Huckabee`s Education Proposal Under Study

An assistant attorney general says that providing loopholes in education-reform laws for small schools to avoid consolidation could prompt future lawsuits against the state. The discussion came in a daylong meeting today between legislators and staff representing Governor Huckabee`s office to review the governor`s 362 (m) million dollar education-reform proposal. The committee plans to screen Huckabee`s proposal and other education-reform proposals before an expected special session on education. Much of today`s meeting focused on how to ensure new education laws don`t put the state on the losing end of another education lawsuit. Huckabee supports consolidating high schools with fewer than 425 students that cannot meet academic standards efficiently, to save money and cut bureaucracy. Another proposal offered by Senator Paul Miller and Representative Paul Weaver calls for districts to meet an academic and economic efficiency standard or face sanctions, but includes no minimum school size. Legislators are under a January First state Supreme Court deadline to find a plan to improve Arkansas` unconstitutional public school system. Huckabee has set December eighth as the tentative date for a special session. Posted by Mike Hellgren