Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:48.920> folks ended we started re-enrolling folks ended we started re-enrolling folks
• loss drugs and the higher enrollment loss drugs and the higher enrollment we're<00:20:05.720>
• <00:25:33.399> in um all imds were required to enroll in um all imds were required to enroll
• time at the first that the enrollment time at the first that the enrollment was was was available
• assumes that they will eventually enroll assumes that they will eventually enroll but<00:29:00.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• don't have that type of enrollment don't have that type of enrollment structure<00:42:19.839>
• <00:42:28.560> as you don't require people to enroll as you don't require people to enroll
• submit um provider enrollment documents. submit um provider enrollment documents.
• committee will continue in the interim. committee will continue in the interim.
• feeding our future and we are continuing feeding our future and we are continuing to<02:09:16.960

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to triple or quadruple their enrollment.
• We're recommending you continue using multi-year appropriations to promote stability and continuity in
• And then that brings continuity to our PED.
• These 370 candidates are now enrolled in an EPP, so we're also seeing a boost to enrollment in our EPP
• And I'd love to see that continue.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on strategic resource management in public education. LESC staff and PED officials argued that New Mexico has increased school funding, but local budgeting and planning remain fragmented and overly compliance-driven. They described long-term pressures including declining enrollment, rising special education costs, falling cash balances, changes in federal funding, and leadership turnover, and said schools need more intentional multi-year planning tied to student outcomes. They also outlined the many disconnected planning requirements schools must complete, compared New Mexico’s current approach with Ohio’s three-year budget forecasting model, and recommended continuing multi-year appropriations, adding $2.5 million for state grants in the unified application, and directing LESC, LFC, and PED to develop a long-term financial planning proposal. PED said it is working to reduce administrative burden through school accreditation, a unified application for federal and state funds, and internal alignment of guidance and coaching, with pilot schools reporting time savings and better alignment. Members raised concerns about four-day school weeks, the burden on small districts, the need for outcomes and return on investment, and whether the state should move toward a two-year or three-year planning cycle; staff clarified that the proposal was to streamline or eliminate redundant requirements, not add another layer. The committee then received an update on the Educator Fellows program. PED described it as a Grow Your Own pipeline that employs candidates as supplemental educational assistants while they work toward licensure, providing salary, benefits, paid leave, mentoring, and coursework support. Officials said the program helps address teacher shortages, improves student-to-teacher ratios, increases workforce diversity, and supports the Martinez-Yazzie action plan. They reported 370 current fellows across 86 LEAs and about 180 schools, with many fellows being people of color, first-generation college students, or second-career educators; roughly 85 are expected to become certified this year. A local HR director from Belen testified that the program has been especially valuable in small communities, where fellows are already rooted in the community and several have moved into teaching roles. Members asked about high school recruitment, tuition, retirement and benefits, the relationship to the Higher Education Department’s Grow Your Own scholarship, and the role of university partners. PED said fellows choose among accredited higher education partners, the program is separate from the scholarship but complementary, and the state is also building an apprenticeship model and seeking to expand the program to more LEAs, though some districts are on a waiting list because of funding and local match requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• continuous quality improvement. continuous quality improvement. Thank<00:41:51.920> you.
• address changes in student enrollment. address changes in student enrollment.
• facilities continues to be a challenge. facilities continues to be a challenge.
• enrollment rates? enrollment rates?
• who are identified as continuous who are identified as continuous continuously<02:32:23.520>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first box, I want to highlight that enrollment continues to increase for the fourth consecutive
• We will need $1.25 million to continue that.
• I think New Mexico Tech had an enrollment decline of 5.7 percent.
• years of enrollment declines.
• Academically, NMMI continues to set the standard.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• We will continue to see change.
• open enrollment. open enrollment.
• New Hampshire is far behind enrollment. enrollment.
• > enroll<02:13:03.080> their authorizes parents to enroll their authorizes parents to enroll
• member can continue. Thank you, Mr. member can continue. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm and continued funding for Minuteex.
• continually identifying and are continually identifying and digitizing<00:18:55.760> unique<00
• include things like increased enrollment include things like increased enrollment and<00:47:39.359
• Minnesota,<01:08:41.600> to declining enrollments in Minnesota, to declining enrollments
• > full-time enrolled in full-time enrolled full-time enrolled in full-time enrolled full-time in<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am grateful for Governor DeSantis' continued trust in me.
• Part of my vision is I want to continue to keep growing that. I want to continue.
• I want to continue to help the vision, work with my other trustees, and see how we can continue to get
• We need to continue to do that. That's our reward.
• I will continue to give this role my maximum attention, and we will continue to ensure that student success

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider a large slate of confirmations and reappointments to boards of trustees for Florida’s colleges, universities, and the Florida Prepaid College Board. Chair Harrell opened by emphasizing the importance of trustee appointments to maintaining Florida’s higher education system, and the committee heard brief testimony from each nominee about their background, ties to the institution, and priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, fiscal stewardship, and community partnerships. Several nominees highlighted personal connections to their schools, including alumni status, family legacy, or prior service on the board, while others emphasized experience in business, law, education, health care, or public service. Testimony focused heavily on workforce development and institutional growth. Speakers cited nursing, dual enrollment, applied programs, military and veteran support, broadband access, agriculture, law enforcement, and technical training as key areas for colleges to meet regional labor needs. University nominees discussed research expansion, affordability, strategic planning, and partnerships with industry and government, with Florida Atlantic, Florida Polytechnic, the University of West Florida, and the University of South Florida each described as being in periods of growth or transition. Miami-Dade College, Tallahassee State College, Polk State College, and other state colleges were praised for enrollment, economic impact, and job placement outcomes. The committee also heard from the Florida Prepaid College Board reappointee, who described the program as a long-term promise backed by public trust and reported recent technology and customer-service improvements. After testimony, the committee took up the nominations as a group. One nominee, Drew Weatherford, had withdrawn and was not voted on. The remaining trustees were approved unanimously by roll call and reported favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alright, let's take Up Tab. 9 SB 14. 0, 2, on student enrollment and dropout retrieval programs.
• And if the district has declining enrollment, has 45 districts do?
• It's not necessary for and neighborhood public school to lose enrollment.
• But if for 5 years in a row, you're seeing declining enrollment in your district.
• When you're in a declining enrollment, we are points away from being in a school district.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , driven up tuition, reduced enrollment, driven up tuition, reduced enrollment, and<00:20:34.640>
• increase in financial aid, enrollment increase in financial aid, enrollment and<00:21:49.039>
• enrollment overall in the state.
• enrollment overall in the state.
• We can continue as well. It's fine. We can continue as well. It's fine.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• numbers continue to rise.
• enrollment as well?
• but also future enrollment as well?
• but also future enrollment as well?
• to help not only the existing enrollment but also future enrollment as well?

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May your Founders' Day be filled with pride, purpose, and continued service.
• CNN will now continue with the order of business. Are there the reports of committees?
• My hope is that we continue to push this agenda forward.
• And I just appreciate that we continue to work through this, to look to improve it.
• And that's what we'll continue to do. But we did it.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then received and adopted, by a 39-0 vote, a committee report confirming 52 gubernatorial executive appointments to various state, regional, and local boards and commissions. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities, described as a broad “Rural Renaissance” package. Sponsor Senator Simon outlined provisions creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties facing population loss, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care support. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping grant language tied to new federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties generally supported the bill, though some raised questions about eligibility for certain rural areas and how funds would be accessed. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then took up CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General findings by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance-based business plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including changes to the stabilization fund and documentation requirements. Senators from both parties debated transparency, accountability, and implementation concerns, with some also urging future attention to declining-enrollment school districts and the quality of scholarship providers. The bill passed 38-0. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House, welcomed Palm Beach County visitors in the gallery, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• But go ahead and continue with 3635. Pardon. Thank you. Excuse me. Wait one second.
• Someone who wants to enroll out of state and practice in Minnesota would help fill those needs.
• WGU now enrolls more than variable.
• Uh, last year alone, our enrolled.
• Eighty percent are working while enrolled at WGU, and 85% transferred in prior college credit.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3635, the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, and House File 3638, which would make several changes to teacher licensing and related agency operations. Dr. Yolena Bailey walked through the compact, explaining that it would let teachers move more easily among member states while preserving Minnesota’s authority over licensing, data, discipline, and rulemaking. She emphasized that the compact must be adopted without changes to be effective and that it would still require eligible teachers to hold a qualifying license, pass a state background check, and meet any compensation-related documentation requirements. Testifiers from school administrator groups and Western Governors University supported both bills. They said Minnesota’s teacher shortages, especially in special education, make it difficult to fill classrooms and often force districts to rely on substitutes or leave positions vacant. Supporters said the compact would speed licensing for qualified out-of-state teachers without lowering standards, and that the Tier 2 change in HF 3638 would help candidates enrolled in out-of-state teacher prep programs, including working adults and rural students, access Minnesota licensure pathways. WGU said the Tier 2 barrier affects its students and partnerships, including special education pipeline efforts and Teach For America collaborations. For HF 3638, Bailey described operational changes that would move the voluntary pair professional credential to MDE, allow a data-sharing agreement with the Board of School Administrators, let the agency use forfeiture fees for IT needs, update mental health training language and rulemaking, expand Tier 2 eligibility to some out-of-state teacher prep students, and extend the timeline for an online licensing system project by two years. Members asked whether the compact would add requirements for Minnesota educators or reduce licensure quality; Bailey and Representative Hill said it would not add classroom requirements and would mainly reduce paperwork while maintaining standards. The bills were laid over for further consideration, with no vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
• I NEED HELP WITH ENROLLING OR DIS-ENROLLING OR CHANGING PLANS AND I NEED HELP HAVING MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
• IN THEIR MMA ENROLLMENT IS 66,437.
• THEIR MMA ENROLLMENT IS 244,886.
• >> WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PLANS.

Transcript Highlights:

• From 2022 to fall of 2024, there has been a 13% increase in enrollment. enrollment headcount, 17% increase
• As we continue to grow our enrollment and offerings, it is essential to have spaces that provide the
• our largest spring enrollment.
• with a 12% enrollment increase.
• We deeply appreciate the legislators continued support through funding of enrollment growth. via the

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We as a state continue to grow in our total population. and our enrolled student population in K-12 education
• as you can see writ large we continue to hire.
• Just think about a parent that says they won't enroll my students.
• Growing in enrollment, they are flat in enrollment, and they are declining in enrollment.
• So INS for example, is not an enrollment basis at all.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our district enrollment is immediate.
• <00:45:58.880> to may allow the district to continue to may allow the district to continue
• >> Continue. >> Continue. >> Continue.
• Best case scenario, we shoot over to that enrollment, right? We get our students enrolled.
• Our agency enrolled. Be at school.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:13.920> to<00:12:14.160> be to be enrolled 100 days. to be to be enrolled 100
• And so you can come, you can enroll, enroll, enroll, and<00:12:24.720> then<00:12:24.959> you
• during that time, our our e enrollment during that time, our our e enrollment has<00:46:22.079><
• that there will be a desire to continue that there will be a desire to continue to<00:56:41.599>
• field but who are not able to continue field but who are not able to continue on<00:59:48.240>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met in September 2025, established a quorum, introduced new member Larry Forester, and approved the minutes from the August 26 meeting. The main presentation came from Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Johnson, who discussed the district’s work serving English language learners and multilingual students, including immigrant and refugee families. They said Warren County now serves roughly 5,500 multilingual students out of about 19,000 total, representing about 92 languages and 90 countries, with 57 certified multilingual teachers, a GO Center, migrant and refugee advocates, and the state’s first international high school. The presenters emphasized that the district welcomes immigrant families and that students and parents generally value public education, but they described major challenges tied to accountability and funding. They explained that multilingual students are tested after one year in the system, even though many need more time to become proficient in English and grade-level standards, and they argued that current graduation-rate rules can unfairly penalize schools when transient students enroll briefly and then leave. They also said the cost of serving this population has risen sharply, with special revenue and especially general-fund spending increasing substantially over the past decade, prompting the district to reallocate resources from EL teacher assistants toward translation technology and additional certified staff. Committee members asked questions about how long-term multilingual students compare with the general student body and whether the district’s data show similar graduation outcomes. Clayton said he did not have the specific comparison data at hand but believed students who stay K-12 generally reach proficiency. He and Johnson asked legislators to consider giving students more time before accountability measures apply and to shift some graduation accountability from individual schools to the district level for highly transient populations, while still maintaining accountability. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our next supplemental fund is declining enrollment funding.
• of declining enrollment.
• They do not receive both, like declining enrollment funding.
• Districts will continue to receive this amount once eligible.
• However, pursuant to Act 905 of the regular population increases or they'll continue to remain continue

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• What do you want to achieve by May to allow them to continue? To be in May?
• Okay, so this is part two, continuing our resource allocation presentations.
• Our next supplemental fund is declining enrollment funding.
• of declining enrollment.
• The districts that have been identified will continue to use that.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Senate and House Education Committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program from Department of Education staff and three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central. The teachers described the year-long fellowship for high-performing merit pay recipients, saying it provided collaboration with educators across the state, shared resources, and ideas they brought back to their districts. Members asked about the teachers’ experience levels, how they shared information locally, and whether the program should be expanded to more teachers and districts. A major focus of the discussion was third-grade reading, the new ATLAS testing system, and the state’s third-grade retention law. The teachers said they do not teach to the test, but use standards, data, interventions, small groups, and relationships to help students grow. They described progress monitoring throughout the year, early screening in K-2, and interventions such as before-school tutoring, RTI meetings, and co-teaching. One teacher reported that six students in a small group improved 10 to 15 points on ATLAS, and another said a student who started the year reading four words per minute improved significantly with targeted support. Secretary Jacob Oliva said the state is trying to create clarity and alignment through Arkansas Learns, science-of-reading support, literacy coaches, and faster test-result turnaround, with student scores now available within about 24 hours and district-level results expected later in the summer. Members also asked about student poverty, trauma, ACEs, DHS involvement, social workers, community supports, and the role of counselors. The teachers emphasized that relationship-building is essential, especially for students facing unstable home situations, and described local supports such as backpack food programs, church donations, fire department incentives, and family assistance. Oliva said the fellowship was intentionally small in its first year because it targeted top-tier merit pay recipients, but he expects participation to grow. He also said merit pay and fellowship eligibility spans many grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten and hard-to-staff areas, and that D and F schools receive state literacy coaches. No additional committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.