The state Education Department will spend $10 million to expand Internet access in every school district in Arkansas.
Senate News
Education Pays Dividends Over the Course of a Career
The average debt that a student incurs to earn a bachelor’s degree in Arkansas is almost $2,000 less than the national average. Over the course of a 30-year career, a person with a bachelor’s degree will earn an estimated $1.25 million, compared to $550,000 that a college dropout will earn over the same period.
Sales Tax Holiday to Occur on Weekend of August 1 and August 2
Arkansas will hold its annual sales tax holiday on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.
Arkansas Responds to Crisis in Foster Care System
The number of Arkansas children in foster care continued to go down last year, after reaching an all-time high in 2016 and prompting dramatic measures from elected officials to improve the state’s child welfare system.
Flexibility to Help Schools Respond to Challenges of Upcoming Year
During the upcoming school year, local districts will have flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances created by the outbreak of the coronavirus, thanks to a set of waivers adopted by the state Board of Education during a special meeting.
Arkansas Hires More Contact Tracers
The state will hire 350 more contact tracers to help control the spread of the coronavirus. After the funding is allocated to pay them, it will bring the state’s total to 900.
Arkansas Begins Phase Two of Reopening
As Arkansas began Phase Two of its gradual reopening of businesses and social activities, the governor issued three executive orders related to the coronavirus outbreak.
Federal Court Upholds Arkansas's Execution Process
A federal judge upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection procedures used in Arkansas for carrying out the death penalty.