Rick Beck

boys on a laptop in a classroom

Arkansas House sends amended career and technical education bill to governor’s desk

BY: - April 5, 2023

The Arkansas House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that opponents argued will harm the state’s progress in computer science education. The most contentious part of Senate Bill 470 is how it changes the requirement for high school students to take a computer science course to graduate. Under SB 470, students could choose to take […]

Reps. Brian Evans, DeAnn Vaught and Les Warren

House committee prepares to hear governor’s education bill next week

BY: - February 21, 2023

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 […]

boys on a laptop in a classroom

Panel dismisses testing requirement for private schools receiving public funds

BY: - February 14, 2023

The House Education Committee rejected a bill on Tuesday that would have required private schools receiving state funds to administer an annual statewide assessment test.  A standardized exam mandate would allow parents to compare “apples to apples” when considering their child’s academic progress in public schools versus private, House Bill 1204 sponsor Jim Wooten (R-Beebe) […]