Legislature Will Contine To Meet Even Though Supreme Court Will Review Education Case

The Arkansas Supreme Court will have the final word on whether legislators do enough to reform public education in the state. The legislature will continue meeting in a special session on education reform while a court-appointed special master evaluates efforts. The master, who has not been named, will advise the court on progress. Justices made the decision to appoint a special master today, showing impatience with the legislature`s progress. At a hearing this morning, justices raised the possibility of ominous consequences after the state missed a January first deadline to enact reforms. Justices said 14 months ago that Arkansas did NOT spend enough money on education and distributed funds unevenly. Though the court order did not mandate school consolidation, justices broached the thorny issue in discussing ways to overhaul the education system.