Transcript Highlights:

• According to the superintendent, this is his figures.
• Yeah, uh, so talking to a friend of mine who's a really good superintendent, he's It mentioned all of
• control the parent, but, uh, I do appreciate what you're trying to do here and talking to the superintendent
• attendance and this when we talk about schools are massively underfunded, this motivates the, the superintendents
• Um, right now, the superintendents, you know, have the, or principals, you know, have the responsibility

Transcript Highlights:

• BILL MONTFORD, SENATOR BILL MONTFORD WAIVES SPEAKING TIME AND SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
• BRIAN MOORE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS WAIVES IN SUPPORT.
• FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, JESSICA JENNA LASKY, I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED
• SIMON, THIS IS NOT A GOOD BILL, THIS IS A GREAT BILL BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES AS THE SUPERINTENDENT
• AND SO I SEE SENATOR OF MONTFORD HERE AND HE WAS A SUPERINTENDENT, HE HAS SOME OF THE SAME FEELINGS SO

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Superintendent Evans. Members, quick question for the superintendent.
• Thank you, Superintendent Evans. >> Yep. Thank you, Superintendent Evans.
• . superintendent. superintendent.
• <01:10:23.360> Superintendent, office? Superintendent, office?
• >> Superintendent<01:12:56.560> briefly. >> Superintendent briefly.

Bills: SF856, HF3168, HF3528, HF389

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, ethnic councils, diversity, governance, state participation, community representation, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, Minnesota Historical Society

Transcript Highlights:

• specifying that data that the BCA is required to collect must be transmitted in the form that the superintendent
• 04:00.880> the be transmitted in the form that the be transmitted in the form that the superintendent
• <00:04:03.520> It<00:04:03.600> also superintendent prescribes.
• It also superintendent prescribes.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3990, Chair Novotny’s bill, as the vehicle for a public safety policy package. Members were told the DE1 amendment had been posted for public review, so no formal action would be taken at this meeting; the committee planned to act on the bill at the next hearing on March 25. Chair Novotny said questions from Judiciary on the original bill had been addressed or were still being worked on, and he expressed hope the bill would pass out the next day. Non-partisan staff walked through the DE1 amendment, explaining that it combines multiple bills into one package. The included provisions covered BCA fraud investigations and administrative subpoenas, disaster assistance reporting dates, DOC policy on substance use and TV screening, raising the kratom possession/sale age to 21, DOC facility licensing, restitution considerations for early release, BCA data collection and local law enforcement reimbursements, public employer review of applicants with criminal convictions, victim notification and minor-victim privacy protections, second-degree murder language involving out-of-state protection orders, increased penalties for certain coercion offenses tied to non-consensual image dissemination, and reporting when law enforcement deploys chemical irritants. No one signed up to testify, and there were no votes or formal amendments acted on during the meeting. The chair noted that additional amendments were expected at the next hearing, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our superintendent of our schools is going to talk about the career readiness.
• My name is John Magus, and I serve as superintendent of Duluth Public Schools.
• Superintendent Magus, or sorry, I didn’t mean to speak to it right away.
• Superintendent Magus responded that yes, that would be correct.
• Representative Kozlowski said, thank you, Superintendent Magus.

Bills: HF1936, HF849, HF989, HF1130, HF1223, HF1907, HF1847, HF1957

Keywords: workforce development, youth employment, career guidance, education, job skills, Duluth Promise, education funding, career training, employment support, youth apprenticeship, economic development, minority support, internship program, Bloomington, funding, youth mentorship, job training, disadvantaged youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Youthprise

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, who awarded Superintendent Lianigans
• superintendent? superintendent?
• <00:10:44.160> I Most of the school superintendents I Most of the school superintendents I
• <00:31:10.480> just spoken with, those superintendents just spoken with, those superintendents
• in Kentucky newspaper 11 superintendent in Kentucky newspaper 11 superintendent got<00:38:00.240

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to approve the October 21 minutes and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and public resources. The sponsors said the bill is intended to strengthen existing law by adding civil and criminal penalties for taxpayer-funded advocacy on ballot questions, especially in light of controversies during the 2024 election over school officials and districts using public resources to oppose a constitutional amendment. They also described related concerns about school districts hiring third-party lobbyists and public relations firms, particularly in Fayette County, and said the proposal was meant to keep tax dollars focused on public services rather than political persuasion. Committee members raised several concerns about scope and drafting. Some asked whether the bill should specifically mention schools, school boards, and school employees, and the sponsors said they would add that language. Others questioned whether the measure would also affect local government lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, and the sponsors said they intended to focus narrowly on schools while exempting certain advocacy organizations and internal government lobbyists. Members also asked whether public employees could still speak as private individuals, and the sponsors said yes. Several members suggested splitting the lobbying and ballot-advocacy issues into separate bills, and the sponsors said they would consider that. Members also pressed for clarification on how the bill would apply in practice, including whether it would cover legal challenges to petition drives or only advocacy after a question is on the ballot. Counsel for the sponsors said the bill would not cover some petition-related litigation as drafted, though they believed it should. The sponsors and supporters argued the proposal was needed to give the existing prohibition real enforcement, while some members warned that the language could unintentionally limit legitimate public representation or be too broad if not carefully drafted. No final vote was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I spoke with our superintendent two years ago and he was superintendent two years ago and he was superintendent
• She he is superintendent of Turnin. She he is superintendent of Turnin.
• and all that and school superintendent and all that and school superintendent and all that and they're
• association to try school superintendent association to try school superintendent association to try
• in Henry County, you superintendents in Henry County, you superintendents in Henry County, you have

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And first, I believe, is one of my superintendents, Mr. Chris Lindholm. Well, good afternoon, Mr.
• Then as superintendent in Pequot Lakes with just about 1,800 students and a seven-member board.
• <01:19:38.719> of pleasure of serving as superintendent of pleasure of serving as superintendent
• ><01:20:07.600> with superintendent in Pekquat Lakes with superintendent in Pekquat Lakes with
• County<01:20:13.840> Schools superintendent in Cook County Schools superintendent in Cook

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Barbers Hill ISD Superintendent... Makes $489,000 a year. Tombaugh, $469,000.
• For our superintendents, and that's the last three.
• And how hard is his job compared to a superintendent?
• If I was a superintendent, and I'm glad I'm not, as I was a former teacher for 13 years.
• And so, and he makes less than that superintendent.

Bills: HB26, HB73, SB 14, HB46

Keywords: HB26, law enforcement contracts, sheriff, constable, county commissioners court, commissioners court, private security, special law enforcement district, property owners association, POA, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, local government, contract policing, supplemental police services, large counties, population over 3.3 million, Texas Local Government Code, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• I've heard from superintendents who are concerned about a couple of issues.
• I've spoken to 11 of 11 superintendents in House District 57.
• When you were crafting this bill, did you have discussions with superintendents and testing officials
• Providing for four members to be appointed by the governor plus the state superintendent equals 5.
• Don't you think we'd be able to get find A good superintendent if we have that.

Bills: HB4420, HB3974, HB3016, HB3062, HB3021, HB3145, HB4128, HB3131, HB3015, HB3472, HB3453, HB1638, HB4126, HB2696, HB2710, HB3552, HB3031, HB3544, HB3521, HB4490, HB4488, HB1746, HJR1069, HB4428, HB4429, HB1170, HB3538, HB4124, HB3904, HB4106, HB2999, HB3982, HJR1077, HB3464, HB2588, HB3462, HB4440, HB3674, HB3345, HJR1067, HB4326, HB4331, HB4337, HB4338, HB4359, HB4392, HB3557, HJR1076, HB4003, HB3495, HB3497, HB3501, HB3505, HB3749, HB3011, HB4336, HB4346, HJR1087, HB3240, HB3647, HB3796, HB3969, HB3972, HB3983, HB3984, HB3989, HB3383, HB3130, HB4358, HB3327, HJR1055, HB3386, HJR1089, HB3087, HB2970, HB3314, HB4129, HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• So Superintendent Lummus? Thank you, Senator Tarr.
• Thank you, Superintendent Lummus. Good afternoon.
• It took two months to get a meeting with the superintendent.
• It took two months to get a meeting with the superintendent.
• So that’s at the school committee level, that’s at the superintendent level.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also leverages the roles the Superintendent of Public Instruction has on the CSU Board of Trustees
• and UC Regents by adding the superintendent as a voting member to both the State Board of Education
• and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, empowering the superintendent to be a policy
• CTA is also opposed to AB 181, which strips the authority of the state superintendent and moves oversight
• On the second matter, AB 181, the superintendent issue—it's fun to be on the side of the CTA and CFT

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we work with superintendents, and there's a reason why the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents
• <00:20:56.000> a with superintendents and there's a with superintendents and there's a reason
• has endorsed this School Superintendent has endorsed this plan<00:21:00.720> is<00:21:01.039>
• So, we met with superintendents, school board members, child care providers, and legislators.
• because he's really doing superintendent because he's really doing an<00:49:14.400> incredible

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and first heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials on career and technical education funding. KDE explained that House Bill 499 created a CTE funding formula using 60% weighted full-time equivalent enrollment and 40% incentives, but House Bill 6’s budget language excluded area technology centers (ATCs) from that supplemental funding. KDE requested approval of an additional budget request of $14,789,352 in each fiscal year 2027 and 2028 to include ATCs in the formula and hold local districts harmless. Officials said ATCs serve students from 117 of Kentucky’s 171 districts and argued the change would reduce funding disparities and better reflect the return on investment from CTE programs, citing growth in dual credit and work-based learning participation. Members asked whether the issue would need to be revisited each budget cycle. KDE responded that the problem could be fixed by removing the notwithstanding language from the budget bill, which they said would allow ATCs to be included under the existing statute. Representative Klein supported the request, saying the current clause could lead to stagnation and that the committee should help the program continue to grow. No vote was taken on the CTE item during the portion of the meeting provided. The committee then heard a presentation from PreK for All on expanding preschool access in Kentucky. Advocates said the state’s preschool program has been funded since 1990 and currently serves about 14,200 children at roughly $84 million per year, but that many working families still fall into a coverage gap. They proposed expanding eligibility to 250% of the federal poverty line, which they said would add about 9,600 children at a cost of $40 million in year two, after a planning year. The proposal also included regulatory flexibility for classrooms and partnerships with private child care providers and nonprofits, with speakers emphasizing child care deserts in some counties and citing research that early learning improves kindergarten readiness and later outcomes. No action or vote was taken on the preschool proposal in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Talk to your superintendents across the state.
• And uh many<00:12:17.760> of<00:12:17.839> the<00:12:18.000> superintendents<00:
• 12:18.639> that many of the superintendents that many of the superintendents that contacted<00
• Talk to your superintendents,<00:12:27.519> talk<00:12:27.680> to<00:12:27.839> superintendents
• superintendents, talk to superintendents superintendents, talk to superintendents across<00:12:28.720

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have really good participation from the superintendents, but I, for one, would really like to have
• I know that there have been times where my principal or superintendent have come and said, okay, now
• Well, and I think it’s even just, you know, talking with superintendent, sometimes it’s bigger than that
• Last year we'd asked all superintendents to rate the extent that categorical funds met their needs for
• For instance, PD was the only categorical where no superintendents responded in A, but where ALE shows

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Superintendent Herbold, Superintendent Miller, and General McBurnett. Or McBurnett, sorry.
• with Superintendent Herbold with the School for the Deaf.
• Thank you very much, Superintendent Herbold.
• Now to Superintendent Miller, please. Mr.
• Superintendent Miller.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I'm Billy Parker, superintendent of Scott County Schools in Georgetown, Kentucky.
• We've heard a number of principals and superintendents kind of buzz around this idea.
• We've heard a number of principals and superintendents kind of buzz around this idea.
• I know you've talked to KEA superintendents and all these groups.
• I know you've talked to KEA superintendents and all these groups.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:11 Legislative Proposal: Representative Blanton: 01:12 • House Bill 220 Approval of Minutes: 10:07 Legislative Proposal: Senator Nunn: 10:24 • Sick Leave Flexibility for School District Employees Adjournment: 34:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Representative John Blanton’s bill on pension spiking and Kentucky Public Pension Authority administration. Blanton said the measure would make a prior court-related pension-spiking fix retroactive to July 1, 2022, so employees who retired between that date and the court ruling would be treated the same as those covered by the earlier legislation. KPPPA staff said they did not think the bill would go beyond the Court of Appeals ruling, but noted it could prompt requests from people who retired before July 1, 2022. Members asked about how many retirees might be affected, whether the language was narrow enough, and whether the bill could open the door to additional claims; Blanton estimated roughly 1,000 retirees would need review, with fewer actually impacted. No vote was taken on the bill in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senator Matt Nunn and Scott County Schools Superintendent Billy Parker present a proposal allowing school districts to offer teachers and other employees a voluntary payout for unused sick days. Supporters said the idea could improve attendance, reduce substitute costs and classroom disruptions, help retain younger teachers, and potentially lower long-term retirement-related costs because the payout would not count toward pension compensation. They emphasized the program would be optional for districts and employees, would require teachers to keep at least 15 sick days in reserve, and would be district-funded rather than a state cost. Members raised questions about budget impact, tax treatment, pension effects, and whether the incentive would actually change behavior; the bill sponsor and witnesses said the payout would be taxed like other compensation and would not affect TRS or CERS benefits. One member requested reporting on how the program would be used, and the sponsor said he would be open to adding that. The sponsor also noted a later committee-substitute change would allow use of accumulated sick leave for observance of religious holidays not otherwise on the school calendar, with a personal statement from the employee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I heard from this superintendent and this is what they heard.
• So I talked about the Pecos County judge and I actually spoke with your Alpine ISD superintendent. this
• So Superintendent Reinhardt does an amazing job and she knows exactly what she's doing. she's talking
• So wouldn't you agree that superintendents and administrators are first and foremost educators. and not
• My superintendents as well, but appreciate the opportunity to have. that dialogue with you.

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB9, SB42, SB15, SB5, SB11, SB12, SCR1

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• What this superintendent did, turning around and selling that property, that's perfectly legal because
• I mean, just the example given with the superintendent making over 800 million or whatever, it's for
• I'm Doctor Joe Harrington, superintendent of HEBISD.
• I'm the deputy superintendent of business operations for HEB or the Chief Financial Officer, so.
• And whether it be, you know, the, the superintendents themselves, those boards, even separately, but

Transcript Highlights:

• It was much more difficult to collaborate with superintendents.
• As president of Valencia College,… It was much more difficult to collaborate with superintendents.
• was in his life that allowed him to be a superintendent because he saw a sample.
• In his life that allowed him to be a superintendent because he saw a sample, he saw a model.
• In his life that allowed him to be a superintendent because he saw a sample, he saw a model.

Summary: The subcommittee began with an informal “college day” exercise in which members described what careers and colleges they would choose if starting over, often citing factors such as program reputation, location, cost, graduation rates, employment outcomes, and family or personal interests. Members mentioned a range of possible paths including law, aviation, education, construction management, psychology, social work, criminal justice, nursing, intelligence studies, and the arts. Several also highlighted the value of historically Black colleges and universities, dual enrollment, and career/technical education. The chair used the exercise to frame the meeting’s broader focus on Florida’s higher education pathways and student outcomes. Dr. Kathleen Plinsky of Valencia College then gave an overview of the Florida College System and Valencia’s role in it, emphasizing Florida’s statewide articulation and transfer framework, open-access mission, affordability, and workforce alignment. She described Valencia’s record enrollment, high retention, large share of first-generation and working students, and partnerships such as Direct Connect to UCF, Osceola Prosper, and Open Door grants for short-term training. Members asked about guaranteed transfer, apprenticeships, enrollment trends, student demographics, out-of-state residency, county scholarship costs, dual enrollment outcomes, and barriers to expanding career dual enrollment. Dr. Plinsky said the system supports transfer and acceleration well, but funding constraints limit growth in some areas; she also noted that dual enrollment participation is high and that Valencia’s affordability and student support efforts have driven recent enrollment gains. Dr. Jim Clark of Florida State University followed with an overview of the State University System, describing its governance, performance-based funding, low tuition, and strong graduation and research outcomes. He highlighted FSU’s enrollment, research profile, transfer student success, FSU Health, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, partnerships with K-12 schools and Tallahassee State College, and efforts to expand nursing and medical education to address workforce shortages. After the presentations, the committee heard from a panel on student acceleration and mobility: Shannon Mercer of the Department of Education explained the Office of Articulation, the statewide course numbering system, FASTER records, the 2+2 transfer model, specialized AA transfer degrees, and credit for industry certifications, military, medical, and law-enforcement training. Panelists from Kaiser University, Florida State University, and Pinellas County Schools described their institutions’ roles in transfer, advising, career pathways, apprenticeships, and dual enrollment. No formal votes or bills were taken up in the portion provided.