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Arkansas lawmakers send sweeping education bill to governor’s desk
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will sign her signature education package into law Wednesday, two weeks after the bill was filed. The Arkansas Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, on Tuesday. “I’m ready to sign it into law tomorrow and end the failed status quo that has governed our […]
Arkansas governor’s education package returns to Senate for final legislative approval
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ sweeping education bill will again be considered by the Arkansas Senate Tuesday, following committee approval Monday. Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, is expected to clear the Senate and become law this week. Sanders said in a statement that she’ll sign the bill into law as soon as the […]
SESSION SNAPSHOT: Arkansas LEARNS marches through the Arkansas House
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ first legislative priority took the next big step toward becoming law this week. The sprawling, divisive education bill moved through the Arkansas House of Representatives, passing on the House floor Thursday by a vote of 78-21. There is great passion on both sides of the debate, which has really become about […]
Arkansas House approves governor’s education legislation, sends back to Senate
This story was updated at 6:05 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2023. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ broad education package is one step closer to becoming law following approval by the Arkansas House of Representatives Thursday. After about an hour and a half of debate, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, by a […]
Arkansas House panel approves governor’s education package
This story was updated at 6:10 p.m. The Arkansas House of Representatives plans to consider Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ sweeping education bill Thursday afternoon. The House Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, Wednesday after about 45 minutes of discussion. Because the bill was amended, it will have to again be […]
House education committee mulls education package after daylong meeting
House Education Committee members are taking the evening to consider everything they heard during about 10 hours of testimony Tuesday before voting on the governor’s education package Wednesday. Committee chairman Rep. Brian Evans (R-Cabot) said he was committed to allowing everyone to speak and asked lawmakers to listen with clear minds and open hearts. Senate […]
Education bill amendment filed ahead of House committee meeting
Rep. Keith Brooks (R-Little Rock), the House sponsor of the governor’s education bill, filed a six-page amendment late Friday following bipartisan calls for changes to the legislation. Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, is the result of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ campaign promise to make sweeping changes to the state’s education system. The […]
Arkansas Senate advances governor’s sweeping education legislation to House
The Arkansas Senate on Thursday approved Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ wide-ranging education plan despite bipartisan requests to slow the legislative process. Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, stems from Sanders’ campaign promise to make major changes to the state’s education system. The legislation covers teacher pay, school safety, career readiness, literacy, “indoctrination,” school […]
Arkansas governor’s education package advances to Senate
The Senate Education Committee after more than five hours of testimony Wednesday approved Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ sweeping education plan over bipartisan calls for amendments. Dozens of teachers, students, parents and administrator groups testified at the occasionally tense hearing. Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, is the culmination of Sanders’ chief priority to […]
House committee prepares to hear governor’s education bill next week
Chairman Brian Evans (R-Cabot) has tentatively scheduled a special order of business for the House Education Committee’s Feb. 28 meeting to discuss the LEARNS Act. Lawmakers filed Senate Bill 294, the governor’s sweeping education bill, on Monday. During Tuesday’s committee meeting, Evans said the timing will depend on the Senate’s actions, but he wanted to […]
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ sweeping education plan filed in 144-page bill
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ long-awaited education bill was filed Monday. The wide-ranging, 144-page bill was published on the Arkansas Legislature’s website just before 5 p.m. Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, has 25 sponsors in the Senate and 55 in the House. All are Republicans. The Senate has 35 members; the House has […]
New Democratic caucus aims to connect with rural voters
As a former teacher and graduate of a rural Arkansas school district, Jess Piper is concerned rural schools will lose funding and close under the governor’s proposed voucher program. “Rural schools will fold, communities will suffer,” Piper said. “They’ll lose their epicenter where people got their paycheck, where kids got their hot meals, where people […]