Arkansas Senate OKs bill on teacher raises, school vouchers
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Senate OKs bill on teacher raises, school vouchers

Associated Press  

— The Arkansas Senate approved an education overhaul Thursday that raises teachers’ starting pay and creates a new voucher program, despite complaints from Democrats and some Republicans about the bill being pushed through the Legislature too quickly. “We’ve never taken and put this many important topics into one piece of legislation and voted on it with one vote,” Democratic Sen. Reginald Murdock said. “Arkansas is one step closer to unleashing the most bold, comprehensive, conservative education reform package in the nation with the Arkansas Senate’s passage of my signature Arkansas LEARNS bill today,” Sanders said in a statement released by her office after the vote. “Most all of them are not going to be controversial.” The bill passed on a mostly party-line vote, with all of the Senate’s six Democrats and one Republican voting against the measure.

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History of this topic

Things to know when the Arkansas Legislature convenes to take up a budget and other issues
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Things to know when the Arkansas Legislature convenes to take up a budget and other issues

Associated Press  

— Arkansas lawmakers are convening at the Capitol and their top agenda item is taking up Gov. “As Governor, I’ve promised to Arkansans to limit the size and growth of government while still investing in areas of greatest need like education and public safety,” Sanders said in a statement. “My proposed budget accomplishes this with only a 1.76% increase over …

Arkansas governor proposes $6.3B budget as lawmakers prepare for session
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Arkansas governor proposes $6.3B budget as lawmakers prepare for session

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday proposed a $6.3 billion budget for the coming year, with most of the increase in spending going toward a school voucher program. Sanders’ budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 increases state spending by 1.76% over the previous year, with nearly all of the $109 million increase going toward education. “I am …

Oklahoma leaders reach education deal on voucher-style tax credits, teacher pay hikes
1 year, 7 months ago

Oklahoma leaders reach education deal on voucher-style tax credits, teacher pay hikes

Associated Press  

Oklahoma City — Public school teachers across Oklahoma will receive pay raises of up to $6,000 annually under a deal announced by Republican leaders on Monday that also clears the way for a voucher-style tax credit program for families who homeschool their children or send them to private schools. The agreement paves the way for “school choice” plan that already …

Tenn. nears voucher growth, teacher dues limit with pay bump
1 year, 8 months ago

Tenn. nears voucher growth, teacher dues limit with pay bump

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee on Wednesday put themselves a step away from expanding a school voucher program from two counties to four and raising the minimum teacher salary in a bill that also bans educators from deducting dues for professional organizations from their paychecks. Republican Rep. Gary Hicks, from Rogersville, said the current system ensures local control …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an education bill Wednesday that creates a new school voucher program, raises minimum teacher salaries and places restrictions on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Over three years, the plan will phase in an “education freedom account” to pay for private- and home-schooling costs equal to 90% of the state’s per-student funding for public …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an …

Sanders’ school voucher plan gets Arkansas lawmakers’ OK
1 year, 9 months ago

Sanders’ school voucher plan gets Arkansas lawmakers’ OK

Associated Press  

— Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday approved a education overhaul that creates a new school voucher program, handing a major policy win to Republican Gov. “I’m ready to sign it into law tomorrow and end the failed status quo that has governed our education system for far too long,” Sanders said in a statement. “Every kid should have access to a …

Arkansas House approves Sanders’ education overhaul proposal
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas House approves Sanders’ education overhaul proposal

Associated Press  

— Some parents in Arkansas could get access to school vouchers that would help pay for private school tuition and home schooling as soon as this fall under a bill the state House approved Thursday as part of a massive education overhaul, The majority-Republican House voted 78-21 to approve the measure, which also would raise minimum teacher salaries and place …

Arkansas House panel endorses Sanders’ education overhaul
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas House panel endorses Sanders’ education overhaul

Associated Press  

— An Arkansas House panel on Wednesday endorsed Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ plan to overhaul the state’s education system and create a voucher program directing public money toward private schooling. “This is the beginning of our commitment as a state to put students first, and to look everyone in the eye and say Arkansas will continue to lead in …

Arkansas Senate committee endorses massive education bill
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Senate committee endorses massive education bill

Associated Press  

— An Arkansas Senate panel endorsed on Wednesday a massive education bill that pairs a raise in starting teacher pay with several conservative-backed changes, including a voucher program directing public money to private schools. The bill includes other measures opposed by Democrats and teachers’ advocacy groups, including an “education freedom account” for private and home schooling that will be phased …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders proposes raises, vouchers in bill
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders proposes raises, vouchers in bill

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed on Wednesday an overhaul of the state’s schools that will pair a 39% raise in starting teacher pay with a new voucher program that will direct public money to pay for private and home schooling. Sanders also said the bill, which she’s called her priority in this year’s legislative session, will include limits on how race …

Arkansas lawmakers say education top issue as session starts
1 year, 11 months ago

Arkansas lawmakers say education top issue as session starts

Associated Press  

— Arkansas lawmakers kicked off their annual legislative session Monday, with Republicans enjoying expanded supermajorities and embracing an agenda by incoming Gov. House and Senate leaders called the education legislation, as well as income tax cuts and public safety measures being pushed by Sanders, their top priorities as they convened. Sanders has also said she wants to begin phasing out …

Democratic hopeful backs pay raises for Arkansas teachers
2 years, 5 months ago

Democratic hopeful backs pay raises for Arkansas teachers

Associated Press  

— Gubernatorial hopeful Chris Jones on Tuesday called for increasing Arkansas teacher salaries, following a push by fellow Democrats to put teacher pay raises on the agenda for a legislative session next month. Republican legislative leaders have said the special session isn’t the right time to take up the issue, since the Legislature hasn’t completed its annual review of education …

2 teacher pay raise proposals alive at Mississippi Capitol
2 years, 11 months ago

2 teacher pay raise proposals alive at Mississippi Capitol

Associated Press  

— The Mississippi Senate voted Friday to increase teachers’ pay, days after the House approved a separate proposal. A Republican senator made a procedural move to limit debate and call for a quick vote on the teacher pay bill. The average teacher salary in Mississippi during the 2019-20 academic year was $46,843, according to the Southern Regional Education Board. Reeves …

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