Executive Viewpoint

Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

AAEA Adequacy Testimony

The Joint Education Committee submits a report to the entire Legislature in November every two years. This report studies how districts are receiving and spending education dollars across the state. This data, along with future needs, helps determine the future funding allotments and continuation or termination of current programs. We are in the middle of that process in which we assist the state in answering the question, “What does an adequate education in 2022 and beyond look like?” The AAEA Legislative Committee, along with AAEA staff, worked diligently to construct testimony that was provided to the Joint Education Committee. This testimony and recommendations are items that AAEA believes cover the needs of districts in Arkansas, but we acknowledge that this is not an exhaustive list. Some highlights of the testimony are below, and might be helpful in your conversations with your local legislators. It is also an opportunity for you to give local context and identify needs that the AAEA information may not cover. The Adequacy Testimony in its entirety can be found here.

• In the final Lakeview mandate released by the Supreme Court in 2007, the Court concluded, “constitutional compliance in the field of education is an ongoing task requiring constant study, review, and adjustment.” AAEA supports additional study on education issues facing public schools that were not part of the discussion in the original development of the funding Matrix, such as school safety, including mental health services in schools, and learning loss recovery resulting from the extended pandemic.

• It is crucial that funding be added to the Matrix components that currently are funded considerably less than actual school expenditures. For example, the most recent BLR report on K-12 expenditures shows districts spending $915 per student on Maintenance & Operations. The Matrix provides only $706. By fully funding this line item, districts will not have to divert money from other Matrix items for Maintenance & Operations. This need is even more critical due to the increase in the state minimum hourly wage, the need to raise classified salaries to meet the labor shortage facing schools in many parts of the state, and the ever-rising inflation we are experiencing. Quite a number of hourly essential school employees are paid from the Maintenance and Operations budget. In addition, labor demands have caused an increase in the cost of substitutes when comparing actual costs to what the Matrix provides.

• Teaching talent matters when it comes to improving student achievement. Teacher salaries need to be raised to address the current teacher shortage by attracting the best and brightest to the profession. AAEA applauds Governor Hutchinson’s initiatives in this area and the Legislature’s passage of the Educator Compensation Reform Program (Act 877 of 2019) and the Teacher Salary Equalization Fund (Act 679 of 2021). These initiatives help recruit and retain quality classroom teachers. Funds need to be added to the Matrix funding model and to the additional salary funds to provide an ongoing funding source to sustain these teacher salary initiatives.

• The Facilities Partnership Program should be adequately funded. State partnership dollars are capped at $200 per sq. ft. This is way too low and does not accurately reflect today’s construction costs. Investing in school facilities meets the needs of students and schools and is an economic investment that supports Arkansas construction trades. Maintaining a stable level of support from general state revenue would provide for facility funding and other investments in education, such as teacher salaries.

• Continue funding high cost transportation with yearly increases to reflect all student transportation expenditures.

• AAEA supports adding funding to the Matrix earmarked for health insurance with a corresponding increase in the required minimum district contribution to employee premiums. Health insurance is a crucial benefit in attracting and retaining quality educators.

• As additional funds are allocated for teacher salary increases and health insurance benefits, categorical program funding for FY24 and FY25 should be increased accordingly since salaries/benefits are a significant portion of categorical fund expenditures.

• AAEA supports current initiatives to expand bandwidth to all areas of the state. Providing adequate bandwidth in all communities through the Arkansas Rural Connect program is essential so students are not limited in their learning to the school building or the school day. “Learning anywhere, anytime.”

• AAEA applauds and supports the state’s initiative in computer science education. Act 414 of 2021 requires public schools, by 2022, to have a computer science teacher at each high school. This position is not currently reflected in the Matrix. Funding for a computer science teacher salary needs to be added to the Matrix.

• It is essential that Arkansas expand and adequately fund CTE programs in schools and area career centers to ensure all students in all areas of the state have an opportunity to explore alternative educational/career pathways; an economic investment that will help fill current high-paying job openings in the state.

The primary election is fast approaching on May 24th. Early voting starts on May 9th, and the general election is on November 8th. These elections are crucial, especially after a national census. Every legislative seat, along with statewide offices, is up for election. As you probably know, education policy is an issue that candidates and voters consider when they go to the ballot box. Many of you have reached out to the candidates to build relationships and even hosted informational sessions in your community. Please keep up these efforts because they will pay dividends down the road. Your influence will be needed as we welcome the 94th General Assembly and new state officers, including a new Arkansas Governor. I do not doubt that you will be able to share all the wonderful things that are going on in your districts and work to remove barriers to learning.

This school year has certainly been a doozy, but we are almost to the end. I hope you have a great last month of your school year and get an opportunity to rest and plan for next year. We have some outstanding professional development planned, and I look forward to seeing you.