Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduces new Arkansas education plan
Governor. Sarah Huckabee Sanders unveiled her highly anticipated Arkansas LEARNS education program on Wednesday.
Sanders called it the most “far reaching, bold, conservative and conservative education reforms anywhere in America,” and outlined significant changes to teacher salaries, school choice, and early education, with an emphasis literacy.
She stated that Arkansas LEARNS was a comprehensive plan to address the needs of teachers, respect parents’ rights, and deliver the education our children deserve.
TEACHER PAY
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Sanders proposed that teachers in Arkansas would receive $50,000 per year under the plan. This would make Arkansas the fifth-highest state for teacher salaries. Incentives include complete forgiveness of student loans for teachers who teach in high-need areas and 10,000 in bonuses for top-performing teachers.
The governor stated that instead of being 48th nationally for starting teacher salaries, they will now be in top five.
SCHOOL CHOICE
According to the governor, the proposed legislation would establish an Education Freedom Account that funds school choice. This account could be used to finance public, private or parochial school options for Arkansas families. The program will be implemented in phases, with a focus on “at-risk” families and then a state-wide rollout within three years.
The governor stated that families are trapped in failing schools because they live in the wrong zipcode.
Sanders stressed the importance of parents being able to choose where their students will go. Sanders also stressed that education would place an emphasis on reading, writing, and arithmetic with no indoctrination.
The governor stated that education would allow graduates to “succeed in life early,” and that education was to be provided to them.
EARLY EDUCATION and LITERACY
Sanders stated that streamlining existing programs and funding would help to improve early education.
Early education would place emphasis on literacy. Children must be able to read at grade level by the time they graduate. According to the governor, only 35% of Arkansas students are able to read at grade level.
Sanders stated that the program will include 120 reading coaches who are “highly qualified” in the state. There will also be $500 grants for student families to help them catch up.
EDUCATION GOALS
Dual diploma programs will be offered to high school students. The governor stated that high school students could choose a career-diploma path to determine their post-graduation pathway. To facilitate this, they would select courses from a course catalogue.
Sanders stated that this was the largest overhaul of Arkansas’ education system in Arkansas’ history. “And honestly, it couldn’t have come sooner.”
SUPPORT
House Speaker Matthew Shepard, a Republican from El Dorado, followed Sander’s speech. He expressed his support for the plan as well as his eagerness to see it being debated by the legislature. He was then followed by Senate Majority leader Bart Hester (R – Cave Springs), who stated that he was excited to see this bill pass.
Sec. Jacob Oliva, Secretary of Education, also spoke. He called the governor’s proposal “one the most historic moments of the history of education”, by creating new pathways for students.
COST
The governor answered questions and said that the plan would cost $300 million the first year. $150 million of new spending was also included.
Oliva answered a question and said that details of the Education freedom account program were still being worked out, but that the money would be approximately 90% of the per-student funding schools districts currently receive.
Sanders stated that the Bureau of Legislative Research had reviewed the legislation and it would soon be presented to the legislature.
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