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MOST CHARTERS EXCEL, FOUR APPROACH ALERT  

(October 1, 2011) Most Arkansas charters1 meet or exceed standards in a state report that assigns a numerical grade to K-12 public schools but four are named as “approaching the standards alert” set by PA 35 of 2003.   Fifteen charters exceed standards (levels 5 or 4) and another seven meet standards (level 3).  Four received the […]

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WEAK RECOVERY  

“Nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged (0) in August, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1 percent.”  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)   (September 2, 2011) Today’s monthly BLS report noting zero employment growth last month provides further evidence that the economy remains mired in a weak recovery.   Three key economic indicators (GDP, payroll employment, industrial […]

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MUNICIPAL BROADBAND: A CAUTIONARY TALE  

(September 2011) The municipal government claimed its plan would expand broadband, a telecommunications process providing greater bandwidth.  The idea was to provide universal coverage to all residents.    Ten years later, residents in the city of 112,488 have broadband, and a debt obligation of nearly $40 million, more than $1,300 for every business and home residence. Fortunately for […]

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FEW EMPLOYMENT SECTORS GROWING  

(July 15, 2011) U.S. and Arkansas payroll employment has increased slightly since the recession’s end two years ago, though few sectors are growing.   The following U.S. employment sectors have expanded since June 2009:   ∙         Education & Health Services                                 +749,000 ∙         Professional & Business Services                        +724,000 ∙         Mining                                                                     +100,000 ∙        Other Services                                                         +75,000 ∙         Trade, Transportation & […]

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THE LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES THE SAME PROBLEMS IT DID IN 2000  

“Fiscal management is as important as academics in evaluating any school district’s performance.”  Arkansas Policy Foundation report, “A performance analysis of the Little Rock School District” (May 2000)   (May 2011) Eleven years ago this month the Policy Foundation published a report on the Little Rock School District that found “10 years of rising revenues and […]

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FOUNDATION EDUCATION REFORMS APPROVED BY POLICYMAKERS                        

“Demand intellectual honesty and complete openness in reporting academic progress and “the state” of public education, this to be implemented through a comprehensive public school accountability system … (and) broaden Arkansas’ inadequate charter school law to allow for the development of new start-up charter schools.” Policy Foundation, Murphy Commission project, 1998.   (April 2011) Policy Foundation […]

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