Arkansas House Panel Approves Governor's Education Package

By Antoinette Grajeda, Arkansas Advocate

March 1, 2023

The House Education Committee advanced Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ education bill Wednesday afternoon. The decision follows 10 hours of discussion among legislators and public testimony during Tuesday’s meeting.

Legislators spent about 45 minutes sharing their thoughts on the legislation. Rep. Denise Garner (D-Fayetteville) and Rep. Vivian Flowers (D-Pine Bluff), the committee’s two Democrats, were the sole audible dissenters.

Senate Bill 294, also called the LEARNS Act, is the result of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ priority to make wide-ranging changes to the state’s education system. The legislation covers teacher pay, school safety, career readiness, literacy, “indoctrination,” a new voucher program and a variety of other topics.

The 144-page bill was made public last week and passed through the Senate after three days. House sponsor Rep. Keith Brooks (R-Little Rock) filed a six-page amendment late Friday, which addressed some of the issues lawmakers discussed last week.

The bill now heads to the full House Thursday.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

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