Education Update - April 2

GOOD NEWS: Our achievement package of 5 bills is advancing

• SB889 by Sen. Bryles to strengthen the Department of Education’s reporting on how poverty funds are being spent to help low income students unanimously passed the Senate and passed the House Education Committee.  It just has the full House to go, and then to the Governor!
• SB987 by Sen. Elliott requires districts which don’t spend all of their allocated poverty funds to ask for permission from the Department of education and report why they aren’t spending all of the money they receive to help low-income students.  It passed the full Senate unanimously Thursday and next goes to the House Education Committee – ask YOUR House Education Representatives to support SB987!
• SB943 by Sen. Elliott greatly expands the type of information available to parents, students and the public from schools through their website.  It passed the full Senate Thursday (34 yes - 1 not voting) and next goes to the House Education Committee – ask YOUR House Education Representatives to support SB943!
• HB2164 by Rep. Rainey reforms the Arkansas Commission on Closing the Achievement Gap and it passed the full House April 1 (94 YES – 6 not voting).  It now goes to the Senate Education Committee – most likely on Friday.
• HB2163 by Rep. Rainey to improve early interventions to help under-performing schools passed the House (96 Yes - 4 not voting) and passed the Senate Education Committee – it only needs to pass the Senate Floor and it’s onto the Governor’s desk!

Our school election bill – HB1646 by Rep. Rainey has passed both the House 89-5 and Senate (34 Yes - 1 not voting) – but was amended slightly in the Senate so now it must pass the House State Agencies and the full House one more time.  It ensures that polling places will be more available for school board elections in rural school districts that cross county lines.

SETBACK: SB799 – the DREAM ACT to provide Arkansas high school graduates with the opportunity to pay in-state college tuition regardless of immigration status FAILED on the Senate Floor 13-12.  This was not unexpected with the Governor’s strong opposition.  It will take a few more cracks at it in coming years.  Relief could also come from the Federal level – Senator Lincoln and Pryor?  We enjoyed working with huge youth outpourings from Arkansas’ high schools and colleges this session on the DREAM ACT – check out their press conference or pictures of their lobby day at the Capitol.