We Need Your Help: SB 998 and 999

The House Education Committee passed SB 998 and 999 today. These bills will now go before the full House of Representatives. We need your help to encourage representatives to vote for these bills.

SB 998 and SB 999, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress (D-Crossett), are bills that clarify the roles and responsibilities of the personnel policy committees, school boards and superintendents.

You may contact your representatives online. Go to www.capwiz.com/nea/ar/state/main/?state=AR&view=myofficials

House Education Committee Passes HB 1959 and HB 1999
The House Education Committee passed HB 1959 and HB 1999 today. These bills will now go before the full House of Representatives to concur with the amendments the Senate placed on the bills.

HB 1959, sponsored by Rep. Bill Abernathy (D-Mena) clarifies language in current law that deals with high stakes end-of-course assessments. It establishes that Algebra 1 and English 2 are the two subject areas for these assessments. It also provides for a more reasonable time line for the implementation of the second subject area end-of-course assessment.  It also calls for greater required state participation and responsibility in the remediation process.

HB 1999, sponsored by Rep. Andrea Lea (R-Russellville) would allow teachers to choose an option of earning 12 hours of the required 60 professional development hours (equivalent to 2 of the required 10 days) 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. The 12 online hours must be taken from the 12 hours reserved for preparation work done before class. Additionally, a teacher who is unable to obtain the required professional development hours due to illness may use online course work to complete the requirements.

Professional Development Bill Passes Senate
SB910, the professional development bill, was sent to the House today, to be considered for a special meeting by the House Education Committee tomorrow. The bill is sponsored Sen. Mary Ann Salmon (D-North Little Rock). The Senate Education Committee gave the amended bill a "Do Pass" yesterday, and the full Senate concurred with the amendments today.

The amended bill requires school districts to provide teachers with the next year’s professional development calendar by May 1. A teacher will not be required to attend a training or professional development event if the scheduled date for the event is changed during the period beginning with the day after the last day a teacher is required to work and ending on the day before the first day a teacher is required to work for the next school year.

This amendment does not exempt teachers from attending any training or professional development that is required as part of a remediation plan.

House Judiciary Committee Passes Subpoena Bill
The House Judiciary Committee concurred with a Senate amendment, which was added Friday, April 3 and gave a "Do Pass" to HB 1372 today. This AEA-supported bill, sponsored by Rep. Johnnie Roebuck (D-Arkadelphia), grants subpoena power to  the Professional Licensure Standards Board and the State Board of Education.

House Passes Retirement Bills

The following six AEA-supported retirement bills passed the House today:
SB 240, sponsored by Sen. Gene Jeffress, D-Louanne, would include the National Board certification bonuses as salary for the  purposes of retirement benefits under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS).
SB 228, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, would clarify and make consistent the survivor benefits under the ATRS.
SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, would authorize the ATRS Board to give a one-time ad hoc benefit increase for retirees, survivors and beneficiaries of retirees in the ATRS when feasible.
SB 210, sponsored by Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, would clarify the recession of termination provisions in the ATRS to benefit members who choose to return to work.
SB 224, sponsored by Sen. Gene Jeffress, D-Louanne, would amend the lump-sum death benefit under the ATRS
SB 231, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, would change the rule for non-recurring payments in the calculation of final average salary in the ATRS.

Together we can, and together we will build a great public school for every child.