In The News

Senator Michael John Gray ran his amendment to Senate Bill 33 for a second time on Thursday, asking his fellow legislators to consider an increase in catastrophic SPED funding. Currently, Gray said, schools are reimbursed only 50 cents on the dollar. Read More

The House and Senate chairmen of the Joint Performance Review Committee announced Wednesday their intent to study campus safety – with the intent of shaping statewide public policy and overhauling facilities funding in an effort to force school districts to ensure that any new buildings are constructed with an active-shooter scenario in mind. Read More

Despite misgivings cited by several legislators, the Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday voted to approve a $1.5 million transfer from the governor’s Rainy Day Fund to the Succeed Scholarship Program, which covers private-school tuition for students with IEPs. Read More

A steady drenching rain prompted several schools to announce closings on Thursday night. The primary concern was transporting students from areas where flash flooding is likely to remain a concern on Friday and throughout the weekend. Read More

The State Board of Education on Thursday approved a civics exam prepared by the Arkansas Department of Education in response to legislation passed during the 2017 legislative session. Act 478 mandates that in order to graduate, high school students must pass the civics portion of the naturalization test used by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This requirement also applies to adults seeking their GEDs. It will become effective in the 2018-19 school year. Read More