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Bill > SB294
AR SB294
AR SB294To Create The Learns Act; To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code As They Relate To Early Childhood Through Grade Twelve Education In The State Of Arkansas; And To Declare An Emergency.
summary
Introduced
02/20/2023
02/20/2023
In Committee
03/06/2023
03/06/2023
Crossed Over
02/23/2023
02/23/2023
Passed
03/07/2023
03/07/2023
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
03/14/2023
03/14/2023
Introduced Session
94th General Assembly (2023 Regular)
Bill Summary
AN ACT TO CREATE THE LEARNS ACT; TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE AS THEY RELATE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH GRADE TWELVE (12) EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AI Summary
This bill:
1. Creates the LEARNS Act to amend various provisions of the Arkansas Code related to early childhood through grade twelve education in the state. Key provisions include:
- Requiring school resource officers to complete training on roles/responsibilities, laws specific to public schools, and adolescent behavior/development.
- Authorizing the State Board of Education to administer the state's early learning and education system, including overseeing quality rating initiatives and streamlining requirements for families and providers.
- Allowing public school districts to establish procedures for consulting teachers on principal hiring/placement decisions.
- Establishing a school transformation contract program where districts can contract with charter schools or other entities to operate underperforming schools.
- Creating the Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring Pilot Program to provide competitive grants for in-school, targeted tutoring.
- Establishing a Course Choice Program allowing students to take individual courses from approved providers.
- Requiring public school districts to offer career-ready diploma pathways aligned with high-wage, high-growth jobs in Arkansas.
- Implementing a community service graduation requirement starting with the class of 2026-2027.
2. Makes various other changes related to teacher compensation, evaluation, licensing, and discipline procedures.
3. Creates new funds within the Department of Education to support initiatives like the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program, literacy tutoring, teacher incentives, and transportation modernization.
4. Transfers the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Education to unify the state's early childhood care and education system.
The bill also declares an emergency to allow certain provisions to take effect immediately or by the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (80)
Keith Brooks (R)*,
Breanne Davis (R)*,
Brandon Achor (R),
Wade Andrews (R),
Sonia Barker (R),
Howard Beaty (R),
Rick Beck (R),
Mary Bentley (R),
Justin Boyd (R),
Harlan Breaux (R),
Karilyn Brown (R),
Matt Brown (R),
Josh Bryant (R),
Rebecca Burkes (R),
John Carr (R),
Fran Cavenaugh (R),
Alan Clark (R),
Cameron Cooper (R),
Bruce Cozart (R),
Cindy Crawford (R),
Steve Crowell (R),
Tyler Dees (R),
Jonathan Dismang (R),
Jim Dotson (R),
Matt Duffield (R),
Jane English (R),
Jon Eubanks (R),
Brian Evans (R),
Charlene Fite (R),
Scott Flippo (R),
Jack Fortner (R),
Tony Furman (R),
Ben Gilmore (R),
Justin Gonzales (R),
Zack Gramlich (R),
Delia Haak (R),
Kim Hammer (R),
R.J. Hawk (R),
Bart Hester (R),
Ricky Hill (R),
Grant Hodges (R),
Steve Hollowell (R),
Missy Irvin (R),
Blake Johnson (R),
Lee Johnson (R),
Mark Johnson (R),
Robin Lundstrum (R),
Roger Lynch (R),
John Maddox (R),
Mindy McAlindon (R),
Rick McClure (R),
Austin McCollum (R),
Richard McGrew (R),
Matt McKee (R),
Brit McKenzie (R),
Stephen Meeks (R),
Jon Milligan (R),
Jeremiah Moore (R),
Stetson Painter (R),
John Payton (R),
Clint Penzo (R),
Jim Petty (R),
Aaron Pilkington (R),
Chad Puryear (R),
David Ray (R),
Scott Richardson (R),
Marcus Richmond (R),
Ryan Rose (R),
Johnny Rye (R),
Matthew Shepherd (R),
Matt Stone (R),
Gary Stubblefield (R),
Dan Sullivan (R),
Kendon Underwood (R),
Steve Unger (R),
Dave Wallace (R),
Jeff Wardlaw (R),
Danny Watson (R),
Carlton Wing (R),
Richard Womack (R),
Last Action
Notification that SB294 is now Act 237 (on 03/14/2023)
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