Arkansas LEARNS

Dozens of coaches are preparing to help Arkansas students meet literacy standards outlined in the LEARNS Act, an expansive new education law backed by the governor.

An AP African American Studies pilot course will be offered to completion during the 2023-24 academic year despite an ongoing review of curriculum materials, state officials told Arkansas lawmakers Tuesday.

Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva wrote to leaders of six Arkansas schools on Monday with the most specific concerns yet about the AP African American Studies course.

The Education Department removed the class from the state’s approved course list late last week.

The class was removed from a list of approved courses Friday, days before the start of the academic year, and can only be taken for local credit.

Citizens of Arkansas for Public Education and Students now believes it collected enough signatures to continue its effort to repeal the LEARNS Act through a 2024 ballot referendum.

The referendum effort fell less than 500 signatures short of the 54,422 it needed to have a chance to qualify for the November 2024 ballot.

CAPES worked late into Sunday night collecting and counting signatures to get a measure on the ballot stopping LEARNS from going into effect.

Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students has to collect thousands of signatures by the end of July.

The governor appointed Cory Cox to the Arkansas Supreme Court for the LEARNS Act case that recently appointed Justice Cody Hiland recused from.