Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 792 of the Regular Session
*KMW015* 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/18/25 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1206 3
4
By: Joint Budget Committee 5
6
7
For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 9
FUND GRANTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 10
DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - 11
PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 12
30, 2026; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
14
15
Subtitle 16
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 17
DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 18
EDUCATION - PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND 19
APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025 -2026 FISCAL 20
YEAR. 21
22
23
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
25
SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - GRANTS AND AID TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 26
SPECIAL PROGRAMS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of 27
Education, to be payable from the Division of Elementary and Secondary 28
Education Public School Fund Account, for grants and aid to local school 29
districts and special programs of the Department of Education - Division of 30
Elementary and Secondary Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, 31
the following: 32
33
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 34
NO. 2025 -2026 35
(01) 98% URT ACTUAL COLLECTION ADJUSTMENT $34,500,000 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
2 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
(02) ADVANCED PLACEMENT INCENTIVE 1,275,000 1
(03) ALTERNATIVE LEARNING 35,783,095 2
(04) ARKANSAS EASTER SEALS 193,113 3
(05) ASSESSMENT/END OF LEVEL TESTING 20,309,189 4
(06) AT RISK 1,688,530 5
(07) BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM 114,000,000 6
(08) BONDED DEBT ASSISTANCE 28,455,384 7
(09) COMPUTER SCIENCE INITIATIVE 3,500,000 8
(10) CONSOLIDATION INCENTIVE 5,981,400 9
(11) CONTENT STANDARDS 161,000 10
(12) CONTENTS STANDARDS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS 50,000 11
(13) COOP EDUCATION TECH CENTERS 1,200,000 12
(14) COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH 2,000,000 13
(15) DECLINING ENROLLMENT 23,963,389 14
(16) DEPT OF CORRECTION 8,702,425 15
(17) DISTANCE LEARNING 4,760,000 16
(18) DISTANCE LEARNING OPERATIONS 7,575,000 17
(19) EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION 22,897,920 18
(20) ECONOMIC EDUCATION 400,000 19
(21) EDUCATION SERVICE COOPERATIVES 6,129,270 20
(22) ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS 19,075,847 21
(23) ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING 246,723,439 22
(24) ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING 8,000,000 23
(25) ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM 5,636,400 24
(25.1)FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM 14,700,000 25
(26) GIFTED & TALENTED 1,560,381 26
(27) GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS 67,856 27
(28) HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER EDUCATION AID 526,150 28
(29) INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS 302,000 29
(30) ISOLATED FUNDING 7,896,000 30
(31) LEADERSHIP ACADEMY -MASTER PRINCIPAL 1,400,000 31
(32) MASTER PRINCIPAL BONUS 175,000 32
(33) MATERNITY LEAVE 3,000,000 33
(34) MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE 10,000,000 34
(35) MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY AND RAISES 190,000,000 35
(36) NATIONAL BOARD OF PROF TEACHING STANDARDS 18,738,000 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
3 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
(37) NON-TRADITIONAL LICENSURE 50,000 1
(38) OE CHARTER FAC FUNDING AID PROGRAM 10,275,000 2
(39) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING 37,175,911 3
(40) PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE 142,000,000 4
(41) R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS 10,470,000 5
(42) RESIDENTIAL CENTERS/JUVENILE DETENTION 16,345,087 6
(43) SCHOOL FACILITY JOINT USE SUPPORT 500,000 7
(44) SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES 7,650,000 8
(45) SCHOOL FOOD-LEGISLATIVE AUDIT 75,000 9
(46) SCHOOL FUNDING CONTINGENCY 25,000,000 10
(47) SCHOOL RECOGNITION 7,000,000 11
(48) SCHOOL WORKER DEFENSE 390,000 12
(49) SERIOUS OFFENDER 1,716,859 13
(50) SMART START/SMART STEP 10,666,303 14
(51) SPECIAL EDUCATION - HIGH COST OCCURRENCES 17,934,000 15
(52) SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 2,802,527 16
(53) SPECIAL NEEDS ISOLATED FUNDING 3,000,000 17
(54) STATE FOUNDATION FUNDING 2,206,861,456 18
(55) STUDENT GROWTH 37,690,144 19
(56) SURPLUS COMMODITIES 1,125,065 20
(57) TEACHER LICENSING/MENTORING 6,065,758 21
(58) TEACHER OF THE YEAR 100,000 22
(59) TEACHER RETIREMENT MATCHING 14,776,754 23
(60) TEACHER SALARY EQUALIZATION 60,000,000 24
(61) TECHNOLOGY GRANTS 3,602,678 25
(62) TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS 500,000 26
(63) TRANSPORTATION MODERNIZATION GRANTS 5,000,000 27
(64) WORKER'S COMPENSATION 450,000 28
(65) YOUTH SHELTERS 165,000 29
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $3,480,713,330 30
31
SECTION 2. REGULAR SALARIES - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK. 32
There is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 33
Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public School Computer Network 34
for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular 35
employees. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
4 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
1
Maximum Annual 2
Maximum Salary Rate 3
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 4
No. Code Title Employees 2025 -2026 5
(1) D105C ADE STATE NETWORK ENGINEER 1 GRADE IT09 6
(2) D022N IT SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER 1 GRADE IT09 7
(3) D104C ADE STATE SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE IT08 8
(4) D007C INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER 1 GRADE IT08 9
(5) D042C DATA WAREHOUSE SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IT06 10
(6) D037C ADE APSCN APPLICATIONS MANAGER 3 GRADE IT05 11
(7) D063C COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IT05 12
(8) D055C ADE APSCN FIELD ANALYST 25 GRADE IT04 13
(9) D079C COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN 1 GRADE IT02 14
(10) N047N ADE APSCN DIRECTOR 1 GRADE GS15 15
(11) G012C ADE ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR 3 GRADE GS12 16
(12) G050C ADE APSCN DIVISION MANAGER 3 GRADE GS10 17
(13) C020C STUDENT APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST 2 GRADE GS06 18
(14) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 1 GRADE GS04 19
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 45 20
21
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK. 22
There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable 23
from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund 24
Account, for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of 25
Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public 26
School Computer Network for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 27
following: 28
29
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 30
NO. 2025 -2026 31
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $2,629,680 32
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 945,587 33
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 34
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 29,245,839 35
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 7,250 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
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(C) PROF. FEES 0 1
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 200,000 2
(E) DATA PROC. 0 3
(04) DATA ACCESS IMPLEMENTATION 300,000 4
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $33,328,356 5
6
SECTION 4. REGULAR SALARIES - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES. There 7
is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 8
Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of Education Renewal Zones for 9
the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 10
11
Maximum Annual 12
Maximum Salary Rate 13
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 14
No. Code Title Employees 2025 -2026 15
(1) E020C ADE OERZ TECHNICAL ASSIST SPECIALIST 3 GRADE GS08 16
(2) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 1 GRADE GS04 17
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 4 18
19
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES. There is 20
hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the 21
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund Account, 22
for personal services, operating expenses, and grants by the Department of 23
Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of 24
Education Renewal Zones for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 25
following: 26
27
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 28
NO. 2025 -2026 29
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $145,568 30
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 58,129 31
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 32
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 25,000 33
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 3,000 34
(C) PROF. FEES 0 35
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
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(E) DATA PROC. 0 1
(04) EDUCATIONAL RENEWAL ZONE GRANTS 1,101,150 2
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,332,847 3
4
SECTION 6. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 5
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 6
FUND ALLOCATION. The appropriation for the Isolated Funding line item in the 7
Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this 8
Act may be fully funded. Any funding and appropriation for Isolated Funding 9
that is not utilized shall be transferred to the appropriation for Special 10
Needs Isolated Funding in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 11
Special Programs section of this Act and shall be used there for fully 12
funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6 -20-604 on a pro 13
rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. Pro rata basis is defined 14
as providing each district qualifying for additional funding under 15
subsections (c) through (f) a proportionate share based on how each 16
district's additional funding amount bears to the total additional funding 17
amounts for all qualifying districts. If any funding and appropriation 18
remains after funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6 -19
20-604 the remaining balance shall be used to fund the provisions of Arkansas 20
Code § 6-20-604 (h) on an equal basis until the available funds are 21
exhausted. 22
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 23
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 24
25
SECTION 7. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 26
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 27
GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. For the purposes of distributing the Grants To 28
School Districts appropriation in the Grants and Aid to Local School 29
Districts and Special Programs section of this Act, "school district" means a 30
school district which contracts with a school district in an adjoining state 31
for the education of some of the pupils within the Arkansas school district 32
because the portion of the school district wherein such pupils live is 33
completely separated from the remainder of the school district by a reservoir 34
covering at least 12,000 acres at normal water level, and where to attend 35
school in their own district, the pupils of said portion would be required to 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
7 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
travel or to be transported a distance (measured by the nearest highway or 1
road route) of more than 35 miles round trip and pass through another school 2
district or districts. The Department of Education shall distribute the 3
monies appropriated for Grants to School Districts in the Grants and Aid to 4
Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this Act to such 5
school districts as reimbursement for expenses incurred in educating the 6
pupils residing in the separated portion of the school district. The payments 7
are to be limited to the amount of available appropriation. Such school 8
districts shall file a request for reimbursement with the Department of 9
Education and provide the Department of Education with such documentation as 10
is deemed necessary. 11
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 12
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 13
14
SECTION 8. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 15
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 16
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. The funds appropriated in the line item "Special 17
Education Services" in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 18
Special Programs section of this Act shall be used to provide extended year 19
summer programs for handicapped students in need of such services, to provide 20
special education services to foster children who are wards of the State, and 21
to provide funds for the payment of salaries of special education 22
supervisors. The Department of Education shall distribute such funds in the 23
manner necessary to carry out the intent of this Section. 24
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 25
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 26
27
SECTION 9. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 29
TRANSFER AUTHORITY. The Commissioner of the Department of Education, with the 30
approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State and after approval by the 31
Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, is hereby authorized 32
to request necessary appropriation transfers and any other budget related 33
adjustments necessary within the Department of Education. Provided, however, 34
that the Department of Education shall be limited to submitting no more than 35
two transfer requests during any fiscal year. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
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Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 1
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 2
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 3
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 4
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 5
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 6
has determined that the Department of Education may operate more efficiently 7
if some flexibility is provided to the Commissioner of the Department of 8
Education authorizing broad powers under the Transfer Authority provision 9
herein. Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General 10
Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative 11
Council or Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The 12
requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 13
is not a severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval by 14
the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional 15
by a court jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 16
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 17
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 18
19
SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 20
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 21
AETN DOCUMENTED QUIZ BOWL COSTS. Of the total amount of appropriation and 22
funds authorized herein to the Department of Education for the Quiz Bowl each 23
fiscal year, an amount not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000) each 24
fiscal year may be made available to the Department of Education - 25
Educational Television Division for its documented costs associated with the 26
Quiz Bowl. 27
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 28
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 29
30
SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 31
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 32
RETIREMENT MATCHING. Beginning with the 1996 -97 school year, Local School 33
Districts shall pay the teacher retirement employer contribution rate for any 34
eligible employee in accordance with rules and regulations established by the 35
Teacher Retirement Board of Directors. The appropriation contained herein for 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
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Teacher Retirement Matching each fiscal year shall be used to provide the 1
employer matching for employees of the Cooperative Education Services Areas, 2
Vocational Centers, Arkansas Easter Seals and the school operated by the 3
Department of Correction. 4
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 5
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 6
7
SECTION 12. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 8
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 9
BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE FEES. The Department of Education is 10
hereby authorized to expend a maximum of two percent (2%) of available funds 11
for administration of the Better Chance Program. Up to 1.8% of available 12
funds shall be used to administer the program and to monitor program grantees 13
to ensure compliance with programmatic standards. Prior to the utilization of 14
the remaining 0.2% of available funds, the Department of Education shall seek 15
prior review and approval of the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget 16
Committee by providing a written request to include the following: a) the 17
Department's reason(s) for the use of the funds and b) the amount of funds 18
that will be expended. The Department may contract with the Division of 19
Elementary and Secondary Education to administer the program. 20
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 21
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 22
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 23
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 24
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 25
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Therefore, it is both necessary 26
and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring 27
prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee as 28
provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 29
Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 30
If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 31
Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, 32
this entire section is void. 33
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 34
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 35
36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
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SECTION 13. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 1
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 2
CARRY FORWARD - ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE. Any unexpended balance of monies 3
allocated for the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program remaining 4
on June 30, 2025 2026, in the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 5
Public School Fund Account shall be designated and retained for the Arkansas 6
Better Chance for School Success Program. 7
Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, 8
may be carried forward under the following conditions: 9
(1) Prior to June 30, 2025 2026 the Agency shall by written statement set 10
forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 11
Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 12
(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 13
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee all 14
amounts carried forward by the September Arkansas Legislative Council or 15
Joint Budget Committee meeting which report shall include the name of the 16
Agency, Board, Commission or Institution and the amount of the funding 17
carried forward, the program name or line item, the funding source of that 18
appropriation and a copy of the written request set forth in (1) above; 19
(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 20
report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 21
containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 22
statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 23
which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 24
days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 25
its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 26
Committee; and 27
(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 28
all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 29
statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 30
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 31
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 32
33
SECTION 14. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 34
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 35
ARKANSAS/STRIVE PROGRAM TRANSFER. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
11 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
shall transfer on his books and those of the State Treasurer and the State 1
Auditor, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) during each 2
fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 3
School Fund Account to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fund, 4
specifically to provide funding for the Arkansas/STRIVE Program. The total 5
amount of funds transferred each fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 6
not be subject to any indirect costs by the University of Arkansas at Little 7
Rock. 8
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 9
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 10
11
SECTION 15. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 12
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 13
ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FUNDING. The Department of Education shall 14
allocate, budget and commit for expenditure two hundred fifty thousand 15
dollars ($250,000), in addition to funds already being provided for the 16
Arkansas Governor’s School, to fund the appropriation authorized from general 17
revenue for the Gifted and Talented program as appropriated in the Grants and 18
Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section herein. With this 19
additional funding either the department shall increase the number of grants 20
for AEGIS summer enrichment programs, or the duration of the Arkansas 21
Governor’s School shall be extended from four (4) weeks to six (6) weeks. 22
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 23
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 24
25
SECTION 16. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 26
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 27
EAST FUNDING PROVISION. Of the total amount appropriated for Technology 28
Grants each fiscal year, an amount of not less than three million five 29
thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or eighteen percent (18%), whichever is greater 30
each fiscal year, shall be awarded through a grant or professional services 31
contract for the EAST Initiative. Not less than one million dollars 32
($1,000,000) of the three million five thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or 33
eighteen percent (18%) of the Technology Grants Line Item awarded to the EAST 34
Initiatives shall be used for EAST infrastructure and personnel growth for 35
the establishment of new programs. The remaining funding shall be used for 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
12 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
existing EAST infrastructure, personnel, and operating expenses of the EAST 1
Initiative. The EAST infrastructure grant or contract for personal services 2
and operating expenses shall be awarded to an entity that has personnel or 3
experience, or both, in implementing the EAST Initiative. 4
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 5
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 6
7
SECTION 17. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 8
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 9
INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS FUNDING RESTRICTION. The Department of Education 10
shall make available from the Intervention Block Grants appropriation 11
authorized by this Act, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal 12
year for the annual expenses of the Quiz Bowl, thirteen thousand five hundred 13
dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for 14
grants up to $1,000 each for students and chaperones, thirteen thousand five 15
hundred dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Destination Imagination, one 16
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal year for the State History 17
Day Competition, and seventy -five thousand dollars ($75,000) each fiscal year 18
for a grant to the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to regional 19
and the state science fairs. The Department of Education shall allocate 20
General Revenue funding totaling no less than three hundred two thousand 21
dollars ($302,000) each fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and 22
Secondary Education Public School Fund Account to support the annual expenses 23
of the Quiz Bowl, the Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for grants up to $1,000 24
each for students and chaperones, Destination Imagination, the State History 25
Day Competition, and the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to 26
regional and state science fairs. The Department shall either expend or have 27
committed for expenditure the monies allocated for the Quiz Bowl, Creativity 28
in Arkansas, Inc., Destination Imagination, the State History Day 29
Competition, and Arkansas Science Fair Association grants as authorized 30
herein in order to fulfill the provisions of this section. 31
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 32
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 33
34
SECTION 18. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 35
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
13 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 1
(a) Of the total amount appropriated for Professional Development 2
Funding, three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) may be 3
authorized by the Commissioner of the Department of Education to be used by 4
the Department of Education to develop and implement statewide professional 5
development support systems for teachers that will benefit student 6
achievement. 7
(b)(1) The Department of Education shall annually report the following 8
information concerning the Arkansas Online Professional Development 9
Initiative under § 6 -17-707: 10
(1) Annual expenditure information; 11
(2) Statistical information pertaining to users of the 12
initiative; 13
(3) Course offerings; 14
(4) Course hours completed; and 15
(5) Certificates awarded. 16
(2) The report under subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be 17
annually submitted by August 1 to the: 18
(1) Governor; 19
(2) Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is 20
in session, the Joint Budget Committee; 21
(3) Senate Committee on Education; 22
(4) House Committee on Education; and 23
(5) Department of Finance and Administration. 24
(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 25
2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 26
27
SECTION 19. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 29
ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. 30
(a)(1) Of the appropriation and funding for the ESA MATCHING GRANT 31
PROGRAM Item in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special 32
Programs section of this Act, five million three hundred thousand dollars 33
($5,300,000) shall be set aside by the Department of Education and shall be 34
used for school district expenditures for evidence -based programs to improve 35
academic achievement of identified national school lunch students. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
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(2) These programs shall be limited to: 1
(A) Tutors as set out in § 6 -20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(4); 2
(B) Before-school academic programs and after -school academic 3
programs, including transportation to and from the programs 4
under § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(2); and 5
(C) Prekindergarten programs under § 6 -20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(3). 6
(b)(1) Set aside funds authorized in subsection (a) of this section 7
shall be distributed to school districts on a dollar for dollar matching 8
basis of school district expenditures for programs under subsection (a) of 9
this section on a pro rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. 10
(2) As used in this subsection, "pro rata basis" means providing 11
each district qualifying for additional funding in a proportionate share 12
based on how each district's expenditure bears to the total of funding 13
provided in subsection (a) of this section for all qualifying districts as 14
determined by the Department of Education. 15
(c) If any funding remains after funding subsection (b) of this 16
section, that remaining balance shall be carried over to the following fiscal 17
year for the same purposes as provided in this section. 18
(d) The Department of Education shall adopt rules as necessary to 19
implement this section. 20
(e) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 21
2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 22
23
SECTION 20. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 24
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 25
R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS. The appropriation for the R.I.S.E. Arkansas line item in 26
the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of 27
this Act shall be used for the coordination of a statewide reading campaign 28
with community partners, parents, and teachers to establish the importance of 29
reading in homes, schools, and communities. 30
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 31
2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 32
33
SECTION 21. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 34
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 35
ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING NAME CHANGE. Any appropriation titled 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
15 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
"ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING" or abbreviated as "ESA" as named by 1
SB605 of 2019 may also be known as "NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH" funding or 2
abbreviated as "NSL" and shall be used for the same purposes as set out in 3
law. 4
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 5
2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 6
7
SECTION 22. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 8
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 9
ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL CURRICULUM. Prior to the beginning of the 10
Arkansas Governor's School Program each year, the Arkansas Department of 11
Education shall review and approve the proposed curriculum for the program 12
year and shall maintain oversight of its implementation for consistency and 13
accuracy. 14
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 15
2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 16
17
SECTION 23. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 18
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. HIGH 19
QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Of the amount appropriated from the 20
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund for 21
R.I.S.E. Arkansas, up to nine million five hundred thousand dollars 22
($9,500,000) may be used for the purchase and distribution of high quality 23
instructional materials in accordance with Arkansas Code § 6 -17-429(f). 24
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 25
2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 26
27
SECTION 24. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. DIVISION 29
OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND EDUCATIONAL 30
ADEQUACY FUND DISTRIBUTION AND FUND BALANCE REPORT. (a) The Department of 31
Education shall submit quarterly a "Division of Elementary and Secondary 32
Education Public School Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas 33
Legislative Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative 34
Session, the Joint Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than 35
ten days prior to the Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
16 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 1
the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Division of 2
Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund. 3
(2) The report shall contain, cumulatively over the course of the 4
fiscal year, by quarter a summary of the itemized totals distributed from 5
each subfund of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public 6
School Fund and each subfund shall be organized as restricted or unrestricted 7
in spending purpose. 8
(b) The Department of Education shall submit monthly an "Educational 9
Adequacy Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas Legislative 10
Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative Session, the Joint 11
Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than ten days prior to the 12
Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 13
(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 14
the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Educational 15
Adequacy Fund. 16
(2) The report shall contain the following: 17
(A) Monthly beginning fund balance; 18
(B) Monthly Distribution report with total distributions to 19
the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 20
School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 21
Secondary Education Fund Account; and 22
(C) Amount of certified funding obligation remaining to the 23
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 24
School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 25
Secondary Education Fund Account for the fiscal year. 26
(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 27
2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 28
29
SECTION 25. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 30
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 31
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 32
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 33
Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 34
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 35
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
17 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 1
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 2
3
SECTION 26. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 4
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 5
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 6
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 7
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 8
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 9
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 10
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 11
12
SECTION 27. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 13
General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 14
the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 15
effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of 16
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 17
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 18
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm 19
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 20
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 21
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 22
and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025. 23
24
/s/Joint Budget Committee 25
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27
APPROVED: 4/17/25 28
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