School-related bills highlight this week’s legislative news

School-related bills highlight this week’s legislative news

More recess for students, more money for teachers up for debate among lawmakers in Little Rock

news@theeveningtimes.com

Bills filed this past week in the state Legislature would require recess time for elementary schools, increase teachers’ salaries and would require that classes begin closer to Labor Day.

House Bill 1145, filed by Republican Representative Bruce Cozart of Hot Springs, would raise Arkansas’ minimum teacher salary by $4,000 over the next four years. It was approved by the state House of Representatives 91-0 on Wednesday and is currently under consideration in the Senate’s Education Committee.

House Bill 1409, filed by Republican Rep. Jana Della Rosa of Rogers, would require at least 40 minutes of instructional time each day for recess for students in grades K-5. The bill states that numerous educational mandates have led to a steady decline in time for recess, often a time for learning and social awareness among students.

“Educational leaders cannot allow for a sufficient amount of time in the school day for recess within the current construct of the instructional requirements and time allotted in a school day, which generates decreased focus in class and fewer opportunities to develop social awareness among public school students,” the bill states.

House Bill 1390, filed by Republican Rep. Mark Lowery of Maumelle, would change language in the current state law to say the first day of public school “shall not be earlier than the Monday before Labor Day.”

HB1390 states that the first day of school would be decided by each local school board in accordance with the updated law. It also says Labor Day would be a holiday and no classes would be held that day.

Both HB1409 and HB1390 are under consideration by the House Committee on Education and are scheduled to be discussed today.

Under HB1145, a starting teacher with a bachelor’s degree would make a minimum of $32,800 next year and $36,000 by 2023. Firstyear teachers now make at least $31,800 a year.

The state’s minimum teacher salary schedule ranks in the middle among southern states, but under HB1145, only Alabama would have a higher minimum teacher salary range. The raises will be reflected throughout the minimum salary schedule for teachers of all experience levels.

In his floor speech, Cozart noted that 67 of the state’s public school districts already pay teachers above the minimum salary, and those districts would not be affected by HB1145. The state has 238 public school districts.

The bill has the backing of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has identified $60 million in state funds to help districts meet the new standard.

Cozart added that some superintendents are concerned about how to pay the higher salaries down the road. Financially depressed districts will receive money from the state on an as-needed basis to implement the raises, but those districts will remain on the hook to pay the increased amount after the state money runs out in four years.

How the $60 million will be disbursed to the affected school districts will be promulgated through rules later this year, and it could be several years before there’s clarity about how depressed districts will maintain the higher salary levels once the temporary state funds run dry.

By the Evening Times News Staff