Bill > HB2002

This bill proposes significant changes to the Education Service Cooperative Act of 1985, focusing on restructuring and improving the operations of education service cooperatives in Arkansas. The bill removes previous geographical boundaries for education service cooperatives, requiring the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to assign each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school to a cooperative by the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates that each cooperative establish an executive subcommittee and a strategic plan, and introduces a new rating system to evaluate the performance of education service cooperatives. The bill authorizes the State Board of Education to take action against cooperative directors or dissolve a cooperative if it receives an "F" rating for three consecutive years. Additionally, the legislation eliminates the previous requirement for each cooperative to establish a teacher center and requires the division to develop a new funding formula that considers factors like student numbers and specific service needs. The bill aims to enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and support capabilities of education service cooperatives in providing services to public school districts and charter schools, with a focus on improving educational outcomes and operational efficiency.

Education

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb2002&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R