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 New Legislation May Increase Academic Challenge Scholarships
Proposed legislation regarding an Arkansas state lottery released yesterday may increase funding for funding to Arkansas post-secondary institutions. The draft legislation proposes that proceeds from the lottery go to the existing Academic Challenge scholarship program.
The proposal includes a sliding scale, so that the scholarship amounts would increase as proceeds from the lottery increased. For example, eligible students at four-year colleges would receive $2,500 a year if net proceeds were $54.1 million. They would receive $4,000 a year if net proceeds were no less than $94.8 million, and they would receive $5,500 a year if net proceeds were $136.6 million. Students at two-year colleges would receive half of these amounts. This sliding scale is meant as a guide only.
Eligible high school students must receive a 2.5 grade point average and complete the Smart Core curriculum.
The Smart Core curriculum includes:
English - 4 units;
Oral Communications - 1/2 unit;
Mathematics - 4 units, including one year of higher math, such as Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Trigonometry, etc.; Natural Science - 3 units with lab experience;
Social Studies - 3 units;
Physical Education - 1/2 unit;
Health and Safety - 1/2 unit;
Fine Arts - 1/2 unit; and Career Focus - 6 units.
Students can also qualify by obtaining a 19 on the ACT. To keep the scholarship, they must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in college. There would be no family income limits for students to be eligible.
The first Academic Challenge scholarship to be funded by the lottery would be awarded in the fall of 2010. The lottery money would be combined with the existing $20 million already set aside for this scholarship.
AEA will review specific language in the lottery scholarship legislation once the bill is filed.
AEA Gains Four Sponsors for FOI Act Bill Concerning Ethics‚
AEA gained four legislative sponsors Wednesday for its proposed bill, which would exempt licensed education employees from the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act under certain conditions.
The sponsors are: Reps. Bill Abernathy, chair, D-Mena; and Nancy Blount, vice chair, D-Marianna, House Education Committee; and Sens. Jimmy Jeffress, chair, D-Crossett; and Steve Bryles, vice chair, D-Little Rock, Senate Education Committee.
This bill would exempt the following items from the FOI Act:
- All records, hearings, meetings and deliberations pertaining to an ethics complaint against an administrator or teacher.
- All records, hearings, meetings and deliberations pertaining to an ethics complaint that falls within the definition of child maltreatment under the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Act.
However, these items would be subject public disclosure following a final adjudicative decision by the Arkansas State Board of Education, unless such a disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
We will provide regular updates on the progress of this bill.
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