Good morning SNSD Stakeholders,
On Thursday, February 23, 2023, the Arkansas Senate passed Senate Bill 294, known as the Arkansas LEARNS Bill. The bill had been filed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday, February 20, 2023. The bill will now go to the Arkansas House of Representatives.
The bill is 144 pages long and can be viewed at this link on a desktop or mobile device. If enacted by the Arkansas General Assembly, the bill will become known as the LEARNS Act.
The bill contains proposed legislation regarding a wide range of school-related topics including staff pay, school choice, and school safety, among others. As Superintendent of Smackover-Norphlet School District, I am reviewing and discussing this bill with other superintendents from around the state. I want to gather as much information as I possibly can about the contents of the bill in order to prepare our district should the bill become state law.
At this time, no immediate actions associated with the LEARNS Bill will take place within our district. If the Bill is enacted, I, along with all other Arkansas superintendents, will receive further instructions and guidance from the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Our district will communicate with you about changes associated with the LEARNS Act (if enacted) that may take place, either immediately or in the future, in Smackover-Norphlet School District.
Please know that we will keep you informed of any changes as more information is made available to Arkansas school districts regarding this potential legislation. As always, we thank you for your support and appreciate your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Robby Frizzell
Superintendent of Schools
Smackover-Norphlet School District
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