brian evans
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Governor shares details of education overhaul proposal
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday unveiled some details of her long-awaited education overhaul plan, which includes raising the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 and rolling out a new school voucher program that will eventually be available to all Arkansans. During a press conference inside the Capitol, Sanders said providing every child with access to […]
Will a new governor and shifting Legislature mean the expansion of school choice in Arkansas?
A new governor and turnover in the state Legislature have proponents hopeful for the expansion of school-choice programs in the state during the 2023 legislative session. A coalition of Democrats and Republicans from mostly rural areas have blocked numerous school voucher bills in committee in past sessions. No legislation has been filed, but in interviews, […]
Arkansas House panel recommends public school funding plan that includes teacher raises
The Arkansas House and Senate education committees on Tuesday split on supporting public school funding recommendations that include additional money for increased teacher salaries. In a voice vote, the House Education Committee approved the proposal while Senators opposed it. The proposed funding formula, called the matrix, approved by House committee members Tuesday would increase funding […]