Transcript Highlights:

• to be a public school.
• the public school in new where the developer is or within the school district are?
• Are you place a school?
• schools are public schools that I started this committee.
• So I think, you know, obviously charter schools are public schools.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have asked the school districts to go into our school We have asked the school districts to go into
• This for the school districts.
• Does it go to the district and that school year? Is it a lot of for the next school year?
• who's in private school.
• You know. >> We don't want to go back to school. We want to that public school.

Transcript Highlights:

• district, schools, teachers.
• a C school, right?
• We established these D and F schools. Hopefully we don't have any more D and F schools.
• But schools know, right?
• the 2025 school year.

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:

• </c> seven high schools and one school is seven high schools and one school is actually<00:40:04.800>
• them... schools um we have schools that are schools um we have schools that are Blended<00:53:00.760>
• </c> schools that um make actually 40 schools schools that um make actually 40 schools total<00:56:14.039
• </c> schools that lead into the high schools schools that lead into the high schools that<01:35:41.000
• or high school.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of school bus infraction detection systems on district school buses. school bus infraction detection
• , a middle school, or a high school?
• Is there flexibility, like if you have an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school all in
• is actually school-to-school times, right?
• Our school zones are active from the moment students arrive until the last after school Our school zones

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum and considered five bills. Senate Bill 628, naming a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor three Navy sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, drew supportive remarks from senators and was reported favorably. Senate Bill 382 addressed electric bicycles and scooters by requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, limit speed near pedestrians, and use audible signals, while creating an e-bike safety task force and reporting requirements; witnesses from law enforcement, local government, and school boards supported the bill but urged clearer inclusion of e-scooters and better data collection, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 880 created a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate to fund scholarships and school programs, and Senate Bill 696 authorized online trademark registration applications and updated trademark classification and verification procedures; both were reported favorably with little opposition. The committee also took up Chair DeSigley’s CS for SB 654 on traffic infraction enforcement cameras for red-light running, school-zone speeding, and school-bus violations. The bill aimed to increase consistency, transparency, and fairness by limiting data use, requiring records retention, authorizing virtual hearings, restricting commissions, and adding school board approval and reporting requirements for school-bus camera programs. An amendment was adopted to clarify several provisions, including the definition of careful and prudent driving, limits on camera data use, contract timing for commission prohibitions, and reporting on violations outside authorized enforcement periods. Members raised concerns about privacy, surveillance, school-zone notice, and whether all-day school-zone enforcement should continue; Hillsborough County law enforcement testified in support of all-day enforcement based on crash data, while the sponsor said he would continue working on clarifications. After debate, the amended bill was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Catholics had started a school system, and that school system was pretty much just as long as a school
• system, and that school system was pretty much just as large as the public school system.
• Yeah, into a religious school.
• Churches are the school.
• If they're a private school, they're different than a public school.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard RS 33159 on OITS powers and duties, which would shift most state IT procurement to IT professionals rather than other departments, with exceptions for entities like the military, judiciary, legislature, constitutional officers, and schools. The motion to introduce the RS passed. The committee also heard RS 33195, a campaign finance cleanup bill requiring candidates to maintain a separate bank account for election funds and to certify loans to campaign accounts within seven days; that motion to introduce also passed. The main item was H.J.R. 7, which would place before Idaho voters the question of repealing Article 9, Section 5 of the Idaho Constitution, the Blaine Amendment prohibiting aid to sectarian institutions. The sponsor and supporters argued the provision is rooted in anti-Catholic and anti-Mormon discrimination, conflicts with U.S. Supreme Court precedent on religious neutrality, and has already caused litigation and confusion in Idaho. Opponents argued the amendment helps preserve separation of church and state, protects public school funding, and prevents state money from flowing to religious schools or creating entanglement with religion. Testimony was split along those lines, with supporters emphasizing equal access and constitutional conflict, and opponents warning about discrimination, public funding, and the consequences of repeal. After extensive questioning and testimony from advocates, clergy, policy groups, students, and attorneys, the sponsor closed by saying repeal would not automatically send money to religious schools and that any future funding issues would require further legislation. The committee then voted on the motion to send H.J.R. 7 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and it passed 8-6.

Transcript Highlights:

• Middle college and early college high schools are formal partnerships between schools and higher education
• days in a school year before administering the screening for kindergarten pupils and at least 46 school
• These new requirements would not prohibit schools from screening students at the beginning of the school
• School Construction.
• the school facility program, which is administered by the Office of Public School Construction.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• K through 12, 216 local school districts, and 74 public charter schools.
• school funding.
• schools.
• schools.
• We're not trying to hurt rural schools. We're trying to keep providing IDLA to the rural schools.

Summary: The committee first approved a technical correction to the Health and Welfare Division of Licensing and Certification budget, restoring 2 FTP that had been cut in error while leaving funding unchanged. It then adopted language extending the deadline for Medicaid comprehensive managed care-related state plan amendments and waivers from July 1, 2026 to 2027, and passed that language after brief discussion about MMIS delays and legal issues. The committee recessed briefly before moving to public school support items. For the Division of Student Support, the committee approved a FY 2026 supplemental adding $7.8 million in federal spending authority, then considered several FY 2027 budget motions and related language. After debate over special education high-needs funding, ELL funding shifts, health insurance, classified staff, and virtual-school funding, the committee ultimately adopted a motion reducing the division’s general fund by $16,222,300, adding $4,141,200 in dedicated funds and $7.8 million in federal funds, and passed several pieces of accompanying language. Those language items included a $3 million reduction to virtual-school discretionary funding, a $7.5 million transportation funding reduction tied to prior statutory changes, reporting requirements for virtual programs, a one-time ELL distribution shift to LEAs, a change to technology curriculum contract requirements, and a special education expenditure report to JFAC. The committee then turned to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. After extensive debate over alleged “double dipping,” rural access, and the need for policy changes, it rejected a proposed $15 million cut, then approved a smaller $13,500 reduction tied to a pending policy bill. It also adopted language restricting PCIF access and directing IDLA to reduce offerings as needed, plus reporting language on DEI compliance and a usage/enrollment report with more detailed data on synchronous versus asynchronous courses and LEA-level enrollment. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again Monday to take up the Secretary of State budget and trailer bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• high school.
• America High School is an alternative America High School is an alternative high<00:56:22.039><c> school
• and in rural schools.
• This school district or this school is doing such and such innovation, because schools can go to that
• </c><01:13:26.800><c> is</c> this School District or this school is this School District or this school

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• as the child's original school.
• school years for off-campus.
• To let children leave the school during the school day from 8 to 3:30 usually.
• Do they get to tell the schools when, or do the schools get to tell them when?
• Dolby Middle School is closing.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I've never seen that in any school.
• All of them qualify for our highest At-risk schools, we tried to put them at those schools to see if
• Eunice Municipal Schools, Hobbs Public Schools, Lovington Municipal Schools, the New Mexico Junior College
• , Portales Municipal Schools, and Roswell Independent Schools.
• School safety.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires schools to notify parents when their child's school vaccination rate falls below the
• Schools must then notify parents, giving families timely school-specific information to make informed
• funded after-school and summer programs.
• Right now, the funding to schools is— is— The funding to schools is filling that hole that exists, that
• My name is Maria Guillen, a high school math teacher for Twin Rivers Unified School District.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for Public Schools.
• </c> into school. into school.
• </c> schools and ice out of our state. schools and ice out of our state.
• 20:12.320><c> school</c><00:20:12.559><c> district</c> through high school, our school district through
• Paul Public Schools.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the impact of recent ICE enforcement activity in Minnesota, especially on schools, students, and families. Speakers, including legislators, superintendents, a school board chair, teachers, parents, and a student, described fear in immigrant and non-immigrant communities, increased absenteeism, disrupted school routines, and broader trauma affecting children’s mental health and learning. Several speakers said students were staying home, families were avoiding bus stops and public places, and educators were taking on extra duties such as transporting students, delivering food, and helping with housing and remote learning options. Testimony included specific examples from Columbia Heights, Fidley Public Schools, Rochester, and Maple Grove. Speakers reported detained students and family members, canceled in-person classes in some districts, expanded virtual learning, and sharp attendance declines; one superintendent cited more than 530 additional daily absences in Rochester and large increases in excused absences among multilingual, low-income, Asian-American, and Latino students. A parent and student speaker described organizing neighborhood safety efforts and a planned student walkout to demand safe busing, suspension of a policy that unenrolls students after 15 consecutive absences, and a pause on standardized testing. The speakers repeatedly called for ICE to be removed from schools and from Minnesota, and urged elected officials to act to protect children and educators. One senator reflected on democracy, liberty, and freedom from fear, linking the situation to the purpose of public education. No formal committee vote or legislative action was taken during the excerpt; the session ended with a transition to questions and a call for community responsibility and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• School inclusion targets.
• charter schools.
• school has increased ADA.
• 150 schools.
• public school system... ...facility that was once a public school facility, does the public school system

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts and schools with pre-kindergarten programs.
• School for a combined elementary middle school facility for 420 students.
• other schools.
• And our middle school 7th and 8th grade sits at the Robertson High School.
• for Dexter Middle School, elementary and middle school.

Transcript Highlights:

• The schools in my district use I Love You Guys as part of our safe school planning.
• </c> a national school safety organizations. a national school safety organizations.
• </c> every school to have that opportunity. every school to have that opportunity.
• That's 2,000 public schools, 200 charter schools, our tribal schools as well, our intermediate districts
• ><c> schools,</c> schools, 200 charter schools, schools, 200 charter schools, our<00:07:50.640><c> tribal

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , special education schools, charter schools, and traditional public schools.
• free school meals.
• and out-of-school time.
• We may have to get back to you around the after-school and out-of-school time.
• School, look, the school librarians. School librarians. Okay.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 budget for education and local aid. Opening remarks from Senator Pavel Payano, Representative Pat Duffy, and local leaders emphasized the importance of education funding for Lawrence and other Gateway Cities, with Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero highlighting the city’s high-need student population, Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, early college and career pathways, and the need for sustained support to close achievement gaps. The Education Secretariat testified in support of the budget, with Acting Secretary Amy Kershaw outlining investments in early literacy, universal pre-K, student mental health, school meals, high school redesign, higher education affordability, and early childhood systems. Commissioner Noi Ortega described higher education proposals including expanded free community college, continued free tuition at public four-year institutions, student success funding, early college and dual enrollment investments, and the Bright Act and Drive Act. Commissioner Pedro Martinez detailed K-12 proposals such as full Student Opportunity Act funding, increased Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, literacy initiatives, and a new Accelerating Achievement Initiative aimed at schools with the greatest needs. Commissioner Kershaw also described early education proposals including funding for C3, child care financial assistance, CPPI, workforce supports, and administrative funding restoration. Committee members questioned the administration about the pending local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to address health care and other cost drivers in school funding. Officials said the local contribution report is expected by the end of June and that a draft will be shared for public comment after data analysis is complete. Members also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities between districts and urged a broader review of the formula. In response, the commissioners said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but further work is needed, and they pointed to the new achievement initiative, literacy efforts, and early college expansion as ways to improve outcomes. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This requires reporting up to the school... ...This requires reporting up to the school board.
• At Clayton High School, our administrators do not require prior review of our school paper.
• At Clayton High School, our administrators do not require prior review of our school paper.
• I appreciate the school.
• and the culture of the school.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2710, which would revise school accountability report cards. The sponsor and members described a committee substitute that clarified the report card’s purpose, added an appeal process and changed deadlines, set the top decile of schools as the highest rating, addressed the 95% participation issue with an asterisk-style disclosure, shifted the Show Me Success funding language toward growth-based criteria, clarified growth-to-proficiency language, added agricultural industry reporting, and removed an anonymous survey section and a changing-target provision. After discussion about how letter-grade cutoffs would be set and whether the bill captured enough information about school quality, the committee adopted an amendment changing “growth to proficiency” to “growth relative to grade level” and exempting special school districts or state-operated schools serving only students with disabilities. The substitute was adopted and the committee voted the bill do pass by 16 ayes and 6 noes. The committee then considered House Bill 2872, a literacy bill. The sponsor explained that the substitute kept the four approved screeners, retained the commission, and softened the three-cueing language so science of reading remains the primary approach while allowing teachers some flexibility. Members discussed retention and possible future exceptions, including parental consent and reading plans, but those changes were not yet drafted. The substitute was adopted and the bill passed the committee 20-0, with two present. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2120 and House Bill 1698 together under a combined substitute addressing bullying and related reporting requirements. The substitute removed language on second-degree harassment, added a title reference to Sawyer’s Law, modified reporting procedures to require notice by the end of the school day or the next school day if the incident occurs on a weekend, and clarified investigation and liability protections for teachers. The substitute was adopted and the combined bill passed unanimously. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2335, which would let districts and administrators reduce repetitive annual teacher trainings by using a rotation after a teacher’s first three years. The sponsor and several witnesses from school administrator and teacher groups supported the bill as a time-saving retention measure, while a student witness raised concerns about ensuring continued training on mental health emergencies. Testimony then began on House Bill 2918, the Cronkite New Voices Act, which would expand student journalism rights at public schools and public colleges. The sponsor, a Hazelwood plaintiff, student journalists, an advisor, a law professor, and free-speech advocates testified in support, arguing the bill would protect student speech while preserving limits for libel, obscenity, privacy, and disruption; no opposing testimony was presented before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter school students, students that go to charter school, they're left out of safe school aid.
• Tribal contract schools are left out of safe school aid.
• schools, non-public schools, and tribal<00:02:17.360><c> contract</c><00:02:17.840><c> schools.
• </c> non-public schools. non-public schools.
• </c> this school. this school.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These schools, high schools, are graduating outstanding students.
• In my county, Kern County. 12% of public school students attend charter schools.
• public schools.
• The traditional charter schools and the charter schools make each other better.
• In a public school and in a traditional public school, I myself was a home school student.

Keywords: 988, house, all