Education Committee - Senate
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Bills discussed (23)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1938
Act 807
· 4 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “…WITHIN THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. HB1938 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNI…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE CREATION OF DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANS AND … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1938 is now Act 807 |
|
HB1939
Act 808
· 4 mentions in agenda, transcript, chapter
Matched: “…LITY OF THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. HB1939 Joey Carr TO AMEND ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE AND ME…”
|
TO AMEND ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE AND MERIT PAY; TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS; … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1939 is now Act 808 |
|
HB1941
Act 809
· 3 mentions in agenda, transcript, chapter
Matched: “…EQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND PROGRAM. HB1941 Joey Carr CONCERNING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND COM…”
|
CONCERNING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; AND TO PROTECT ARKANSAS STUDENTS BY ENSURING THE … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1941 is now Act 809 |
|
HB1946
· 3 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…FFICIENT DISPOSITION OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS. HB1946 Bentley TO REQUIRE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION…”
|
TO REQUIRE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. | Bentley | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1756
Act 803
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…S A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM. HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDIN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT … | Vaught | Notification that HB1756 is now Act 803 |
|
SB625
Act 920
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB625 B. Davis TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNIN…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; … | B. Davis | Notification that SB625 is now Act 920 |
|
HB1180
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. HB1180 Bentley TO CREATE THE BABY OLIVIA ACT. SB216 J. Dotson TO A…”
|
TO CREATE THE BABY OLIVIA ACT. | Bentley | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1283
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…IONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1283 J. Mayberry TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECON…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DIGITAL MEDIA STANDARDS IN … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1370
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. HB1370 J. Mayberry CONCERNING MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS; AND TO…”
|
CONCERNING MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS; AND TO REQUIRE A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1483
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE LIBRARY MEDIA STANDARDS. HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT … | Gramlich | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1484
Act 910
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAI…”
|
TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1484 is now Act 910 |
|
HB1495
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NTAINS A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOO…”
|
CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. | Hawk | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1684
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…avis Sen. Jim Dotson REGULAR AGENDA Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1684 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDEN…”
|
TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT. | McAlindon | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB205
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…C SCHOOL TO ADOPT A POLICY FOR ONE OR MORE STUDENT MENTORS. SB205 A. Clark TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CH…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL … | A. Clark | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB215
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…LOYMENT TAX ACT TO WAIVE THE "REASONABLE ASSURANCE" CLAUSE. SB215 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE USES FOR REAL ESTATE DON…”
|
TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE USES FOR REAL ESTATE DONATED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND … | J. Bryant | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB266
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. SB266 J. Dotson TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ADOPT A POLICY FO…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ADOPT A POLICY FOR ONE OR MORE STUDENT MENTORS. | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB436
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…E DEVELOPMENT BOARD RELATED TO SECONDARY TECHNICAL CENTERS. SB436 A. Clark TO AMEND THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS UN…”
|
TO AMEND THE ABILITY OF A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT … | A. Clark | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB482
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…CH OR AN ATHLETICS PERSONNEL MEMBER WHO RECRUITS A STUDENT. SB482 K. Hammer TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL…”
|
TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS OPPORTUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO … | K. Hammer | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB528
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ICE ACT; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015. SB528 Gilmore TO ADDRESS THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF S…”
|
TO ADDRESS THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND THE CAREER … | Gilmore | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB6
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “OK. We're back in session. OK, we are looking at um yeah. Senate Bill 6:25. Yes,”
|
TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF VACCINE HARM. | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB607
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…STRICTS; AND TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ACT OF 2015. SB607 Crowell TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL D…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT INITIATES AND MAINTAINS A FOUR-DAY … | Crowell | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB634
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…D MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS. SB634 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVI…”
|
TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. | M. Johnson | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SCR3
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…rs and Staff Only'. DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle SCR3 J. Scott TO URGE THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO P…”
|
TO URGE THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAX … | J. Scott | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
Machine transcript
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Speaker 3
0:17
Uh, I appreciate the Senate for being efficient in the bill making and writing process um earlier today we talked about a additional exclusion that probably needed to be made, um. And with that, I'm closed for my bill. Thank you very much. You pass
Senator Jane English
Unverified
0:32
that all on paper all post. Thank you much. Thank you.
Thank you. OK, and Senator Davis. Oh, still waiting for the amendment to give you.
They Yeah Give it one couple more minutes waiting for the amendment. To 6:25, yeah.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:35
recovery I don't. All that, all that stuff.
Speaker 29
3:13
And you'll be. Yeah Oh. OK. Then I'm going to do um. 38.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:27
OK Yeah. All right If you do the, you'll be the captain of the ship. I'm going in here. We're going to run these bills through.
Oh How are you? Oh, sorry. There's a way to do it. OK, um, Senator, if you would introduce yourself
Senator Jane English
Unverified
5:15
and what bill number are we looking at? Senator Jane English, district 13 and
I have house bill 1938. And I've brought my 2 compatriots with me to explain the bill, Jacob will leave at
Speaker 48
5:27
Department of Education. Courtney Sali for Department of
Speaker 46
5:36
Education. And you're welcome to present your bill. Go ahead. So the
Speaker 52
5:40
first bill, we have a couple bills here that I think are uh trying to maintain efficiency and streamline some processes here in the state. The first one really works at um, giving the authority for school districts to develop a strategic plan and put all of their resources initiatives and one plan instead of having to do multiple different plans that
ask for the same thing all over again. So an example of this is because of different federal and state requirements, districts would have to write. 17 individual school improvement plans do 17 needs assessments do 17 surveys, collect the data on the 17 plans. What we want them to do is write one plan that meets all of those needs and then talk about in that plan how they can work with their educational cooperative, work with your charter school networks and make sure that one plan for the district, all the
resources line streamline makes it a lot more efficient and a lot easier
to achieve. Sounds like with the libraries ought to
Speaker 48
6:38
be doing, but that's for another bill. Um remember anybody have any questions? 38, 1938. 39 No
Speaker 54
6:47
questions here to speak for or against the
bill. Senator, you're welcome to move
Senator Dawson all in favor say aye. Congratulations, your bill passes. Next bill, I guess for the record you'll need to introduce yourself again. It's not like the reports they're doing where you can combine it all you have to say your name again and then the bill number. House Bill 1939. 1939. Jacob Oliva,
Speaker 48
7:21
Department of Education. Courtney Sas for Department of Education. So, uh, the purpose of
Speaker 63
7:31
The second, the center, we want to get her a bill 1939. It Yeah What we're doing right now. Yes. Alright, Senator, you're welcome to present
Speaker 64
7:48
your bill. So the purpose of this bill is to make some minor improvements to the operation of the teacher merit pay that
Speaker 52
7:55
was established in the Learned program where we want to recognize and celebrate and elevate our teachers that demonstrate outstanding
performance. What we're doing with this bill is just clarifying some of the obligations around the teacher evaluation input because we have some teachers that may not have specific student data, but we don't want them to be left out even though we know based on teacher observations, principal. Evaluations, they can be rated highly effective. We want to make sure that there's an established requirement annually to evaluate those teachers which
Chair
Unverified
8:22
will help make sure they're eligible for teacher merit pay. Members didn't want to have any questions, Senator, you're
recognized. And about how many teachers are we
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
8:37
talking about this would affect. So we have approximately, I'm gonna
Speaker 52
8:42
just round about 35,000 teachers in the state of Arkansas. Last year we had about 10% of those teachers receive teacher merit pay, which was just over 3000. We want to make sure more teachers are eligible and have the ability to qualify at we our our hope or our intent is maybe we'd like to double the amount of teachers we recognize
cause we know we have some outstanding educators that deserve this recognition. So do we
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
9:09
have a list of those teachers that got this merit. OK.
Speaker 64
9:17
Yeah, I don't have it with me, but we'd be happy
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
9:21
there's a list. Yes, ma'am. And, and then, uh, how much money is set
aside for Uh, increasing the numbers that might qualify. Under these new Rules are this bill. Do you think?
Speaker 52
9:37
So the allocation that we had in learns towards teacher merit pay was $10 million. And how
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
9:43
much of that has been spent so for
Speaker 52
9:45
last year we were able to obligate all of it. This is why we're also asking for some amendment to a current pot of money that the legislature designates for a recognizing teachers that get national board certification, but that pot of money, um, historically and annually, we haven't been able, we haven't really been using all of it, so we wanna make sure that we can recognize those
national board certifications, but then also increase the qualification. under teacher merit so that there's dollars that have already been allocated but they're being untapped. This is going to help us allocate those dollars to recognize more teachers. And
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
10:22
so total amount that you'll have available for awarding these merit pay about 1.7 million. OK, thanks. And if you
Speaker 64
10:29
would get that information to the staff and they'll
send that out to everybody. Members, other questions?
No more questions. Anyone here to speak for or against
Senator Jane English
Unverified
10:48
the bill? Senator, you're welcome to close. I am
close to my bill and I moved to pass a second. All in favor say aye, oppose
Senator Jane English
Unverified
11:00
like sign. Thank you. Congratulations, your bill passes. You have another one House Bill 1946 1 1941 1941.
If you would go through the identification process again.
Speaker 83
11:13
Jacob Aliva, Department of Education. Courtney Sais for Department of Education, and you're welcome to present your bill. So this bill is again about um increasing efficiency and has to do with 3 different boards or committees that are under the purview of the Department of Education. So the first one is the professional licensure standards board that deals with ethics complaints and ethics violations from licensed teachers, um, this would establish terms for those board members, um, whereby they have
not had terms before. It also ensures that people can submit complaints electronically, um, historically. we have only allowed them to submit hard copy papers so we're gonna allow that electronically regarding the school worker defense program board, um, that board has not been operational for many years, um, and there may actually be a few, uh, Legal issues with how that board was established and why it hasn't met, so we are just going to dissolve that board, um,
continue to administer the funds and make those available for um teachers and other staff of school districts, um, but just again creating that efficiency by eliminating that board. And then finally the academic facilities review board. This was kind of an interim board that would hear appeals from decisions of our facilities division regarding partnership funding, um, what would happen is school districts could appeal to this interim board and then if they still didn't agree, then
they could elevate that up to the commission. um, every single appeal we were seeing get elevated up to the commission and so we just thought it would be more efficient to eliminate. that middle intermediate level board and let those appeals go
Speaker 84
13:00
directly to the commission who ultimately has final say anyway. I'm happy to answer any questions. Did we have a committee that made
recommendations on how to combine the boards. Our y'all decide that on your own.
Speaker 87
13:20
Um, so as part of Governor Sanders for Arkansas Forward Initiative, we were tasked with
Speaker 83
13:25
looking at efficiencies and governance in ways that we could eliminate red tape. I mean it was part of that process that we really came across again some of these boards that were either not meeting or we're kind of not, not performing probably the way
Speaker 84
13:39
they should be and so that's how we identified these, OK, members, any other questions?
Senator Flower, if you have a question, you need another minute or
Speaker 92
14:11
two to look through the bill. How many complaints are lodged. In
Speaker 94
14:16
a year. Could you move your microphone. Regarding
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
14:19
how many complaints are lodged against teachers in the course of a year. I, I don't have the
Speaker 83
14:25
exact numbers, um, with me, but hundreds of complaints. Now, not all of them end up resolving in an, uh, resulting
in an investigation. Every complaint that is submitted is reviewed by an internal committee and determined if there is enough evidence to have a formal investigation, um, but there are Multiples of hundreds of complaints that are filed and they again are reviewed to determine if they're investigated
Speaker 84
14:52
and then if they're investigated, they go to the PLSB board for
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
14:58
a final determination. About how many are referred for
Speaker 99
15:02
investigation. I would, oh gosh, um. I would say probably 80%. Do you, do you all
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
15:12
keep a running list of of um What the result of the investigation is, we do. That's all recorded and open to the public. It's not. And
Speaker 83
15:26
so under law, those files are private unless we go to the state board of education,
Speaker 84
15:34
those decisions are public and are on our website, but if it doesn't go to that level, then by law those are kept
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
15:48
confidential. And actually they can even enter into a settlement agreement. They can, yes.
Are the settlement agreements published? No, those are, those are kept confidential as well. Why would they be Kept confidential.
Speaker 84
16:04
That, that's what the law provides. Now if that educator, um, through the settlement agreement agrees to, um, give up their teaching license or their license. I that, um. details or anything that led up to that settlement agreement by law is we have to keep that confidential. Well,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
16:27
the person that makes the complaint against the individual teacher that uh agrees to a settlement.
Agreement Do they get to to know what's in the settlement agreement or the They don't
even get to know. No, ma'am, not under the law we were required to do that. They're a party They brought the complaint. It seems like they would have a
right to. To know what the result was. Of their complaint. The the way the law is written, we're not permitted
Speaker 84
17:02
to share that information. Is it the law
or the rules that have been it is in the law. In in the sections of Pope that are cited here? No, ma'am. I can get that for you, but if it's not in anything that we're addressing.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
17:18
Well, do you all keep a record that's open to the public about how many settlement agreements have been entered into. We could tell you the number. We just can't tell you any of the specific information, yes. Is that in
Speaker 84
17:28
the form of a report to the education committee? No, that's not something we're required to report, but we can certainly make that information available
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
17:36
to you. I'd like to see that information. And
to this day. Do you even have it from different school districts, I mean, can you even Uh Inform
where What school districts the complaints. A rides out of. Not specific to the teachers under the law it says that we
Speaker 83
18:06
are required to keep all information related to the complaint con confidential and exempts it from FOIA. Seems like that needs to be changed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
18:18
Members, any other questions? Saying no questions, is
anyone here to speak for or against the bill. one Senator, you're
welcome to close for your bill for my bill,
Senator Jane English
Unverified
18:36
and I moved to pass. Yeah, 2. Senator
Bryant, all in favor say aye
oppose same sign. Congratulations, you have passed your bill.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
19:13
OK. We're back in session. OK, we are looking at um yeah. Senate Bill 6:25. Yes,
we were. Um If you identify yourself, you'll be recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Brianne
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
19:46
Davis, State Senate District 25. Can we first. Uh Moved to expunge the vote by which we passed Amendment. Number 2, or was it Amendment one? I want to be clear. Amendment 1. OK
Senator Jane English
Unverified
20:09
On favor, all those. OK. Moving right along. Thank you. The amendment in front of you,
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
20:16
um, is The so then is the only only amendment, so we're not confusing amendments, but, um, on page 2 line 1, we're deleting offer, we're deleting what it says offered within the students' public school district in which they reside inane offered by a public school within the state, um, again, um, stating on page 3 where we're talking about telephones or devices that students use um clarifying that we also mean a device that could be part or
required as part of an a. academic modification as specified by a clinician. And then on page 3 line 18, um, instead of 16 for an extracurricular. We're saying 25%. Um, and then extending the window from March 31st to May 1st for when students can apply and then cleaning up the language around intends to commit fraud and just saying, you know, has commit, you know, has committed fraud.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
21:21
happy to answer any other questions on that. Any questions from the committee? Seeing no questions. Do I hear motion? So Senator Davis, I spoke to you
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
21:53
briefly about this bill earlier today. I like What you're trying to do in making sure funds are used. Appropriately and not just willy nilly, um. So I just want to Compliment you on trying to do. The right thing. I would know it's not your fault, I don't think probably the bureau, they keep, uh, I, I'm just stick about words.
On page 3 line 29, course means a discreet. Program. I think they're trying to say discreet. program
of study. A misspelled discreet. I wish
the bureau was You ought to have. Work program that catches. misspell words or something.
This does not look good to put in the code.
But I can get I understand
what you mean. So how much money in these uh this particular fund, this educational freedom account. is available How much money
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
23:15
is available? Um, well, per student, it's somewhere around $7000 this school year, that's on the exact amount, but
Senator Jane English
Unverified
23:25
It's in that range. OK. Is that the same amount as the foundation 90% of the foundation of
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
23:38
the student funding. So what school districts get per student's 90% of that and this educational Uh Freedom account that's used for homeschoolers. That only for home school and private schools and private schools.
So does these um Uh, percentages apply to private school students as well. Um, the use of them. Well, yeah, let me have the
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
24:08
department come up to be clear. Courtney Sais for Department
Speaker 83
24:21
of Education. Yes, the, the same limits do apply. Now typically,
um, students are going to use that are in private school, they give the amount to the private school who then provides all the services, but if their tuition is less than that $6000 amount they could pay their tuition and and all of those things and then use the other funds for um transportation that's allowed in the bill or um you know, additional therapies or services that they need because of a disability. But yes, the same the same restrictions apply.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
25:02
Does the state get an accounting? Back from the private schools and
the home school. Parents or whoever's teaching the homeschooler. There are reporting
Speaker 133
25:15
requirements um from the the private school and um all students who participate are
Speaker 83
25:20
required to um take a student assessment. A student assessment. Yeah. So like the summative assessment that all students in public schools take, um, they don't
have to take the same exact test, but they have to take a similar test.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
25:38
Well, this bill isn't really about the test, is it? No, it's not. Well, I'm asking about the money. Uh, that's paid out and available for the students that are either in the private schools or that are homeschooled. Does the department or the state of Arkansas, the legislature get a report. On how the money
is used so that Yes. So, so when, when a student
Speaker 83
26:04
is approved, they're set up an account that has this money in there if they want to use it to purchase curriculum, then we actually they designate the curriculum that they want to purchase and the money goes directly to the vendor, um, so we, we know exactly where every all the money is being spent because they have to essentially tell us what they want to purchase. We send it to the vendor if they want to use it for their private school tuition, we send it to the private school, so yes, we have records and I guess what I'm saying is They they don't have to report
on the, on the end because we know initially upfront before the money is even distributed, where it's going, and we do have records of all of that. Well, how are
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
26:42
we going to know that this bill, if it becomes law, is being complied with as it relates to transportation. Because in order to get
Speaker 83
26:52
the funds, they would have to request that we release those funds for transportation, um, and so we know that the full amount and we are keeping up with their request as we go and so at the point that they
Speaker 84
27:05
reached 25% if they tried to request any additional funds for transportation, that request
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
27:11
would be denied. So it's, it's not like we can. Be
assured that they accept through their word, I guess they signed an affidavit saying that what they're saying is true.
Speaker 83
27:23
They don't sign an affidavit, but by applying they for the educational freedom account, they are signing an attestation that they're going to comply with all state requirements and rules, and if we have evidence that they again are not
following those, then we can seek reimbursement and they would become ineligible. How, how,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
27:42
how are you all, are you all planning to keep up with whether somebody is using no more than 25% or 25% up to 25% because they may not even use up to 25% for transportation. It's all done through the Uh I don't
Speaker 83
27:56
know what to call it the the program, um, it's Class wallet again, they, there's an account set up, so it's all done electronically if they submit for reimbursement or they submit
for purchase, um, all of that is kept up with
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
28:15
in the system. We, we pay a company to keep that information, yes. Wonder
Speaker 83
28:24
how much they're paid. Do you know? I believe it's 5%. 1.5, 1.85% of the transactions which totals about just under 5 million. Well, thank you.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
28:44
Are there any other questions from
the committee. Seeing nobody in the audience who would speak for or against the bill. The amendment, yes, we vote on the amendment. Do I hear a motion? Uh
Speaker 143
29:07
Sure this one. Yeah. All in favor, all opposed.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
29:19
Um, so on this full bill, I mean we, we debated it this morning and so I don't wanna, you know, get in the weeds again, although I'm happy to if there's questions. So, um, like I said, we want to show that we trust families, but we also value education stewardship, and it's our job to ensure that funds are going towards um students having high quality learning and making sure that money is being spent on educational tools, um, and, and education related items. So, um, I think the changes we've made.
are very reasonable and we know that EFAs have an explicit explicit purpose of improving educational outcomes, um, and we knew we'd have to come back and look and see how things were going and and tighten up and move around. I mean, that's with any brand new program, um, and that's exactly what we're trying to do here. With that, I'm happy to take any
Speaker 150
30:22
all folks. I have it. OK. Senator Dodson. Senator Dodson? No. Senator Bryant. Senator Bryant? No. Senator Murdoch. Senator Murdoch. Senator King? Senator King, Senator Davis, Senator Davis, aye. Senator flowers, send her
flowers eyeenator Sullivan. Senator Sullivan, I. OK, so we don't
Senator Jane English
Unverified
31:00
have enough votes. Thank you. Thank you. Right. Do
we have anything else on our list? Here. Is
Speaker 157
31:13
she running boss who is she running 1756. 0, I don't know. Yeah It also has an amendment. Give up.
It also has. About 1756. So, are, are you running 17556. But
Senator Jane English
Unverified
31:34
So. 1756 it has an amendment.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
32:41
Thank you, Madam Chair. Brianne Davis, State Senate District 25. may proceed. The amendment just adds me as a Senate sponsor, make a motion do pass on the amendment. On paper I opposed. You may proceed. Thank you. This is House Bill 1756 and All this bill does is allow parents to keep up with the
Community service hours that are required, um, under the Learns Act, and it just outlines that they've got to keep up with documentation, um, that their records may be audited by the Department of Education to ensure that they're being properly maintained and documented. Um, this is just due to the volume. I think that it's putting on counselors in some schools to keep up with all of this, so. were saying if a parent requests it, um, they can keep up with the hours themselves and know
that it's subject to being audited that they've got to do it properly. I'm happy to take any questions. Other
Senator Jane English
Unverified
33:49
questions in the committee, Senator Flowers. So, I'm trying to understand the
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
33:55
process of this community service requirement. Is that something that is plugged into a computer program or something after.
Well, I think each school district does it a little bit differently.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
34:07
I'm sure they just have to students from 9th through 12th grade have to have
so many hours per year of community service. Um, so I don't know exactly how each school district is choosing to keep up with that.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
34:22
That would be a lot to keep up with, I mean. A lot of paper even if a parent puts it on. You know, an affidavit, I guess they'd have a form or
something. For that, I mean the parents supposed to figure out how to prepare an affidavit. are uh, the school's supposed to be
making rules concerning this or is it the department's responsibility. I'd like to hear from the department on how this
Speaker 46
35:00
works. Jacob Leber, Department of Education, so. The graduation requirement for a senior when they graduate from
Speaker 52
35:07
high school is to garner 120 community service hours by their senior year. This went into
effect with last year's freshman, so it starts with a cohort, so this year's sophomores are moving towards that requirement and the way I remember that is cause my son has to meet this requirement and what we've done um through the rules is given a lot of authority to the local school districts to. determine what they want to recognize as community service. So I think what we have found is many of the districts have created their own forms so that if a child, say, is going to a hospital or say they're going to a local food shelter. They have
a standard form from the district that the adult supervisor would sign or somebody would sign off that they were there. This is how many hours they serve. What we're doing here is giving more flexibility and support for the student and family where the parent can actually sign up and it And test that maybe they went to the park and they picked up trash and their community. They did it as a family outing or I just
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
36:10
wanted to know how is this, um, communicated, I mean, you got all this paper.
Speaker 52
36:18
people submitting all these papers. Yeah, that's what the school districts are working with, I think most of the districts, at least the ones that I've worked with, um, the student would have a designated space that they would turn in their farms, maybe it's at their school counselor or their student services office and then those folks would enter it into a database um some school districts may be a little bit more sophisticated than others, but there's a way to capture that on the student record to make sure they met that requirement. With the documentation has to be retained by the school district.
It can. I think what happens is once they verify it, they may log it. I don't know if they're gonna hold on to
Chair
Unverified
36:59
it, yeah, or scan it, yeah, probably something like that. I can't imagine
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
37:04
they would keep binders of papers. You mentioned 125 hours of community service. This is 75, is it 125 or
Speaker 172
37:11
75 I might have misspoke. I apologize. It's 75. 120, I think was tied to a certain scholarship. It's 75. I would think that the
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
37:24
It's a big burden on the school. I mean
they have all these papers. And uh like, just like that school dude program with the facilities division, they ought to have something like that for logging in these community service hours. I agree.
Speaker 52
37:41
I mean, that's why we're working with school districts to see how we can help make this as
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
37:46
seamless and that ought to be in that program over there at the school that facilities and transportation division. Maybe you can just add a little
line on that program. I think that's worth exploring. I think it'd be a cost saver to the state of Arkansas since the
program is already up in the, it's already available at the school district level. So that
teachers can even do punch it in in their classroom. Right. I mean, it looks like you ought to be trying to save some money. To me. Thank you.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
38:29
Are there any further questions? OK, thank you. Second All in favor, all opposed. Thank you very much. Past your bill. Do we have anything else? I think that's
Speaker 176
38:54
all. Hm I think we've got everything. I think that's it. We may,
Senator Jane English
Unverified
39:01
we'll have to see how Monday, I mean, what the house has bills tomorrow and so if they have passed them out, we may meet Monday morning again at 8 o'clock. on this side. Be po. Yeah, we did
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
39:24
that. He, he put the Senate amendment on it We did that
Senator Jane English
Unverified
39:31
has been adopted. It was
Speaker 178
39:37
adopted and it was engrossed first and
Speaker 181
39:41
then. Very good. Magic Magic. There's a lot
Speaker 27
40:03
here before he takes us back to the house. They Before you came. that.
Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
SB625 B. Davis TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM.
HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT TO DOCUMENT AND MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS.
HB1938 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE CREATION OF DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.
HB1939 Joey Carr TO AMEND ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHER INCENTIVE AND MERIT PAY; TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS; AND TO AMEND SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND PROGRAM.
HB1941 Joey Carr CONCERNING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; AND TO PROTECT ARKANSAS STUDENTS BY ENSURING THE EFFICIENT DISPOSITION OF ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEACHERS.
Adjourn
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE MEETING JOINTLY WITH ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION, Apr 9, 2025 | Agenda | 2 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
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Senator Jane English
Unverified
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Senator Dan Sullivan Chair
Unverified
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Chair
Unverified
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
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Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
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