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We Still Need Your Help: HB 1918, HB 2101 and HB 2072
Your efforts have already paid off on HB 1918 and HB 2101, which were pulled down yesterday and will be amended so that they will be more beneficial to school employees. But it is very important that you continue tell your representatives how you feel about these bills. You may contact your representative online. Go to www.capwiz.com/nea/ar/state/main/?state=AR&view=myofficials
HB 1918, sponsored by Eddie Hawkins, D-Vilonia, would reduce the number of paid 15-minute breaks from two a day to one a day for classified school employees who work more than 20 hours per week and up to 35 hours a week
HB 2101, sponsored by Rep. Monty Betts, D-Searcy, would remove the teacher's authority to schedule their 200 minutes of preparation time as they saw fit
Again, thank you for your hard work!
HB2072, sponsored by Eddie Hawkins, D-Vilonia, is still in the House Education Committee. This bill states that "passing time," or the time between classes, is not included in a teacher's non-instructional duties. AEA believes that this bill would allow administrators to put all teachers, at all times, on duty during passing time. Teacher duty during passing time is currently handled at the local level, and AEA believes that this should continue that way, so that each school will better be able to arrange its schedule to allow for the most effective use of teachers' time, as well as student safety.
School Education Fair Hearing Act Fails House Education Committee
HB 1921, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Nix, D-Benton, failed to pass the House Education Committee today. This bill was designed to provide for fair and just treatment for classified employees regarding any recommended non-renewals of their contracts. Rep. Nix had amended the last bill in hopes of gaining further support.
FOIA Exemption Bill is Amended
HB1859, the bill supported by AEA that would exempt licensed education employees from the FOI Act under certain conditions, was amended to state that hearings before the State Board of Education will be open and the records subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill is sponsored by Rep. Bill Abernathy, D- Mena. The Arkansas FOIA Coalition expressed general approval for the amended version and as agreed to maintain its position of neutrality on the bill.
HB 1999 Receives "Do Pass" in House Education Committee
HB 1999, sponsored by Rep. Andrea Lea, R-Russellville, was amended on the House floor yesterday and given a "Do Pass" in the House Education Committee today. Current law allows teachers to earn up to 12 of the required 60 professional development hours (equivalent to 2 of the required 10 days) at the beginning of the year to plan and prepare curriculum and other instructional materials. The amendment would allow teachers to choose an option of earning these twelve hours using the online professional development approved by ADE and related either to the school’s ACSIP plan and/or the teacher’s professional growth plan. This will be entirely at the teachers discretion. AEA supports HB1999 as amended.
Other News
HB1999, sponsored by Representative Bill Abernathy, D-Mena, received a "Do Pass" in the House Education Committee. The bill makes adjustments in the implementation of the end-of-course assessments required under Arkansas law. AEA supports this bill.
HB2172, sponsored by Rep. David Rainey, D-Dumas, also received a "Do Pass" in the House Education Committee. This bill is supported by AEA, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel. It provides for earlier intervention and support by the Department of Education to help school districts with severe student achievement gaps.
HB1665, sponsored by Rep. Mark Martin, R-Prairie Grove, was defeated in the House Education Committee today. Marsha Harding, Associate Director of Special Education at the Ark. Dept. of Education testified that the bill would cause the state to be out of compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and would put the state in jeopardy of losing federal IDEA funding.
HB1996, sponsored by Representatives J. Roebuck, J. Burris, T.Bradford, Cheatham, J. Dickinson, Nix, Stewart, Senators J. Jeffress, Bookout. The bill to increase the opportunity for a school counselor to become an eligible candidate for an initial administrator license, was given a "Do Pass" in the Senate Education Committee yesterday. The bill will be voted on next week.
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