess I get I get being flexible and like you said most graduate over the twenty two because I said seven times for the twenty eight that would be the most time Max they could use some seniors may not need one or two or whatever so. I guess I can make and I know it so physicians you know people say well he's self centered or he's just looking out for her I can make and the big guy. I can make an argument for having a year long civics class I can make an argument for having a year long whatever my only problem with this is are all students capable to succeed in this so I can genuinely tell you you know that some students they're not as far as I'm concerned I don't say capable to succeed but there it's not meant for them as far as computer science goes that's not something that they're interested in or or maybe it's not the way that there and you know that interests are so for so when we are requiring it then to be done done it It camp kind of gives me pause because it's not part of the core so could you address some as far as what we know about the students are taking it what modifications would be the making or what accommodations would be the making to ensure that all students would be now required to take it would actually succeed in doing so thank you senator and yes this was this was actually a concern of mine whenever we started the process of revising our standards this past fall so this coming fall twenty twenty one we will be honoring completely new set of standards and courses that cycle revisions on for years and I say that to say whenever we were going to that committee work which had industry education government specialist you know we brought in people from industry we've brought in people from even out of the country that were part of that work. We asked for that first year course that set the standards and we have nine state identified pathways for that first year course what standards are what skills should be included that every student in Arkansas if they were required to take course what should be the skills that the student comes out of with an overwhelmingly the the feedback for cyber security concepts you know understanding basic cybersecurity understanding the ability to storytelling interpret data appropriately the the algorithmic thought processes that go behind computer science computational thinking so we really wrote this first year courses in that thread of of trying to ensure that these were things that all students could be you could approach all students could be successful and all students would need as part of a twenty first century populous as they go out and work in the world so it was very purposeful of how we wrote those courses in addition I want to I want to kind of clarify something when people hear the term computer science date date automatically jump to the thought of programming. Computer science in computing is so much more than programming that is one of our nine pathways we have robotics as a pathway which brings in the Tyson industrial robotics and are advanced level course not Tyson specifically but that type of robotic industrial body system we have the cybersecurity pathway we have a data science as I mentioned we have computer engineering which is really the nuts and bolts of building a computer we have game design development we have mobile application development so we have a multitude of pathways that that allow students the flexibility in addition as senator urban mentioned earlier with the independent study it can really go beyond that so I remember the students that the governor brought in in twenty sixteen I believe that they the east they developed the seat that would warn would help alleviate the issues with hot car deaths the car seat and that was the east project but because of the all the work that they do did surrounding computer science and coding and just understanding the engineering behind how those pieces work together that would be a perfect computer science credit for those students under independent study project so we've really tried to you know I keep using the word flexibility and the I don't want that to be my key term so to speak but it really is. So I guess classified within back in the olden days. And yeah I know that that has to do that Senate just that we used to have CDA computer business applications where mainly it was course that taught Microsoft Word excel and publisher and so forth and so on so I get that we're trying to move more in a narrow focus are not a narrow focus but more in a focus towards the computer science part and so I guess you know going back to the original question is the CBA would no longer be a viable option that same teacher might be now available to teach this course served one of these courses or something that would be somewhat of a compromise with or so forth so I I guess my question on this computer science and substitute a task force how many of those members were teachers are are even core teachers or could you tell us kind of you know was there somebody at the table I guess who would you know no yes we can do this or we need more flexibility on there Sir can you can give me that reassurance that's been discussed yes Sir so on that task force that we had at least one superintendent we had a coop Director we also had teachers from the field along with industry experts and just a mix of individuals that that was one of the largest task force I've ever been part of I think it ended up being over thirty eight members I'm not including my internal team which was additional twelve members that provides support to that task force so there was a wide voice within that room and an addition we brought in additional people who had specialty in the areas that maybe we didn't have represented around the table to provide additional guidance in the subcommittees so it was it was a very a diverse group as far as and abilities and knowledge go including the teachers side. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question. Thank you very much and I should be brief eight one of the areas that I did not who you talked about was the come the use of computer science we talk about automobile repair I heard you talk about robotics in conjunction with state of the licensing but one of the things and people will be interested in is the repair of automobiles and that sort of thing we're in all of this. This computer science stuff is something that is practically applied that they might be interested in that would benefit them not only in school but prospect of getting a job is that a part of this. So senator Chesterfield I'm would not set up here and say that we rode an automobile technology or programming course but I would say that those schools that have those type of training programs that really look at that high in technology they could look at pulling those two curriculums together possibly and saying okay really a computer in my car is just a computer it just has a different language much like a robot the seat utility it is in the car right. It's gonna be it's gonna be received differently than if you tell them about the robotics of the dot on that And I. Does I really wouldn't care about all the other stuff if our key it maybe some of them would but before we can apply things practically. It really appeals to children and so I'm just wondering if in all of this conversation and never get quite your answer on how many teachers were involved in this thirty eight group I heard a teacher let me a bunch of teachers so was the majority of the group teachers are was a majority the group people from industry and from your Division on the actual task force and I can get you the full listing I'm trying to remember off the top of my head I would say that there was probably a pretty close equal distribution between educator my team excluded I served on task force but a pretty equal distribution between educators government representatives different agency Representative and industry representatives thank you in not answer my question because the educators could be principal the superintendent who are not going on in teaching. So that's what I'm trying to find out how many teachers not education not the the superintendent not the principle not the career coach but anyway I will be dead to death but I would say to you I'll have a huge problem with this but I do believe that the practicality of it. Wish to be addressed so that those young people who are not gonna be able to do a lot of what you're talking about. And let me just go first. You need to have a practical application. And I don't know if that means anything to you and not but there a lot of young people who would be more engaged in computer if it meant something to them rather than you talking about algorithms and body aches and all that and a lot of them understand it because they're young. But a practical application of it I think would be a tremendous help as we move forward but then that's just my two cents because then it would allow people to make a living doing something they didn't even know they would enjoy doing and that's the beauty of computers because it asks they have so many applications and I would not want us to stand me that in those young people who may or may not think that they can do it and just shut off because of what you've just told me. So with that thank you. Thank you I think I have Senator aids is that correct no I'm sorry centre back on. I I pulled up the list here from the press release it is shown one superintendent one. Teacher computer science teacher on the task force with that said I could how have people at a that's what I was trying to do. Of. Seems a lot of uh computer science. Association members and. Engineering professors from colleges universities on here. But no one that's actually got to teach this. I honestly have to go back and look at the list again my apologies. The reason the reason for the the question for me anyway is. I received a lot of feedback from superintendent to my district that. Our. The question is where the money comes from to fund at which you've you've answer that some degree and how do we keep the teacher once they're certified. And the siege of a plan for five years but after that it. Kind of fizzles out form. There are also opportunities for schools to use as a funding and I'm not I'm not ignoring your question but honestly I just don't have that data right from the underwear and pull it up easily on the task force report but there are other options for schools use additional funding beyond just our bonus program out of our office and so funding could potentially be used to recruit recruit and retain teachers in high need areas I hope I'm saying that correctly looking over my shoulder here but there are opportunities for schools to look at in addition part of the reason that the window was pushed to the twenty three twenty four the school year for the teacher requirement was because we knew that there would need to be adequacy considerations put around that requirement and considered in that requirements from a larger standpoint so. and if I may Senator Irvin may have give it back to just something that I think Senator Chesterfield and center storage and I'm sorry but and so your name correctly I'm sorry starch STURCH I mentioned earlier we these standards are written in a way that they can and should be put within apple subject areas I met with a group of superintendents this morning in a a a curriculum meeting to discuss this legislation won the superintendent said in the back of her mind she was already thinking about how she was going to apply the the programming standards within and the robotic standards within her forestry CTP program so there are opportunities for schools to look at what this what this how this is applicable to their region and how it drives business in the region in addition I I will just say briefly that the the beauty of computer science as you mention senator Chesterfield is that it connects and you know the governor has kind of said it best and some of his computer science tour stops is that you can run the world from whatever small school district or small home town that you live in because a lot of these companies nowadays don't care where you live they don't care if you ever show up to work in person they care that you have the skills to be able to do these jobs and meet their needs and it doesn't matter as long as you have an internet connection which is a different story but. Thank you and I I I want to jump in on that because I think this is a great discussion to have because there's people watching this committee meeting and one of the things that I'm so passionate about this as well and was able to do the coding bill with Representative Gossage I was the Senate sponsor for represented Gossage's Act pecan the initial bill so I think M. you know and also east I'm a huge supporter of East and because of the practical applications of computer technology to solve the problems within their communities and that's the coolest thing in the world because it's apple cool to what they're living with what they're dealing with in their neighborhoods in their counties or cities you know I can go down a whole list of all the wonderful things at that they can do but they can also learn how to do their own Pinterest business by coating and a mobile app for themselves or they can be able to to do that and like you said they can run their business literally from the front porch and rule Arkansas which is the whole idea behind this and in building on the coding curriculum but then it creating this really does make it more flexible for to reach all those students when I was a and substitute teacher for the resource classrooms I mean you had students who had difficulty in reading and writing and mathematics and things like that but they could go out to the parking lot and we did it in it And basically tear down a car and rebuild it you know I mean it was just amazing I mean they have different skill levels you know but they're that they struggle with dyslexia or you know reading and writing but they're super skilled when it comes to technology on the computer and with you know automobiles or whatever. Ever and so and you're right I mean robotics is going to be in court it's incorporated all over the place in manufacturing particularly you know manufacturing now is somebody who has to be skilled in computer coding and robotics and that is the New World of manufacturing and so I think you know that's it's such a great discussion to have and I do know that you know and in reviewing them that material on the information that I had review that we did have a lot of teachers to work through the curriculum and the courses to give their input and and I have talked to several of them and who who are just really excited about being able to have their fingerprints kind of on this whole thing for their students and and to use their experience with their students I'm in such a way to be able to build curriculum and you know it's it's funds right curriculum to be honest with the I I was able to do it for higher and believe it or not and hit that Hendrix College and but I think that's what's exciting about it so I think it's a great conversation and great dialogue to fully have and and one of the other things I wanted to ask you is on your hands out on page twenty three of thirty eight. If you will is that Is that computer science degree programs and of higher ed and are you tracking that so you are tracking if they took computer coding within high school then went into computer degree programs you're able to track that so we do not have the ability at this point to launch look at the individual student and say the student took a high school program and translated to a post secondary program what we are showing with this that there is an overall increase in the amount of students that are looking at those at entering those computer science degree programs at a postsecondary level just one more demonstration of that pipeline that we're trying to build for the state apt yeah and I'm so glad that you mentioned the the teacher involvement with the US standards riding that was and thank you for doing so that you know the task force you know I I didn't pull up right away the the amount of interaction with teachers and I'm happy to provide that information as soon as possible. Entered their their names are written on the the like on the course documents and things like all the all the contributors to the standards on the last page of all the court documents yep so we can get that to you senator back and Senator Sturch I think and and members of the committee if you'll just send that to me and I'll get that out to the members of the committee that way they can answer those questions back to their constituents yes senator Chesterfield. Senate district is there a breakdown by gender and ethnicity on this is that any here on Saturday so yes ma'am and I'm so glad you asked so that you have been is. actually I am I will start with the bad news so to speak and then I'll go to the good news and if you want to call it that is engender we still have a lot of opportunity so if you look at page twenty one of thirty eight that is actually our gender breakdown of high school courses now remember these are students that are electing to take these on their own because we do not currently have a high school graduation requirement and you see that we have increased our female percentage about twenty eight percent were male per I enrollment is about seventy two while that's atrocious I will say that is still a little bit better than the national average so we are doing okay I we're not doing okay I don't want to confuse confuse that but we are making strides in that with our programs however if you flip the Senate next page page twenty two of thirty eight I'm very proud this year of RCS initiative because for the first time in our newest of history we are actually over represented in on typically under served populations based on race so that is the this is the first school year that that has happened that is a direct reflection of the efforts of the governor's office going out and speaking to schools directly in the coding tour stops and policies that we have put in place and try to try to ensure what you mentioned earlier center about insuring that we were going around the state in ensuring that teachers were available and honestly that is the biggest reason for the teacher being in the school is because they're the ones talking to the students they're the ones encourage them encouraging them to and build them avail themselves of these opportunities and talking that to them directly about what opportunities it can provide if especially if they take a larger pathway in these courses. Thank you thank you all right there are there any other questions. Senator Elliot thank you I'm I'm I think this is not what what year we twenty one cents twenty we didn't do it okay and things in nineteen the black caucus held retreat at southern Arkansas university and I was I was so pleased to learn about their gaming and animation design and cyber security they have out and I just think about how important is and I think this is what I'm concerned that you're doing that connection say to university like that we have so many underserved students in that in that area and that technology and well internet access I'll put it that way. is there is not a deliberate thing that we are working with his universities and high schools so that because I ran into kids who were so in the gaming they're gonna make all the money although that should be that you know that's not the only reason you do something law let's hope but what what are the connections between how deliberate it is it is when I'm trying to say and and just like you made the to the changes were made in the underserved populations because somebody did something deliberately and not just go like ya'll calm because that doesn't work. Yes ma'am and there are efforts part of the effort being for example the task force include making sure that we include a postsecondary individuals on that making sure that we include post secondary individuals on our standards riding along with industry we want to make sure that what are program our program is being developed and implemented is reflective of the student whether they want to go to a two year or four year are erected job so we are working on those efforts and I'm so glad that you mention as a use program it is actually a great program when it comes to game design we have a lot of a post secondary institutions I don't want the honorable John ashamed Broadway to do anything and be back here but. We have a we have a lot of great programs around the state and we have great partnerships with a state for example our students I mentioned this earlier but we have our upscale program which a student can go through and get nine credit hours in iOS which is apple development apple software development thing get nine credit hours that leads toward industry certification and our office pays for that for students so now we have limited spots on that yeah but that is an option so we ought we have more work to do hi connecting that but we have made great strides in those connections well I I I I just wanna be clear yes I do we happen to be there and that's how because all these folks so I'm an advocate for all y'all is a say when it comes up hi read to a four year schools but I was really thinking about it too in terms of it in terms of those are independent projects that if universities were work with that you know that the our high schools and be real intentional about no question the students and allow them to spread their wings to fulfill something they imagined not that we did I just want them to be really really awful because these kids And so just freaking imaginative but can do so many things I don't want our universities you know to not feel like because they're high school students that the world is not everybody's order when it comes to these independent studies because yes so if that if that is not out there just to be on the table okay for now yeah and I I nothing and I'm just going to follow up just and try to I mean unless there's other questions but and people are probably tired of always me bragging about my kids but that's what we do right but but it was just you know that the call saying that my daughter in Mountain View Arkansas tech in east program taught herself the computer software technology of arket kadam Bentley which then led her to do. It helped design thank you Humane Society architectural plans and all the electrical and everything put it in for them volunteers save them a ton of money but won awards for it but then all of that led to her getting her bachelor's degree in architecture and because Bentley an architect arket cat or the softwares at industry standards for of software that the industry uses and so you know it let her down that path and then she went into construction management and she has a master's in it And as now developed her own software because of the logistics of construction management as you know because she knows she's taught herself how to you know but it's all computer based so I mean but to your point you can go in and say what are you interested in and let's figure out how to me where you're at and how technology can can enhance and give you a new opportunity that you never even dreamed of having and I think that's the exciting part and probably where we can still continue to do some work to kind of So cultivate cultivate you know those opportunities for those kids they may not think about so anyway sounds great I do have an are there any other questions yes Senator Sturch. I'm sorry manager just had one quick one and he was there ever any consideration about just not making it a graduation requirement as far as I have a problem with requiring that be offered I don't have a problem with having a certified teacher in it or whatever I guess that's my hang up is you know east is optional forestry is optional I don't mind even you having the standards of the curriculum you know flexible enough to where it can be incorporated other course that would be required assistance I said adding this other additional graduation card was there any consideration as far as taking that away but during the other parts. So senator this this bill the first the first iteration this bill and I get an opportunity to respond something that center Beckham said earlier also the bill is regional form just had two major provisions one was a graduation requirement one was the the certified teacher requirement of the the additional language that you see and it is actually a part of of a considerations that the governor's office and different entities to occur to amend the bill to allow it to be a hello maybe a little more palatable to schools that were in unique situations so and that needed that additional flexibility to the the issue of was the graduation credit ever considered to be taken off the table and that was never communicated to me if it was and I think that's the cornerstone of this bill is really that graduation credit because that is how we're going to see that all of our students are billing themselves to the skills that this committee of experts thanks that all of our students should be graduating high school with you know why do we I'm a mathematician so that's actually not bad background but why do we say that every student has to have algebra what we're was that decision made geometry algebra two except for it's because at some point down the road legislators are policy makers said that these things were important these skills were important for entire populace to have as we move into a twenty first century job market our students move into that market we as a state have the opportunity to get out front I won't say we're completely in front because South Carolina actually beat us to this of the student graduation requirement but we have the ability to continue out in the front of saying we know that our populace needs these skills and hear the skills that they need and that's the reason also that we wrote the variety of courses because we know not every student needs to be a programmer one. It's to be a programmer but they need to have some basic skills to understand how to you know earlier I thought you were talking those those excel courses CBA courses are about how to consume are just utilizing existing technology we're really trying to figure out a way to get our students to deeply understand the technology and then become producers of something using that technology. Right any other questions Senate back on. Who gets to keep the the royalties for games that they develop in this class. Senator I am a lawyer but I'm not a lawyer for the state so I'm going to pass that one all. That's a fine question anybody else. All right thank you we do have M. Dr charity Smith he's here to speak for the bill. The others come to the table thank you. That's right. For. Thank you for being with us if you will just state your name for the record and then you're recognized to speak for Senate bill one of seven. I'm not sure is that and I. Okay when they get to. Challenges for technology enhance questions and that kind of thing that they are thoroughly and adequately prepare so I support this bill I don't generally come down to talk about a lot of things but when I do when I get passionate about something you will see me here and because every child will have the opportunity to do that I strongly supported I urge you to do it our kids have to be digital citizens of the world let me give you an example. Many teachers and folks as old as I am you're not going to go back and take a digital class which you will ask your grandchild show me how to work. Show me how to turn this on show me how to do you know it's all these little key isn't trying to teach you step that they just learned at school. They've got to learn it Arkansas will never come out of the bottom until we rise to the top. Have a high quality education for every child and I commitment all of you who have worked very very hard to come to this point and I would urge you as an educator being in the field for years and years I teach every single day of my life is going including Sunday school they call eight ACT Sunday school because. That's just the way AT T. seven days a week but now it's digital. Kids have to be able to do that they cannot turn back even if they are in kindergarten they have to understand help to simple things like meat and raise your hand and just you think that this is something that every kid knows but they don't you think that this is something that every grandparent knows but they don't. You know and I'm just amazed at when I see people on virtual platforms they're just all over the boards with days these people these are people that you. We. To begin. To say that this is okay and that we can learn route and as a teacher for years the I'm gonna teach everyday of my life I employee. To support this bill. Thank you thank you that was entertaining and lovely and a lot of fun thank you so much for being here and speaking for the bill and as secretary key you're recognized to speak for the bill. If you introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized Johnny key sector of education and the senators I think asking me to be short and I will But I want to give it is Senator Sturch I mean you you made some great points that I want to address Anthony touched on this but I wanna reinforces. As a society at different times in our history we determine what it is we want our students to know and be able to do when they graduate. At some point time we decided that four units of math and four units of English and three units of science in in civics and I'd noting your bill that you filed Senate Chesterfield yeah we decided that these things were important. Not because we wanted our students to be experts in English. Or experts in mass we don't expect all of our students to graduate with this requirement and be experts in computer science for computer programmers I had a teacher who sent me a very is a very good letter of it she said I'm concerned about my students that can't do this because this is about ones and zeros. Well in nineteen sixty five we were talking about you know the the language and it was written in ones and zeros. In twenty twenty one we're talking about a world that our students are going into where McKenzie published a study just within the last few months. That between four hundred and eight hundred million jobs worldwide are going to be affected by automation they're going to go away they're not gonna be affected they're going to go away and they are going to be replaced who is going to replace. Those those positions as workers the people who have a base knowledge of. Computer science coding cybersecurity data understanding data I mean all the things that I hope you all will take time if any in this team did a great job of of putting together the well the handout but you know this is our time. In that history of saying this is something we believe our students need to know and be able to do and have this baseline understanding so that they can be prepared to go build on that knowledge and they may become experts in. English or they may become experts in sciences or they may become experts in social studies but they will also understand how. Computing can enhance all of those areas so thank you all for let me come to the table center thank you for sponsoring this and I hope you all will not yes I'll be glad to stay here answer center Chesterfield question okay then I believe. Senator Chesterfield. Okay thank you is there anyone else here to speak for or against the bill. Alright Senator English you're recognized to close for you very much I'm close I think this is exciting I think one of the things sometimes and we've alluded to it here as many times we forget about what the possibilities could be for our young people and so many times if they don't see it they don't know what they are not exposed to it they have no idea what their future could look like and and I think we all know right now that we're living in a very different New World and most of us not you all but most people like me are learning all these things but technology is here and and we want our kids to have the greatest opportunity for their future whatever it is they choose to do and they may not use all of this they mean some of it and down the road when they're older they maybe use more but I think it's important that each one of these young people have that opportunity to be exposed that's really all you're talking about pretty much any year is exposure it's not to not. Twenty four hours a day seven days a week but it is exposure and it gives them an opportunity to think about what they want to do for the future I am closed for the bill. All right and we have a motion the second and all those in favor say aye. And opposed Is haven't congratulations pastor bill. All rights thank you and now we are going yes excellent job. And we're gonna go to I'm gonna turn it over to you. Senate bill sixty four I have. And then that way I can do. I will do Senate bill sixty for Senate bill one of wine and Senate bill two of seven I'm gonna pass over Senate bill two fifty. Wow Senator Irvin is getting down there and getting stated I'm going to ask you guys that would we introduce the arts caucus bill that's on arts technology and the economy I want you to remember this conversation glass is coming off a whole lot to you. Chester what did you say Sir. These two years. Yeah. Hey. Senate over you're recognized to present your bill members this is Senate bill sixty four And we just keep this party happening Senator Sturch is the center of the party great thank you Senator Elliott thank you chair members of the committee I'm Senate bill sixty four is it's it's really that and I I Department cleanup bill and so therefore I'm gonna let Secretary key discuss it just because of time. Johnny key secretary of education has every session we have clean up bills that to take care various archaic language dates that are no longer relevant other updates inconsistencies from laws that passed in previous sessions that's what this bill does I will point out there was one amendment that we made at the request of the Arkansas press association there's a section dealing with the publishing of reports in the newspaper or on the website and we modified that language so it gave the option of publishing reports in a local newspaper and that satisfied the press association's concern otherwise it's Also well that a lot of outdated languages to strike throughs that you'll find to but I'd be happy to answer any questions any questions many members. Anybody in the audience want to speak for or against the bill. It's not Senator Irvin you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you I appreciate that. Is there a second. motion to A motion to I do pass do pass or do pass. do pass all those in favor I. All those opposed no. Your bill was passed OK Senator Irvin was just going to Senate bill one or one okay great so Senate bill one I wanna have them Dr Pfeiffer coming to the table again as just because of time I'm going to just go ahead and let her and discuss the bill. All right K. thank you ivy Pfeffer department of education and into in two thousand nineteen legislation was passed that and change the name of the national school lunch categorical funding to the enhance student achievement ESA pending I think it's taken us a while to get used to that change but and the supplemental funding is designed to provide districts with additional resources to meet the needs of struggling learners and to close achievement gaps. And it's it and it is restricted in terms of the allowable expenditures to Adam specifically identified in statute statute or in rules and rags which will sunset in twenty twenty two. So this proposed legislation will change the way districts planned budget and demonstrate the success that the estate pending is addressing the desired outcome which would be to improve student achievement for Arkansas students. So and beginning in July twenty twenty to each district will submit a three year plan and I want to talk a bit more in a minute about the three year plan that outlines how ESA funds will be allocated based on categories that are going to be identified in statute and those categories start on page two of the proposed legislation. And these categories would replace the former list of and allowable expenditures in these categories are evidence based strategies that have a direct impact or create create conditions to promote student success and as you're looking at those I'll summarize and those categories so and that the first option would be enhancement of staffing that would exceeds and requirements for standards for accreditation and you as you see there there are different ways that districts could use ESA funds for enhancing staffing so it could be everything from recruitment and retention it could be and supplemental and salary supplements to salaries and based on identified real roles and responsibilities that teachers take on it could be to increase there core academic teachers and to better meet needs of students a second category would be to use it for academic supports and interventions and a third category would be for social emotional and behavioural supports a fourth category physical and mental health resources. At the category of early intervention resources. And and an additional category could be expansion at academic or career education programs that would particularly allow students access to postsecondary supports including and college or career readiness resources so again those are kind of broader categories that go beyond just a list that and is is constantly something that people might you know we need to be adding to serve these categories are little bit broader in the districts will approach this from a longer term planning aspect so and very rarely do we see side let's create a plan but let's make this a three year plan let's really stop and think about what it is we're doing what is it that we need to do is what we're doing working fine if it is working then let's think about this over the next three years and what is it how do we know it's working what are the goals were trying to achieve in one of those outcomes that we see and so we'll work with districts through the rule in rec process to help outline with this three year plan will look like but it'll really give districts an opportunity to be very intentional and strategic about how they're using these funds and then we will work on how that will all be reported so and the expenditure categories will be updated so that and Although the districts are gonna have considerable flexibility in how they spend the funds they're going to need to budget a hundred percent of those funds and and justify any transfers that go outside of the ESA categorical funding it doesn't mean that they can't transfer are but through this intentional planning process districts would need to be thinking about okay if I am going to transfer funds to another categorical and source why am I doing this why is it that I don't need it for the for enhancing student achievement. And the and the Division of elementary and secondary education will provide an annual report and that will begin in October of twenty twenty three on the progress of schools in meeting their goals and also reports of how and districts are spending ESA finding and so what we want to do is instead of this won't be a plan that the district submits and we go through and approved we're not gonna need to do that because we're already outlining here the way she should spend and or hear the categories so the districts will decide I'm using it for physical and mental health resources in here the things that I'm doing what we want to do is come back and say how are you how are you spending your funds and is it working and how do we know and then we'll be able to provide reports to and the Education Committee on a regular basis as far as and how or how these funds being spent and how how well ours are schools doing so I think that kind of gives a summary there in all policies and somebody else has questions Senate Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank members you're pleased on this is not one of these things that make you land in academic district. No ma'am and your are you talking about according to the plan. The approach would be if the plan isn't working then what we need to do differently yes and if there additional supports will do that. Other other questions of Senator English so I I really kind of like this because for years we've just thrown out money hoping to close the achievement gap but we have to close the achievement gap I'm pleased to see if there's a plan that was that we people follow and look at it see whether it's working. Yes further questions or comments Senator dot com you're recognized. Room one one correct okay so we are sure On page in the last page they're turning page the line thirty five pages eight it is there any thoughts to take out the user loses calls here. We were losing. Do you want to lose you use of money or lose the money Clause us what it is and yeah and I I I find we waste tremendous amount of money overall because of clauses like this. So you're you're saying where and I guess I want to make sure you have the fifteen percent. You you have to spend at least eighty five percent so districts have to spend at least eighty five percent of these funds every year if you don't if you if you have more than fifteen percent. Leftover then we'll take ten percent next year. My reading that correctly so if and and I'm I need to get help in explaining exactly how that process works but. So I think it still goes back to the idea if you have a good plan then you really shouldn't have money left over and I think in the past when there have been funds left over sometimes and maybe there was an intent to purchase something or to and a planned activity that didn't cost as much as what you thought so there might have been many left over and so the and the idea was that a and if there was more than a certain amount they were penalized for that I think going forward though there really shouldn't be a lot of circumstances where there would be funds left over if you're budgeting a hundred percent and and and less you've just missed the mark on some of your budgeting then you want to be able to go back and correct that in subsequent years with your plan. Some may not be answering your question fully. I just. I don't like seeing clauses where. It forces. Many organizations to just burn monies so they don't lose in the next and I have I agree with you on that yes they don't need to be burning many so I think that's part of why the three year plan is going to be important to you and and there maybe districts that say Hey we need some help in thinking through this because maybe that first year date their plan doesn't really work out and there's going to be some access so I think that's where we work together to say how do we do this so that you're not just burning that many and but I think when you look at these categories and district step back and think about it they will be able to utilize their funds and utilize them in a in a purposeful way in the past there have been districts that have just said will it use it for by Mrs at the end of the year because there's money left over we want to reverse that to say how can you rethink your salary schedules on the France and if you have hard to staff positions maybe you need to change and have a different salary schedule or some salary differentials built in on the front end so that you know the it that these funds are gonna be used differently. The finished It would work for the department no if are in regard to center Beckham's question would it work though if there were say an appeal process if you did have money you did not use rather than. Forcing you to use it and I can't imagine people had a lot of money left over that then if something did happen or. We didn't spend it but you've got plans for it but you know down the road is not good this is not going to reach fruition until say next year. Would be viable to have something like that or a or or are we just and is either or is it might use it or lose it take it or leave it. What what what are your thoughts about that. Senate so I think again it goes into the role of that division will be to review plans and to look and so if the district were to be in that situation where they had a really well thought out budget they had a very well thought out plan and there was some issue that arose then I think. I think that the goal would be during the rule making process somewhat plans look like there would be and the hope that we could work with districts I may be getting a phone a friend here and. I say all right let me lick and. Page two. Page two. Page six line thirty pages being directed to that Page six line thirty okay all right. Page six line thirty. Yes this is that okay so this goes into the transfer and that's typically if a district's sees that they're not able to spend their funds then they look at how they would transfer. So. Yes said that they would still have that opportunity to do a transfer and then I think we would want to come back and say okay is that a better use of your funds to do that transfer or do we want to go back and see are there some things that maybe you should be using these funds for that you didn't think about it early on and therefore then the plants get adjusted. So for example if I get into doing something and I thought it was a great idea but I'm in the middle of it and this is obviously no matter how brilliant I thought I was is a poor idea and it's not working. Our own I don't really have a place to transport to to really just do something with that right now I'm thinking about things like that. That I'm not would be forced to keep on doing something that is not working. When I don't have any other place to so if you can do this on the rulemaking we come at this girl but I want to be sure it's not so much space it's not so strict right here that we couldn't even make that change to a rule making I'm not making sense to you and it does and and so I think that that the components are still in there with the requirement that no more than fifteen percent be left I don't know that at and I would I had I did not check to see how many districts in the past year and you did not make that eighty five percent requirement and I talked to very few districts who are not able to spend to spend money and as we work with the ministrations on this I think they have felt comfortable in working through this process but and we can get the information as far as and if it's problematic for districts to police spend their funds I look I know there's history to this number with that history as when we were to have people had money left over we were thinking you have all these these find the world do you still have millions of dollars so I know I accepted that there's history but most people didn't abuse it that way I have another question though on on another concerns Where we on page two. what we talk about a starting line seven the enhancement of teacher salaries for recruitment and retention purposes Because. The reason people don't move somewhere don't teach somewhere is not because of the school. So I'm so I'm just trying to be real about this and until and and we were until we do something about people want to be here or there some reason for them to be there beside the school you know that calm four year maybe. But that's the thing at the concur that worries me more than any thing else and The other one that has to do with A hiring other they say yeah we're talking in has been a teacher salaries for recruitment retention. If we if we if we read we can usually get them sometimes but retaining them as a problem we've got a lot of history on this. So do we really want to do that. Well and so I would agree with you when you say that. Generally teacher recruitment and retention we've set a lot of things and generally it has not been successful the difference now is that we have developed some pretty strategic recruitment and retention Initiatives within the division and and working with districts on that so I think it's going to be on as to really work with districts to say okay here is a recruitment and retention strategy and I'll give you one example I'm working with and special education teachers were going to be and we we have an opportunity with the new resource teacher licensed to take a really good math teacher and for them to add that certification by going through either a teaching academy for the preparation or going three to one of our in a T. prop not imitate that when our and our programs that we have and could be in eighty so they can add that certification to their license and so. What we're gonna have our teachers who really can be trying in understanding collusive practices and they're saying and how to teach students with special needs well if we're expanding that pool of teachers by using some of our really high quality staff that we already have we're not always going to have to be hiring additional people but we can pay those teachers and in addition to those salaries that's retention or even a recruitment strategy that's that can be done another example could be working with and I grow your own program and taking students early in high school and getting them through the N. as it getting them eight certified as a teaching assistant so that while they go to college they can work in the district as a pair professional. While they go one and they continue to earn their degree in their license and then hire them back so those are some of the recruitment strategies that we're talking about here that will be working with districts on to give them some really tangible examples of things that they can do to and to recruit teachers and retain them but not just and as we've always done in the past that's very general. My last question for you at this point who hosts but this these ideas together who was involved in determining these ideas other teachers and administrators and other people and so so a lot of these categories if you go back and look at the list in the ways that schools have been using these minds. A lot of these categories just take some of those efforts in kind of encapsulate them into the product categories and the we worked a lot with the association of educational administrators we worked with school finance people and the the work with teachers has been done and some of the recruitment retention with opportunity culture and schools that are implementing the opportunity culture model so and I think different pieces were worked on and in different ways but this final product we we did spend a lot of time with the administrators and having them question and look at what they're doing now and are they gonna be more limited in this or they can actually be able to do the things that they need to do and I think that and we've had the support that they believe this is going to be a good plan going forward is sound to me like there was a whole lot more administrators administrative voice than teacher voices who would most the people out there and it's great to have the boards of the of the administrators. That day so you feel confident you've gotten enough our teacher voice in here because on our thank god Doshisha so we and are we we have shared our legislation with the M. Arkansas education association and state teachers association and our teacher leader advisory creams so and would you know can I say that teachers have reviewed all of these categories and probably not I don't think that teachers are always involved in and some of these types of expenditures but we have involved School level people and those that are involved with the different categories and in looking at this I applaud you know trying to make this something that is better than what it was I will tell you that for sure so I'm not just be and you know that a Downer here but is such an important issue that I I think it is making sure that all forces are part of this and as much as possible because we don't need to try to make something new again anybody else I have a question or comment about this. if not we have we have one person the audience who signed up to speak and that's a doctor Terry Smith to speak for the bill so you make. Unless the you guys have something else. Okay come on up doctor Smith. This. Is that. Good afternoon again I'm doctor charity Smith consultants and college professor. I rise again today to speak for this bill let me tell you why and for this to be. And I hate to go back to the days of old but. Whenever we talk about the achievement gap. In many instances it was just rhetoric. There was no funding to help you close it. I look back and by bringing back in the audience got Smith and I probably bring Bob in the first school shutdowns and closings. We went down in. I can remember it vividly. Where we shut down the school. And people were devastated. Had they had moneys to really do something about the achievement rather than the rhetoric we wouldn't be where you are today. And so for funding to be dedicated for that purpose in my opinion. Is amazing I look at these lines is what stands out to me lance fifteen line seventeen lance twenty two last twenty sat. Arkansas also deal ranks in the forties in achievement so I can find no earthly idea why we wouldn't be spending funding to help us improve achievement why would you ever have money left when you're so far behind. Yes I'm talking about on page two. But if you put this in early intervention if you put some money into college readiness because the. If you don't have access to it in the schools he's happy to privately and many kids can't afford to to have somebody come private lead to read them to do that they don't I can I can tell you firsthand they'll calling night and day how can we have much he getting school how can we help My Baby learn how to read how can you do this how can we do this what we gonna do about this and these are keys of all colors and all races had nothing to do with that at all comes down to cheap. But in many instances without a three year plan. This planted works let's try something else this planted works just try something else achievement a scaffold. It's step by step by step any education peers would kill you even in balloons you go from the knowledge level all the way up to you valuation you cannot credit. In between. And so I would encourage you. To take a very close look at the opportunities that you will give keys in order to advance the academic achievement. I will be in education much longer but before I leave here I want to be sure to use my voice any time you are trying to make a difference and help close the gaps I don't care what you call it but when you put funding to address that and I want to commend the people of the Department of dead who worked hard on this because some of us in the background saw it coming but it never came and if in fact you plan to really do within this bill I really do think it will make a difference four hundred and hundreds and hundreds of children in Arkansas and I would encourage you to do so. The questions of our doctor chair dismiss. Not thank thank you doctor Smith appreciate your presentation There is nobody else signed up to speak out on the bills so we are down to a point of any members have any further comments. R. if not I'm quite sure pleasure for the bill. It's proper may I just close real quick you make sure Lowery thank you and I just want to say thank you honestly for that line of questioning I want to say thank you to the department of education for all or work obviously on this bill and for the people that gave this legislative input for all these years saying we need to plan like Senator English and so at you know I have a really good friends in Mountain View and they were able to put together a plan to transition her into an early intervention at reading specialist and we have a wonderful A. R. reading program and it was it's ME was spectacular and it was wonderful and you see kids cheating in their grade level of reading because of that intervention and that really intentionally focused opportunity that they had to go and visit with miss all of then and she was really became a specialist based on the science of the brain and the reading that that we've put in place but you know she's a beneficiary in a teacher of this type of a of a plan and and and funding and so just again appreciate Dr Smith and her testimony and at thank everybody for the opportunity to present it thank you senator are there some of a motion to do pass all those in favor I those opposed no the motion passes that the next I bill on the agenda is is SP two oh seven. Yes and I have as. Okay so as they're coming up Senate bill two oh seven is and and we've got information that we can go through this that I have really holds with the pure of Legislative Research and Laurie Blouin I also to come and really talk about the methodology that funding methodology that was used to calculate the enhanced transportation funding amounts and I'm just going to turn it over to her briefly thank you for being here and I'll talk about it sure thank you so would you do me one for one favor though of this whole because I think it would help the conversation if a senator I'm asking you this actually. Who would tell us who participated in putting this together so we'll know which invoices in here that might help us understand better how it works. Sure this is actually something that is done by the bureau not by a legislator or and we we don't have input on this the department of education they don't have input on this either this is and and miss hall can explain that and I'm not been run by anybody any groups anything like that this is this will this and thank you senator This was a formula that Richard Wilson and recommend to formulated about six years ago and so it's the same one that's been used I think the first year was twenty sixteen seventeen and there's three million dollars distributed there we have M. replicated that formula basically this year we that they did it with the twenty nineteen data and we've incorporated the amounts that were recommended during the adequacy process which is six million for the first biennium I mean first you have the biennium and then seven point two million second here okay Yes. Now in and and and and that we we were we can share that with but it's considered legislative working papers so we can share the formula with any if you and I'll be glad to give and it's a complicated formula and I know the first time Richard Wilson explained it to you always said there's three hundred spreadsheets behind this and I bodies exaggerating but he wasn't it but I'll be glad to give you a high level if you if you want or I can leave this with we're doing the same thing with the bill okay thanks okay mmhm. When. All right I'll close for the bill. At last question does anybody have any questions. I anybody of wonderstruck for against the bill in the audience. If not what's your pleasure. Motion motion do pass there on a second we've got all those in favor I all those opposed no all right motion passes center thank. All right. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized to present House Bill ten twenty nine thank you so much madam chair and members of the committee house bill twenty ten twenty nine. Isn't it concerning the study of African American history and all it does is incorporate the name of the late John Walker who was a member of the Arkansas General Assembly in those individuals who can be studied as we look at this and I appreciate a good vote any questions for center chest felt. All right C. N. nine nights she's made you make a motion what is that is there anyone here to speak for or against the bill. C. ng close moved to pass is there a second. Second of all those in favor say aye. And opposed ayes have it the bill passes thank you and Senator ease. This is house bill eleven ninety three. Senator age you're recognized for house bill eleven. nine. I'm sorry eleven ninety three. I've got to clean it bills here so make sure the right one okay house bill eleven ninety three thank you madam chair I'll be brief hopefully on both of these there are couple cleanup bills brought by the school board association and have been discussed with the board with the Department education eleven ninety three has to do with replacement of an opening in school board. all other. Reasons for replacing somebody say the same car which are currently thirty days this gives an additional thirty days to that opportunity replace an open position when somebody passes away that's on the school board and what we seen in some school districts is a spouse sometimes will take over that seat and based on the timing of the school board meeting it may not be appropriate to approach that person yet to see if that's something they want to consider doing this give them a little bit more time or more flexibility adding an additional thirty days for that particular process only if the if it's at the death because of the death of a school board member and I would be happy to answer any questions on that. Okay are there any questions. Yes senator Chesterfield in center stage Senate reason doesn't mean that you have to take that thirty days with thirty days allow correct that's absolutely right we're just given the regional or choose to do so okay thank you that. Okay Senator Sturch. Thanks to senator did not this is another section of code or not but is there any provision then if it's within a certain window of the election like we do for other vacancies what they have to fill another. You know seat if they're about to have another election command someone unexpectedly died or if they were on the ballot actually or anything like. I don't know that it yes that particular in a different section of code probably. Yeah I don't think that's that probably it is taken care of so that's right okay thank you mental thank you are there any other questions all right anybody here to speak for or against the bill. C. nine we close for your bill yes all right what is the pleasure of the Committee. Map may move to pass on second all those in favor say aye and opposed Is habit build houses House Bill Levin ninety. Thank you manager of this bill is actually making one two lines of change in this code for the purchase of commodities by public schools that threshold is raised each year based on the Where's the wording. The urban consumer price index in this just allows the when calculating this judge adjustment each year to give the Commissioner to the Bill two to round up to the nearest one hundred dollars that they have an even amount that they're working with. Makes a little bit easier for calculation a little bit simpler for everybody. There's all this this bill does. Is there any one any questions on the bill. No questions anyone here to speak for or against the bill. Scene nine you've close for your bill I'm close thank you for your vote and send motion to pass in seconds all those in favor say aye and opposed ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill thank you and your thank members of the committee and that this is very long and members of the audience thank you for sticking in there with us I thought was a great meeting and just of really appreciate the questions and the dialogue it's really really necessary for our state so thank you great work. And with that we're adjourned.