Education Committee - Senate
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Transcript
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Bills discussed (26)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1810
Act 796
· 5 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “Uh, good morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, House Bill 1810. What it does is it seeks to unify the administration in th…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1810 is now Act 796 |
|
HB1733
Act 504
· 4 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “…ICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. HB1733 Joey Carr TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT. | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1733 is now Act 504 |
|
SB484
Act 726
· 4 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “SB484 Irvin TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATI…”
|
TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS WHEREBY A VACANCY IS FILLED ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF … | Irvin | Notification that SB484 is now Act 726 |
|
SB504
Act 727
· 3 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “SB504 Irvin TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS RURAL PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS RURAL PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM ACT. | Irvin | Notification that SB504 is now Act 727 |
|
HB1062
Act 565
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1062 Richardson TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT…”
|
TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. | R. Scott Richardson | Notification that HB1062 is now Act 565 |
|
HB1571
Act 502
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1571 Ray TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT.”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT. | Ray | Notification that HB1571 is now Act 502 |
|
HB1610
Act 387
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…rst off, the on the agenda, we'd like to ask um uh this is. House Bill 1610 1810 Representative Carr.”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HUMAN LIFE PROTECTION ACT AND THE ARKANSAS UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT. | Lundstrum | Notification that HB1610 is now Act 387 |
|
HB1684
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…E DEVELOPMENT BOARD RELATED TO SECONDARY TECHNICAL CENTERS. 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. |
|
HB1696
Act 566
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1696 McAlindon TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1696 is now Act 566 |
|
SB205
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB205 - Expunge the vote which SB205 failed”
|
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. |
|
SB559
Act 729
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB559 J. English TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRAN…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021. | J. English | Notification that SB559 is now Act 729 |
|
SB572
Act 649
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB572 J. Dotson TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPAREN…”
|
TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO … | J. Dotson | Notification that SB572 is now Act 649 |
|
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. |
|
HB1370
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…estrictions designating areas as 'Members and Staff Only'. 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. |
|
HB1495
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. Richardson 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. |
|
HB1545
Act 501
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1545 K. Brown TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSI…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021. | K. Brown | Notification that HB1545 is now Act 501 |
|
HB1646
Act 917
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED…”
|
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. | McGrew | Notification that HB1646 is now Act 917 |
|
SB149
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…LOYMENT TAX ACT TO WAIVE THE "REASONABLE ASSURANCE" CLAUSE. SB149 J. English TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE…”
|
TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. | J. English | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB215
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…UNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. 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: “…avis Sen. Jim Dotson REGULAR AGENDA Number Sponsor Subtitle 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. |
|
SB451
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…CH OR AN ATHLETICS PERSONNEL MEMBER WHO RECRUITS A STUDENT. SB451 Hester TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTME…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL … | Hester | Died in Senate at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB482
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…EDUCATION OF CERTAIN STUDENTS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. 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. |
|
SB604
Act 730
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…L CALENDAR FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING UP MISSED SCHOOL DAYS. SB604 B. Davis TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE REGARDING…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE REGARDING THE COURSE CHOICE PROGRAM. | B. Davis | Notification that SB604 is now Act 730 |
|
SB607
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…S OF THE ARKANSAS CODE REGARDING THE COURSE CHOICE PROGRAM. 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. |
|
SCR3
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ECLARE AN EMERGENCY. 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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- October 2, 2026
Senator Jane English
Unverified
0:10
visiting us with us, Isabella Glasscock. Jodie Cleveland, Addison Pinckney. Riley grooms. And Payne
Leonard, thank you very much for being here. This is All about Thank
you very much. And first off, the on the agenda, we'd like to ask um uh this is. House Bill 1610 1810 Representative Carr.
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
0:41
Uh, good morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, House Bill 1810. What it does is it seeks to unify the administration in the schools of the school for the Deaf and the school for the blind. They are currently two separate entities and what this will do, this will ensure that the The instructional plans are streamlined. They're calibrated. They're unified. That will create greater security, a more effective instructional approach.
And provide the support for the learning needs of each. Individual kid. And with that
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:28
I would entertain any questions. Senator Dodson. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so Representative
Carr, this, this is. Basically just merging and then renaming, in essence, or is there anything more in depth in this that I'm missing. It's,
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:47
it's a, it's an administrative unification. So, uh, Superintendent, principals, board, uh. It'll it'll it'll all be to where it's one school instead of two separate entities because we have several students, uh, I think the number is right now of the 150, 30, 30, about 32 students, 23, sorry, 23 students. That are deaf and blind, and so they're they're back and forth and so that's 11 of the
struggles instructionally that they deal with is just to ensure that they're meeting the learning needs of those kids and with it being, it'd be like a student going to two separate schools, you know, I, I get that. I just. It's
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:31
a 37 page bill and we're late in the session and everything's getting blurry at 2 a.m., right, a lot of that is cleaning up last night. I want to make sure that there's nothing I'm missing in there other than it's merging and a lot of the language that has been stricken is
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
2:48
antiquated language. OK. Thank you, sir. There are
Senator Jane English
Unverified
2:55
questions from the committee besides Senator Dodson. Are there anybody who would like to speak for? We have people to speak for and against the bill. Uh, let's see, what's her name? Hancock Speakonia
Speaker 28
3:19
Hancock speaking against the bill. So Oh, OK. All right.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
3:34
There. OK. Maybe then both of you
Speaker 32
3:39
need to have a seat at the table. I mean No
Unknown speaker
3:51
Where would you like me to sit right down at the end of the table.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:45
If you identify yourself, you will be recognized. Say that again for
Speaker 42
4:51
the interpreter, please. Beg pardon. Do you mind repeating yourself for the
Senator Jane English
Unverified
4:54
interpreter? I can't quite hear you. Oh. Um, I think that's about as loud as
Speaker 43
5:00
we can make it. You can't hear us very well. I can't.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
5:04
I think that's about as loud as we can make it. Let's see, he's. Oh, thank you.
Is that better? OK, thank you very much. OK, if you'd identify yourself, you'll be recognized.
Speaker 48
5:21
controversial. We got people speaking I have. Thank you. Yeah She said
Ashley Harris
Unverified
5:52
With Ashley Harris? And I am here with Kitsonia and we would like
Speaker 36
6:16
to provide our information. Gus Go ahead. Yeah. I. right.
Ashley Harris
Unverified
8:07
Well I Thank you. That bill shows that the governor would be taking control of the Arkansas School for the Deaf, as well as ASBVI's board. This is going to permanently harm the board and affect the board's ability to use their voice. Deaf culture is extremely cherished when it comes to our education, as well
as for blind individuals, deaf and blind require different needs for education. The responsibility of the Senate should be to place a board member and establish a board without legislative interference and that has deaf leaders through it, someone who has been through the deaf life and experiences what a deaf person goes through. Most other individuals are clueless, and they haven't been in our shoes. A.
And for community input, the AAD really has some in-depth concerns regarding the bill and how its influence will Be resulted directly from the feedback of the recent survey that was sent out in December of 2023. That survey was not appropriately published or sent out. It was without captions and without ASL videos and translations for a blind individuals who rely on audio and screen readers, there was no access for them either.
This is proof that our community has been further failed as well as our school. Yeah In the past, Senator Clark from the House Representative. And Senator McCullough have had no understanding about ASD or ASBVI's decision making processes without input from the community, how can they be expected to make these AAD has already made them very aware, as well as the House of Representatives that the former
support of our bill and vote has been pushed through. And to clarify, we've withdrawn any further support from that bill. We're asking that you vote against this House bill now. Please withdraw House Bill 1810 and please allow individuals to think about really the impact this is going to have from the survey, as well as on a broader sense, not having someone who's been through the deaf experience.
This bill being proposed will continue to harm the education of our students that we so cherish, ASD as well as ASBVI. Both of these schools are extremely important to me and they should be important to you as well. In the future, we would ask that there not be any additional damage to our deaf and blind students in Arkansas in our further generations. Thank you.
Speaker 69
11:23
Thank you very much. Charlene. Madam Chair, if I may.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
11:39
I think the sponsors would like to join. The sponsors would like to
hold off and bring this bill back later in committee if you don't mind. That'd be fine. That'd be all right, OK. I've driven
Speaker 75
11:50
2.5 hours. Could I go ahead and give my testimony?
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
12:03
We have one more that would like to testify at
the committee wants to hear it if they, but we'd like to hold off on a vote until we We'd like to bring it up later, but we have one more
Charlene Fight
Unverified
12:18
like to testify now, OK, that's here. I just drove 2.5 hours to get here and I may not be able to return because I may be having surgeries, so I'd like to go ahead remarks will be, OK, I will be brief. My name is Charlene Fight. I'm a
former legislator. I served for 12 years in the Arkansas House of Representatives with several of you, and I was on the education committee for several terms. But before all of that, I was a teacher of deaf children and my original degree is in education of the deaf. So we're all here for the same reason. We want the best for our children. For many, many years, the school for the deaf and the school for
the blind and visually impaired has been in horrible condition. Several of you saw it. The buildings were crumbling. The staff was excellent, but the buildings, the dormitories, the classrooms, the campus itself was in bad condition. It was unsafe for our children. Every governor that we have had since I have been in the house. has cared about these children, has wanted the best for them, but they have not known what to
do. Governor Sanders, much to her credit, has stepped forward and was willing to take bold action and streamline the school, streamlined the campus and make it better and do everything that she could. To bring a state of the art facility for these children. That's what we're going to have state of the art. It's going to be one wing for deaf children, one wing for blind children.
and one administrator who will take care of the paperwork and so forth, but then a principle, a specialized principle for each school who has knowledge of deaf children and the other who has knowledge of blind children. It makes sense to me 15 other states use this model. This is not anything new, and I want to leave you with the 7 last words of the church or the seven last words of any organization or any agency. Do
you know what the seven last words are? We've never done it that way before. We die if we don't change and our schools for the deaf and our schools for the blind and visually impaired are dying. This is our chance to bring them where they should be and give these children the services they so richly deserved, so please vote yes on this bill.
Speaker 86
15:19
Senator Sullivan, I think there's a representatives carpresentative, you want to hold
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
15:22
off on running it further, or do you want to go ahead? Yeah, we'll go ahead and just, we'll wait. OK. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator Urban.
2 pills. Representative Carr, are you saying you want to wait? OK, thank you. Sorry. Thank you, um, Senator Missy
Senator Jane English
Unverified
16:22
Urban District 24. I think we have to expunge the vote from the amendment that
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
16:32
we passed at the last meeting. Yes. Could I
do Senate Bill 504 1st? OK. Um, Senate Bill 504 members just sets up a statewide Arkansas rural preceptorship program, um, for our 4 medical schools, and
this is an easy program that just really provides a per diem, um, just to expose these medical students out into the rural parts of the state of Arkansas. It's a highly successful. Uh, moving our medical students out into the rural parts of the state of Arkansas to expose them to health. constructed with the collaboration of these 4 medical schools and the Department of Higher Eds that we can be more
intentional about our workforce issues as it relates to getting doctors out into the rural parts of the state of Arkansas. I know we went out to Senator Murdoch's area and had a great visit out there, um, and so, uh, this idea kind of came a little bit from some of those meetings we actually had in West Memphis, but also from my personal experience, my husband, uh participated in this rural preceptorship that currently is At UAMS, this would open it up for a statewide initiative, um, with the ability for private,
um to also contribute like a health system, and FQHC, a community, um, could also participate in this to bring and host a preceptor into their community. So that's why we've designed it that way, um, but when you get those folks out into the rural parts of the state of Arkansas, they realized that we've got great public schools. We, it's a great cost of living, place to raise their kids, um, and it's just a lot cheaper way of being able to introduce them to rule parts of
the state of Arkansas, and I'm definitely supportive of rural residency programs. I think they're, they're wonderful, but they're harder to stand up and harder to maintain the AEC program at Jonesboro is fabulous, and we've been able to do a role preceptorr preceptorship and rural residency through the Ahack and Jonesboro, um, but this program, uh, just is. to be more intentional about trying to get our workforce out into rural areas. That's what the bill does. There's, there's no fiscal impact, it's just setting up the program.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
18:56
The questions from the committee. Anybody in the audience to speak for or against the bill. What's the will of the committee. All in favor. Post. Thank you
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
19:12
very much. Thank you. And the last bill I have today is a Senate Bill 484, and we would need to do a motion to expunge the vote by which the amendment was adopted. Go ahead. I beg your pardon.
Speaker 103
19:26
to expand. Yes. They were. Thank you. Thank you,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
19:35
Senator Dotson. Um, so what we did was rewrote the bill basically with the input of the committee. I rewrote the bill and um engrossed the amendment into the bill. So, um, heard the concerns. I think that was shared by the committee and so we worked uh through the issues so that if there's a vacancy,
the first line will still be the school board, um, even though I have concerns about that. I think that's a language in this bill that allows for disclosure and transparency and kind of just an ability for the citizens that are very concerned about or that are wanting to fill that vacancy can apply for it, know that it's out there, and it just subscribes a pretty clean process there, um, and then the second line of defense, so to speak, would be your quorum
court and uh and so that just the the language kind of outlines and We just took all of the input from the members of the committee to try to reflect that in this current bill, um, regarding vacancies on school boards. So, uh, if you'll see, um, you have, you have this a very clean, I think, and clear, transparent process, um, and then allowing for uh the disclosure of that vacancy on page 2. I think it's important
that the local newspaper that it's listed there, the homepage of the school district's official website and uh utilizing that there's a notice of that vacancy and that a qualified elector who may be interested then knows about it and can apply for that position to be considered by the majority of the school district board of directors or the Quorum Court if the school district does not or is not able to make that determination.
I'm happy to answer any questions. And not. Thank
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
21:38
you, Madam Chair, and Uh Sorry, I didn't realize that this had
got amended and engrossed yesterday, so I, I was going through it this morning, yeah, and I know that you helped me with the other language the process between the school board and then the quorum Court. If I'm reading it correctly, if the school board doesn't fill it, then theorum Court does and the quorum Court and the school
board both have to follow identical processes in order to fill the vacancy so as far as sending it out, I think they have. Any candidates have 5 minutes to present those processors are for both. Whichever one fills the bacon. OK,
Speaker 101
22:21
thank you. You did a better job of presenting my bill I didn't. Thank you. Any other questions
Senator Jane English
Unverified
22:27
from the committee. We have somebody to speak against the bill. Julia Taylor.
Speaker 116
22:38
Go ahead. I also, um, did not realize until I got into this
Senator Jane English
Unverified
22:47
room that the bill had been amended, but you have to have a seat and identify yourself. For
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
22:55
the record, on camera. Julia Taylor, um, and, uh, I'm speaking for myself. I was
opposed to this bill. I was in committee the other day to speak for against it, um, I did not
realize that it had been amended until I got into the room this morning. I would have just scratched my name off, but I did want to just go on record that I was opposed to the other bill because I did not like that it took away the local process, so I, I'm not really opposed now. Thank you very much.
Speaker 77
23:24
Thank you. I appreciate it. OK, Heather Finley. I
Speaker 57
23:48
On. The the amendments engrossed in the
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
23:51
bill. Yeah, but 484. You identify yourself for the record.
Speaker 127
24:00
Thank you, Madam. I'm Heather Finley from Gravette, Arkansas. I currently
Speaker 129
24:04
serve on the graviate school board as the legislative liaison. I'm here speaking as myself as a board member, and I appreciate the amendment because I was opposed
to the bill as it was originally written, and I see that what we are trying to do is transparency and communication, and I feel that's very important for a school board and its community to have. that. I do have a concern with the process of no executive session as a small community, the board sometimes has to make some decisions that might be unfavorable with some people, and I could see that having those discussions on personnel
matters in an open meeting could hamper, could harm relationships with community members serving for 10 years on the graduate school board, I have a known of two vacancies, and at that time we have always allowed a public input and a time for those candidates to present their case and then the board will retire to an executive session because of a personnel matter and come out into public
and make that vote. So I would ask a no vote as written, and I would love to see an amendment that allowed an executive session. Thank you. I think that's all born against. Any other
Senator Jane English
Unverified
25:34
questions from the committee? Nobody else in the audience to speak for or against the bill. What is the will of the if I can just close. Yes, ma'am, thank
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
25:50
you. Um, to that concern, I, I agree on personnel matters personnel matters when it comes to your um, staff that you're, but this is a this is a public official position. When we get voted on, it's not in an executive session. It it it is a public disclosure our elections are. And so in my opinion, it's the same. issue with a vacancy on a school board, and I appreciate the concern. However, these are not
employees of the school district. They're a school district board of directors, and so to me there's a distinction between that and a personnel issue as it relates to somebody who is actually employed by the school district. So I appreciate the concerns. However, to me, this is, this, they are two separate different issues, and I would always advocate for personnel issues to remain an executive. obsession. However, school district board of directors is not somebody employed by the school district. I just, I
wanted to make that and and I I appreciate the other concerns being addressed with the amendment, um, and I, so I appreciate to get that. Thank
Senator Jane English
Unverified
27:04
you. puts the will of the committee. take a On there. Oh,
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
27:12
discussion, yes, go ahead. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I appreciate the amendment and because I didn't like the bill before, but thank you
for working hard and I know you've uh, we talked a lot about it and
you addressed a lot of the concerns I had with the original one, so, um, and And Maybe contrary as I've been sitting here thinking through the bill. I know it's very uncomfortable, but we do a lot of things that are uncomfortable as public officials to have a public discussion and debate on filling a vacancy, um, and so, uh, but that is something that Since we are discussing something for someone who will be in in a
position of authority and controlling a lot of resources and the education of our children, some of the thoughts that go into filling that vacancy should be discussed publicly, so I think It is a good Good position there to have a Not to have it go into an executive session, so, um, so for that reason I'll be voting yes. Thank you. Another Discussion Oh On paper? Uh
Unknown speaker
28:28
All post. Thank you, you passed your bill. Oh, yeah. Yeah
Senator Jane English
Unverified
29:05
And he gets finished. You will
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
29:09
identify yourselves. You'll be recognized. That's Senator Dan Sullivan, District 20. I think we're on House
Bill 172333 33, and I have a guest here and if you would introduce
Chester Shannon
Unverified
29:21
yourself. My name's Chester Shannon. I'm the superintendent Jackson County School District school district in northeast Arkansas. And we go ahead and um, House Bill 1733 takes um
In the state of Arkansas there there is the ABC program and there is the ABCSS, uh, two very good programs for preschool education in the state of Arkansas. ABC was founded in 1991 and it's got 10 qualifiers for students to be admitted to that program. ABCSS came later and around 2001 and and it only has the
qualifier of income. And so what this bill does, it does not cost the state any money, um, it does not create any more ABC slots, but what it does is it takes ABCSS and, and, and gives them the same eligibility requirements as ABC. Which, which will allow a lot of flexibility is when you are testing kids or trying to get
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
30:38
kids enrolled in preschool. The questions from the committee to take any questions. It's the
Speaker 147
30:55
last packet in your book, I think. Or next though. And I know you're
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
31:00
pulled it out of order and be glad to let you look through it, but again, I think the important parts are just kind of levels the playing
field for these programs. There's no cost and we're not creating additional cost by adding slots. You have questions? Anybody
Senator Jane English
Unverified
31:21
have questions? Nobody in the audience to speak for or against the bill. What's the will of the committee? Oh, certainly, go ahead. So I know the
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
31:35
ABC program is, I'm familiar with that.
The second program. The the creation of
Chester Shannon
Unverified
31:44
it, give me some, some history on that. Uh, well, originally in 1991, the ABC slots were 3000 in the state and then uh the state went 10 or 12 years and did not add any preschool slots, then they developed 20,000 ABC SS, um, but the original slots to qualifying factors for being in the
original slots for a student to qualify or developed by um the the agency, the childcare. They came up with 10 really good things that would show developmental delays, so if you had a teenage mother, uh, that that had a child under age 18, uh, the indications are that that child may be delayed in some way, and so those are all great qualifiers, ABCSS, the bulk of those in the state is
income only, and, and so a child that qualifies for speech would be. eligible if he didn't qualify for the income and um and so the original ABC slots or like um um if a child right now you have to turn with ABCSS you have to turn 3 by August 1st to be enrolled for the entire year, but with ABC slots, uh, you can turn 3 on the 15th and be injured or be actually be in a in a program
when school starts, so there's flexibility with the ABC, um, it's, I think we have the support of the Arkansas Department of Education. Uh, I don't want to speak for them, but uh And um and it
Speaker 152
33:27
and it passed the house, I think 98. Um, 0. I guess what I, I'm
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
33:34
I'm trying to, to ascertain is the distinction between the two programs when
the slots were added, why not just add them to the ABC program. Why? What's
Chester Shannon
Unverified
33:46
this, the distinction between the programs the only distinction between the programs is what, how do you qualify to get into the program and the initial program uh was 3000 slides and then there's nothing added for 10 or 12 years. And in that 10 or 12 years, preschool was on the uh was on the um it was kind of on the chopping block where we have preschool, but then In the early 2000s, they came back and said, hey, preschool
education is important. The legislature, uh, uh, instead of the child development people developed the criteria that was income only, but so this opens it up. It gives everybody in my school district, I have 34 of the old money ABC slots and, and without them I could not have added toddlers because ABCSS does not allow that, and so it gives every. everybody the same, the the old original slots are considered
the old money are considered gold because you have the flexibility of getting kids enrolled that need the instruction that need the help to be ready for kindergarten and uh and a lot of slots out there. There's a lot of people did not even know there's a distinction between the
Speaker 156
35:04
two, mostly because I haven't been in as long as I have. And that
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
35:11
the Department of Education is OK with these changes. Oh that's Jack, yeah. OK.
Speaker 158
35:19
That question, Senator Murdoch. That's it. Thank you. I make a motion to pass. Se All in favor all opposed. Thank
Unknown speaker
36:12
Come back, please.
So. Very much 1571.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
37:26
You identify yourself, you'll be recognized. Thank
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
37:28
you, Madam Chair. Brianne Davis, State Senate District 25. Um, I'm presenting House Bill 1517 today. Uh, last session we passed legislation creating the adult diploma program. We created that program as a way to address um more to address the emergency that we face with adults in our state who have no 1517, did I say 1571? 1517? Is it 71? I'm sorry, 71.
That's why I couldn't find it in my notebooks. Thank you. 15711571. Um, so we were trying to address, um, the emergency of of adults across our state with no high school diploma. Um, there's around 300,000 of them. We created an approach used by other states that's different than the traditional model, um, one, it pays for performance, and 2, it allows for an open provider model. As with a lot of legislation that we passed, we need to come
back today during implementation and make a few tweaks that we've seen over the last two years, and that's what this bill does. One change is more substantial that we want to be honest about and that is we're increasing a few of the reimbursement amounts, um, that's because the amounts that were put into rules didn't align with best practices that we were seeing in other states. It doesn't increase the amount being spent on the program, but it does. changed the amount that providers must adhere to for the average cost per graduate. So
the amount remains capped, but again it's just sort of fixing the rules and making sure that providers are paid the appropriate amount if students are graduating from their program, um, that's what the bill does. There's no fiscal impact to the state, and we're just making changes um within the program to make sure that it flows better and aligns and does what it needs to do. Happy to answer any questions. Senator Dodson, you're recognized.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
39:30
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think you may have added answered this. Throughout because that was one of my questions is how is there no fiscal impact when we're increasing all these things, but do you know what the You said that it's the amount still remains the same, but what is the What is that amount, I guess,
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
39:51
how much are we spending on this program? Um, $750,000. OK, so So there were 267 graduates and
through the largest provider, um, that is eligible for this program. No, they, we are using the funds, um, but I mean, it's for students actually graduating and I think that's the beauty of this program, it's pay for performance essentially if they're ensuring that these adults that don't have high school diplomas are getting them, um, that's when they're paid, so um it's really motivation on both ends to To get it handled and have a high school diploma, not just a GED.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
40:35
Thank you. Members, any other questions? Sean, no one signed up to speak for or against the bill. If not, what's the will of the
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
40:45
committee? Are you? Yes, I'm close to my bill and with the motion do pass, got a 2. All
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
40:50
in favor say aye. Ah Thank you, Pastor Bill. That's the most important part, isn't it? Members, do we have anyone else here?
Unknown speaker
41:07
To run a bill. What, uh What number is it?
Scott Richardson
Unverified
42:29
Members we're going to hear House Bill 1062. And if
you would introduce yourself, and you may proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Scott Richardson from uh House District 13, Northwest Arkansas. Today I bring for your consideration House Bill 1062, uh, which we've titled to create the uh teacher and student Protection Act, um, this, uh, this bill came about as much of a constituent bill as there ever was. I was out knocking doors like a number of uh of of
candidates in the fall, and I ran into a teacher that I couldn't help but notice a very large black eye. Um, we talked for a while. She finally noticed my stare and although I tried not to, she's noticed that I was looking at it and she proceeded to explain to me that this was a result of a of an action between Her and her uh and one of her students, um, and this was actually the 2nd time that that particular student had attacked her in a classroom in the
previous week, so from that we came to this uh this particular. Approach to try to address some of the violence that's occurring in our classrooms with that, I'll sort of run through um some of the, the pieces of the bill for your consideration. Of course, the definitions are always important. Um, we, we place those, uh, a few items that I want to point out appropriate interim learning environment, short term, um. identical, excuse me, if you
will, identical environment for a student to be placed in if if need is there and then of course that's we gave some examples like a classroom or in school suspension where they can receive this exact same services that they've always received, um, and then we had to, um, we had to define violin and we did that through using threatening language, throwing items, of course, that could cause harm or damage, uh, physically abusing a student or a teacher. And then similar actions to
that, um, so within the bill itself, we define or we had to add to Arkansas code that violent behavior is a reason for a teacher to actually remove a student before that it's, it wasn't there, so we added that in on page 216, um, we gave some clarity around when a student should be removed down lower in that that uh that same I guess the same sections further down and then um we get
into some of the challenges with this. We wanted to make sure that if a student is removed for a violent behavior that we actually do a behavioral threat assessment on that student to determine if there's a further intervention that that would be required and needed, um, and with that, I'm happy to take any questions. Remember does anyone have any questions?
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
45:37
Uh, anyone here to speak for or against the bill. Would you like to close
Speaker 183
45:43
for your bill? I'll I'll be closed for my bill. This is
Scott Richardson
Unverified
45:46
obviously a, a good way for us to start uh providing some protection in the classroom, and I would appreciate a committee's good vote.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
46:07
Motion to pass 2nd. You can We not. I want to make sure we're we got. Folks here, we wanna make sure everybody's comfortable before we move forward. OK We have a second, all in favor say aye.
I congratulations, your bill passes. Folks, the chair is supposed to be back. She isn't, so we're going to hold off running any more bills till we have
Speaker 189
46:53
a few more members here. There we are, OK.
Speaker 25
47:02
We're gonna. We're gonna move on. Yeah That's yours OK. And what are we doing now?
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
49:03
Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator Dan Sullivan, District 20 members, we are looking at 1684. We heard this bill once, Representative McClendon was here. And the bill did not pass out of committee, um, and I think it was because there were some language in the bill that wasn't very specific, and when you look at the, I'm just running the amendment now. So when you look at the amendment, we have deleted some of the lines where
the bill wasn't specific. We've either deleted them or replaced them. Most of them we just deleted. So when you look at what's been added here, uh, or what's been delayed you'll see page 5, several times or I think 4 times. That we deleted language again that wasn't either clear or specific, and then on page 5 we added a line. And again, page 5 was the one that was.
Uh, in question, be glad to take any questions on the amendment. Sure, Murdoch,
Speaker 194
50:17
do you have a question? I Oh Can you find your bill?
Speaker 199
50:38
1684 It was the teachers and Uh. Thank you.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
51:18
Yes, permission, I think I'll let Senator Dodson run his bills. I'll wait until we get a few more people back here in committee, OK. Thank you. Start with.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
51:54
OK. fewer identify yourself, you'll be recognized.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
52:01
State Senator Jim Dodson, District 34, thank you. Um. Senate Bill 572 is the public school access and Transparency Act. Um, this bill amends
for you to ensure public access to learning materials used in Arkansas public schools, um, this bill addresses concerns about transparency and explicitly.
Classifying curricula, lesson plans, books, digital resources, and other instructional materials as public records. It prevents school officials from denying access based on copyright claims and prohibit agreements that restrict public inspection due to intellectual property rights. This is a uh uh An effort to respond to the need for accountability and public education, ensuring residents can review what students are being taught without undue barriers, um. The bill
Introduces specific provisions to balance access with legal protections residents can't publish or distribute copyrighted materials, uh. And Access to digital resources like subscription-based platforms must be facilitated through physical inspection if copying is impractical. Um Schools are not, cannot require disclosure,
non-disclosure agreements for access and the definition of learning materials, excludes tests or assessments to protect academic integrity. Happy to try to answer any questions. Senator
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
53:44
Murdoch. What precipitated this to be what, what, what did you're talking about, it's not allowable or available now for. Um, parents to inspect the general public to inspect this
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
53:58
in your this transparency. Well, this is ensuring that it can't be denied, so just making sure there's open transparency. I think there's probably instances. That have happened in I don't have a lot of instances that I can point to specifically, but just depends on the school district, their administration, I do know locally that there
have been in my area at times if you're not a parent, you can't. I think it's inspect or or or even sometimes speak on things, so it's one of those things that making sure that we have access and and actually Somebody that might be able to help answer your questions a little bit more specifically, um. is my co-sponsor on this particular bill if the chair
Speaker 208
54:59
would recognize Senator or Representative McAlinden. This
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
55:06
is Senate Bill 572. Well, let me just ask this question to the department and to Mike Hernandez back there. Do we have any Is everybody OK with this? Is there any pushback from our superintendent is any school, uh, is, is everybody OK with this as far as we know?
Mike, let me hear from Hernandez for a second, have a seat. identify yourself, you'll be recognized. You might repeat your question just to make sure. Just trying to make sure that we don't have any concerns as it relates to, I mean, it seems a simple transparency, it seems simple, but, but it almost
Speaker 211
55:57
seems simple enough to me that it's not necessary. So what's so uh,
Speaker 212
56:02
Senator Murdoch, to answer your question, um. You know, it, it does. There's a lot of things in this bill that just seem like What we already would be able to be doing as a district. Probably the only thing that may give a little pause or might have a question on is related to um just the online learning platforms and having, you know, people come in and inspect them sometimes those things are, uh, if I'm understanding the bill right, is the um
There are a lot of those technologies that are user specific like if I answer a question. It may go to a harder question or a different prompt or some of those things, so just the, the mechanics of operating making this happen, you know, is not saying it can't be done, it's just something that we would have to try to figure out and not get in any kind of issues with copyrights and making sure student data is not being seen by somebody
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
56:55
in the general public and so some inside the bill are there um um. Provisions to prevent the
copyright in other type of infringements that may be allowed in this,
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
57:07
that, that's, I think part of and, and you might be able to answer it even better than I can, but that's part of the the intent of this is things that are digital nature, things like that that you can't copy that it goes through just the. Parents or the general public have the ability to inspect what's being taught within the schools, so there's transparency's worked so
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
57:29
hard on this and so I did want to, so
what, what, let me hear from you what precipitated
Senator Jane English
Unverified
57:36
this, would you identify yourself for the record, please the administrator association. Thank
Speaker 213
57:40
you. Mindy McAloon House District 10. Thank you. Thank you,
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
57:45
Chairman. Um, yes, sir. So what happened is we have a couple of bills, one that hopefully will be presented later today, which is the past bill that allows schools to make a photocopy if someone needs a piece of paper to say, for example, I don't, I want to know what's being taught on, say, evolution in the
biology textbook. And so that bill will give people an opportunity, schools an opportunity to either let a parent look at it or if it's just a couple of pages, the school may opt to say, let's not set up a meeting. I'll just photocopy and send it. to you. And so the goal is simply to make sure that schools aren't violating any copyright by doing that. And that's so it's just a protection for the schools. And that's why at the end, we talk about, not at the end, but at the bottom of page 2 or top of page 3, I don't have the engrossed version, but it says that copy shall not exceed any amounts permissible under
the fair use provisions of the US Copyright Act, and that's the purpose of that. It's
just to make sure if they make a couple copies for for a parent that they're not doing anything that they shouldn't be doing. Thank you. Of course. And it Any other
Senator Jane English
Unverified
58:49
questions? Nobody here to speak for or against the bill. What's the will of the committee? I'm closed. I make a motion to pass. Becket. That's fine On they were
Speaker 142
59:06
all opposed. Thank you very much. You've passed your bill. I'm
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
59:10
going to do. And while we're here, we do 1696 as well, uh, representative McAlinden. This is, this is also her bill, yeah, uh the one that she was referring to was the one that Dan presented the amendment just a second ago and then pulled it down. So the unengrossed amendment that he just presented, that that's the bill she was just referring to. This is a completely separate bill. I think there's I said I've been busy.
Um, this is, uh, House Bill 1696, the strengthening Arkansas Education Act and Representative McClendon if you'd like to present. Absolutely, Representative McClendon, House
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
59:50
District 10. This is a really exciting bill. We've collaborated with the Department of Education with higher ed, um, we've worked with them probably for months. We've worked with nearly every representative from our 2 year and 4-year universities across the state to try to come up with something that works within their system, aligns with the Access Act to guarantee, you know, transferability and also to make
sure that college credits earned in high school, um, applied towards degree completion, so we've gone through a lot of, a lot of hoops to make sure that this is working. Higher Ed has a goal of reducing the gen ed core to less than 35 hours, and part of that is to help students graduate more quickly, potentially in 3 years instead of 4 years, which saves them money and gets them into the workforce faster. So one of the key changes that we've made in this bill is to remove the rigid 34, excuse me, 35 hour general core curriculum standard. Um, it gives institutions the flexibility to tailor their
programs while still maintaining high academic standards, but at the same time we established a 15 hour requisite core and uh this is required for both associate degrees as well as bachelor degrees, and what it consists of is two English or English equivalent courses. One math or math equivalent, 13 hour American history course and 13 hour American government course, and that will be for every student, whether they're graduating 2 year or 4-year university. Um, and the reason that I think that we
discussed this and felt that these two courses were really important to
require, um, if you think about being young and listening to your grandparents or your aunts and uncles, talk about the history of your family. They would talk about how they met, um, maybe how they came to America if it's like my family, I had relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War. Maybe your family explored the unknown of the West for for a better life. All those stories are the roots that make my family my family, right? And it, it tells me how I belong, and that's how I feel about our American family. Our story, our history is what makes us a family. We don't always agree, but we're bound
together by that history. And I think it's really important because it connects
us and it makes us belong. And so this bill requires that every student takes American history and American government,
and I know you can argue that we took that in high school, uh, but I think at this point in time where we have young students who are voting. They're getting ready to embark on their careers. It's really important to reinforce those values and that understanding of how
our government works. I mean, we know that government can kind of be a hot mess, but it works. Um, and
it's essential that people understand that, that our young
people know how it works, why it works, and why we cherish the way that it works. Reagan famously said freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. I firmly believe that if we don't teach our children about our history and the responsibility that comes with freedom, then we have failed them. Um, in Arkansas, I want every student, whether they go to a 2 year, College or 4-year university to leave with a deep understanding of America's history, its government, and their role in preserving the nation's legacy. Yeah
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:02:52
And, and I, I tend to agree. With the concept
what is somewhat problematic is that we're mandating a curriculum that they must take this, and I would love to leave that to those institutions to determine curriculum and those things. I understand your passion and sentiment for it and you know, and as a parent or even in your your role as a state representative, I think you can
encourage. I'm not sure. That I'm OK with us mandating that they must take it. OK, I understand that. So I'd love
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:03:30
to bring, can I ask someone to come to the table? Thank you. I mean I do think we did work with the term education and with those 2 year and 4-year schools to make sure that everyone was comfortable with that and if you um if you're an engineer, for example, you can take a different math class. So there's a lot of flexibility,
but I'll let the experts speak instead of
Speaker 225
1:03:52
me. Yes, good morning, Mason Campbell and the Assistant commissioner for academic Affairs for the Division of Higher Ed. So, um, happy to answer any questions, the agency is very, very comfortable with this bill. We put a lot of sponsors with the institutions to make sure that it that it meets the goals. We have no issues or concerns with the requisite core. In many ways it reinforces what we, what we already allow within the core if you really dig down, there's an additional 3 hours that we're now sort of that are now
requisite, but the minimum core, which is a larger portion of the general education cops can still be determined by the institution, so what this does is sort of prevent students from falling through that cracks with a specific. Um, pieces that we wanted to see and then it allows us to update and sort of modernize the core also get some new life back in the court hasn't been updated in a long time, so our agency still has latitude to build upon this core and it reinforces what we already do in many ways.
Speaker 228
1:04:54
Well, Excuse me, as you represent higher
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:05:00
Ed and obviously the institutions that You that stand behind you or so to speak that you represent, I guess, you know, they're OK with. This type, but this can be the start of something of this type of mandates to the institutions. That's my concern, and it's a good, I have no problem with what your your the concept of
where you're going, but the uh where this can be where this can go next. It's kind of my concern, but um, But thank you, thank you for answering the question. OK. Any further questions from the
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:05:42
committee. like to close for your bill. There's nobody here to speak for or against the
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:05:50
bill. Thank you. Well, just as a reminder, this is a this is a change in our uh general education requirements. We're
reducing the 35 hours, taking that off the institutions so that they can create a require education cores that they want this replaces it with a 15-hour requisite core, um, in order to be sure that we have students who rather they're graduating from 2 year or 4 year that they have a solid foundation. And with that, I'm closed. And Just to, to
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:06:15
build on that, just to. This actually gives the institutions a little bit more flexibility, I think. Within the the
The non-requisite core to build their programs specifically related to whether it be engineering or or various things like that, um. So I think this is a, a positive step forward and like I said when this bill first came out, um, We had a lot of A lot of input from all of the institutions across the state who uh And it was a much bigger bill. We started with just trying to realign the existing core and
This is something that everybody sat around the table, and when I say everybody, I think it was one of the largest education, uh. Groups of people from all across the state that I'd ever been in that were all interested from the department to the uh uh To all the institutions, 2 year, 4 year, I mean, they, they were all present on this bill and so we kind of built it to where everybody is comfortable with it, uh. And so anyway, that just want to give you that background on it
before we vote and with that we're closed, I make a motion
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:07:42
to pass. I here a second. Yeah. All in favor all opposed. Thank you very much, Pastor Bill. Representative
Richardson in here still. I saw him down in state.
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:07:53
Oh, OK, Madam Chair. Going forward with the committee as it currently sits up with our current.
Attendance. I'm not comfortable moving any more bills out of here. Right. Thank you. Then I
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:08:05
guess we are finished. We will adjourn. I. I Are we coming back? Well, we don't
Speaker 237
1:08:18
have that much left. We only have about, I, I have a
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:08:25
couple of bills. Can you handle my little bills that aren't controversial.
Speaker 232
1:08:32
the I know. I thought we were going to wait on them. I don't think they're, huh. Yeah.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:09:26
Yeah These are just military children's stuff. So folks, that was an accidental gavel. Uh, she was trying to lay it down. We laid it
down in the wrong place. So we've got 2 more bills to hear. So we're going to hear them right now. I was. Senator, if you would introduce yourself and the bill number
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:09:57
you're running, Senator Jane English, and I have a Senate Bill 559.
Basically they're clean up bills from the military child school Transition Act of 2021. And a sentence was inadvertently taken out. Of a of a uh Bill before and so we're putting it back in. And also we're making clear that
a receiving district shall enter academic courses on requests for behalf of incoming students. The whole idea of the military children is to make sure that when all of our students of military children are coming in to the state of Arkansas from another school someplace else. Or on their way out someplace else that that we have an equal amount of attention and that those students actually have an opportunity to to register
early, register for courses so they don't have to wait until after everything is all taken and and one of the things that we've changed in here is from a me to a shall, so that the students do get that opportunity. That's it. Remember anybody have any questions? OK. Yeah. Yeah. We could
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:11:22
have someone from the Department of Ed. We're OK, OK. And other questions, requests.
Statements, comments. Anybody here to speak for or against the bill? Bean have a Motion to pass and 2nd. All in favor say aye. Congratulations, your bill is passed, and the next bill, you have a second one to run. The one is a House Bill 1541.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:11:50
I guess for the record you're supposed to introduce yourself Senator Jane
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:11:54
English, District 13. Thank you, and you may proceed
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:12:01
and basically what it does is it provides a clear outline of the process for military families to take best advantage of advanced enrollment for their children in the school district of their choice ahead of their arrival in Arkansas, and it gives the school district special education educators authority to work with sending districts. To facilitate the smooth transfer for students with an existing IEP. And it provides guidance to the Arkansas Council for Military Children and School Districts on
Purple Star school programs, which already been established across the state. Yeah, 1545.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:12:36
I'm sorry, my fault. We'll give folks a chance to look at that
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:12:54
bill. We have actually done some really wonderful things with this, um, military children. council and organization.
stand out across the United States. For the efforts that we've done much above and beyond. No, it's not schools. It's not school choice, it's just that. Yeah. Right. I take that back I'm. So it's not school choice. Yeah, um, Senator, would you
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:13:33
give us a brief explanation again. I think people were looking for the bill that I mis misquoted. So you kind of run
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:13:41
through that again. So let's say that a person is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and they have orders to move to Arkansas. And so they've got children and one of the things they get is orders probably 6 months in advance of their departure to the new station. Well, they know where they're going to go, so
what they already start to do is look at what are the school situations in in in the area where they're going to be living and checking with schools and one of the things we want to make sure is so that when those students actually are in the process of moving to the state of Arkansas that their records. From their sending school to the new school are complete and that they have an opportunity to register for some classes and things like that before they actually have to move here.
Sometimes that's after school's already started, so that's kind of what this does is make sure that. Senator
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:14:59
Dodson, do you have a question? I think my question will be for the department whenever we have someone from the
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:15:14
department that can come up, answer questions on this. Thank you for joining me. And if you would introduce yourself, and you may begin. Of course Jacob Aliva, Department
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:15:27
of Education, and you have a question, Senator Dodson. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Secretary, this uh. I, I guess just
have you reviewed this in its entirety and how, how it would align with all the other things that we've been working on with regards to school choice, Arkansas learns and all that. Does this dovetail
in with that as far as The dates and the times and the disclosures and I believe so
Speaker 255
1:15:51
if it's OK to answer, um, Arkansas participates in a military combat council which several other states participate in well, and we actually have a very active group and they work with the military bases for receiving families and current families to make sure their educational needs are going to be met, I think, to the example of Senator English was speaking
is a lot of times a Family may get notices that they're being transferred to a different military base, and unfortunately sometimes we have residency requirements before you can establish and start working with the school for a transition to go into the school. This allows us to look at orders saying we're coming, we may not be coming for 6 months, but I want to be able to start working with the school. I know there's concerns about timelines. We, we don't want to box them into the timelines that they don't have
control over, so this is ensuring that all of the military branches are represented, represented and able to participate in a smooth facilitation whether the students in advanced coursework, extracurricular activities, special needs students that receiving district can start working with a family that we know is coming, OK, so I think that answers my question. Uh Appreciate
Chair
Unverified
1:17:09
it. Thank you. Members other questions
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
1:17:15
represent our Senator Murdoch, you recognized, yeah, along that line there is a lot in here about eligibility. And then it talks about. The receiving district and capacity being used possibly as a as a reason, uh, page 5 is talking about um so but I guess Dodson asked Senator Dodson asked the question and you say the lines with everything and because you want to make sure that the district and of course the student.
It's proper in this, that this all makes sense from what we're trying
to do and sometimes I think the previous some other like talked about the logistics and things working together, but If it
makes sense, I guess it makes sense.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:18:00
And we actually do a very good job of taking care of kids across the state. We are not that that
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:18:06
was a wouldn't you agree? Yes, wouldn't you agree? We all agree we're trying to take care of students before they get here and make sure everybody's on board and all the
information is necessary so there can be a smooth transition. Wouldn't you agree? All right. Senator, you're welcome to close for your bill. I'm closed
for the bill. Do you have anybody to speak? Well, I guess I bypassed that, didn't I? Nobody signed up to speak for or against it. You're closed. We have a motion motion motion and a second Senator Johnson, all in favor say aye. I pass your bill. Thank you very much. And saying no further.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:18:52
Mr. Chair, Madam Chair, whichever one is going to hear this. We had a Senate bill in here that
thought had only failed once a couple of days ago. Senate Bill 205 for Senator Clark and I would just like to make a motion that expunge the last vote by which it failed so he could present it one more time if If, if he decides to amend it, bring it back, so I make a motion
Speaker 208
1:19:17
to expunge that vote by which Senate Bill 205 failed the last time.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:19:23
Do I second. He can file another bill.
Senator Jane English
Unverified
1:19:35
I just, alright, thank you. He tried. OK, so I think not seeing any further business or anybody that's here. jon. See you on Wednesday morning at
9:30, I mean Monday morning at 9:30. Thank you. Today is Wednesday.
Agenda
Call to Order
SB484 Irvin TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FILL A VACANCY ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SB504 Irvin TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS RURAL PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM ACT.
HB1684 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT.
HB1545 K. Brown TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021.
SB559 J. English TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021.
SB572 J. Dotson TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO LEARNING MATERIALS.
HB1571 Ray TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT.
HB1810 Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1733 TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT.
HB1062 Richardson TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025.
HB1696 McAlindon TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
SB205 - Expunge the vote which SB205 failed
Adjourn
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE MEETING JOINTLY WITH ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION, Apr 2, 2025 | Agenda | 2 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Senator Jane English
Unverified
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
Speaker 28
Speaker 32
Speaker 42
Speaker 43
Speaker 48
Ashley Harris
Unverified
Speaker 36
Speaker 69
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Speaker 75
Charlene Fight
Unverified
Speaker 86
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 103
Speaker 101
Speaker 116
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
Speaker 77
Speaker 57
Speaker 127
Speaker 129
Chester Shannon
Unverified
Speaker 147
Senator Reginald Murdock
Unverified
Speaker 152
Speaker 156
Speaker 158
Scott Richardson
Unverified
Speaker 183
Speaker 189
Speaker 25
Speaker 194
Speaker 199
Speaker 208
Speaker 211
Speaker 212
Speaker 213
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
Speaker 142
Speaker 225
Speaker 228
Speaker 237
Speaker 232
Speaker 255
Chair
Unverified