Arkansas Access Act higher education bills clear respective chambers
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VIDEO: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces Arkansas ACCESS legislation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The higher-education reforming Arkansas ACESS Act bills were passed after a debate on the Arkansas House and Senate floor on Thursday afternoon.
Identical bills were filed in each chamber. The bills will now be sent to the other chamber for a vote with their passage. Filing identical bills is not typical, but it is done on occasions when a bill's sponsors feel it is important.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the legislation on Feb. 14. She said the act focuses on what she describes as acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships, and standardization in the higher education system, giving the act its name.
“After months of work with stakeholders around the state, I’m proud to announce Arkansas ACCESS, a targeted overhaul of our higher education system that will help every Arkansan get the education they need and prepare for the in-demand careers of the future,” Sanders said in introducing the legislation.
As Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders promised in the announcement, the bills make several changes to the state's higher education process. Among the changes is moving the state’s School Leadership Coordinating Council from 17 members to five members, with the ability to add members “as deemed necessary.”
The legislation includes provisions for accelerated learning in every public high school, where students can access college-level and technical coursework. The term “advanced placement” would be struck from Arkansas regulations.
Originally, the legislation provided that state-supported colleges and universities would count as unexcused student absences for public policy advocacy or attempts to influence legislation and political protests.
Sponsors made an amendment Monday afternoon for schools to allow an excused absence for public policy advocacy or to influence legislation if parents provide written permission. Initially, that kind of participation would’ve been counted as unexcused. Political protests remain unexcused, however.
The legislature is not meeting on Friday, but a vote and committee hearing on the bills in the respective chambers should be expected in the coming week.
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