Arkansas State Board of Education
Marvell-Elaine prepares to start the school year under Arkansas’ first ‘transformation contract’
After a summer of uncertainty, the Marvell-Elaine School District will start the school year Monday under the direction of a charter school management organization. The tiny district in eastern Arkansas this month finalized a $200,000-per-year “transformation contract” with Friendship Education Foundation, the first such contract in the state. A provision of the LEARNS Act, the […]
Early childhood development specialist picked for Arkansas State Board of Education
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday made her second appointment to the Arkansas State Board of Education — an early childhood expert from Little Rock. Sanders tapped her longtime friend and fellow Central High grad Leigh Keener to the board. Keener taught in the Little Rock School District and now runs an early childhood education […]
Former Arkansas lawmaker, LEARNS Act co-author appointed to State Board of Education
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed former state Rep. Ken Bragg of Sheridan to the Arkansas State Board of Education on Thursday. Bragg, a longtime advocate of school vouchers, replaces former board chair Ouida Newton, whose term expired June 30. In a press conference, Sanders credited Bragg with co-writing her signature education legislation, the LEARNS Act, […]
Arkansas’ top education panel approves emergency rules for new voucher program
The Arkansas State Board of Education approved emergency rules governing a new school voucher program during its monthly meeting Thursday. The emergency rules for the Educational Freedom Account program will go into effect Aug. 1 and sunset in 120 days, pending approval by the Arkansas Legislative Council next week. The emergency rules will be replaced […]
Arkansas education board approves gradual release of Earle district from state control
The Earle School District is being released from its fiscal distress status but will remain under state control for until next May. The Arkansas State Board of Education approved the action Thursday during a special meeting in Earle. The board also approved a recommendation to reinstate the district’s suspended board members in a limited-authority capacity. […]
Lawsuit filed against Arkansas Department of Education challenging the LEARNS Act
A group of Arkansans filed a lawsuit Monday claiming that the state Board of Education took unconstitutional action when it authorized a “transformation contract” between the Marvell-Elaine School District and the Friendship Education Foundation last week. Little Rock attorney Ali Noland filed the lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court on behalf of Phillips County residents […]
Arkansas education board approves first ‘transformation contract’ under LEARNS Act
The Arkansas State Board of Education on Friday approved a first-of-its-kind arrangement to allow a charter school company to run a public school district under threat of closure. The board voted in favor of a recommendation for the Marvell-Elaine District to enter into a “transformation contract” with the Friendship Education Foundation, the first such agreement […]