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(January 2012) Eighteen states—more than one-third of the U.S.—have school choice programs serving students and parents attending private schools.1  But Arkansas does not have any private choice programs two decades after Wisconsin launched a key program in 1990 in Milwaukee.   School choice programs date to 19th Century New England2 but most state programs inclusive of private schools […]

Summary: Two reports on student performance underscore the problem: the state Department of Education has failed to acknowledge there is a problem. (January 2012) A new student performance report by the Univ. of Arkansas-Fayetteville’s Office for Education Policy (OEP), following surveys from the state Department of Education (2011) and the Policy Foundation (2005-2008) underscore a […]

(December 2011) Arkansas policymakers, pressed by fiscal conservatives have rejected an expansion of nationalized medical insurance by disbanding seven advisory groups seeking to establish a state-operated health exchange.   State officials tried to launch the exchange with a $1 million federal grant but fiscal conservatives objected to additional funding, noting the U.S. Supreme Court has […]

“The following provision for Arkansas school districts is recommended: a prohibition on the use of all taxes collected and secured by the pledge of an ad valorem tax levy to debt service for other than reducing bond principal and interest.”  Policy Foundation, 1998 report   (December 2011) Outstanding loans and bonded indebtedness of Arkansas K-12 public […]

“Reduce the state’s income tax…repeal the state’s capital gains tax.” Arkansas Policy Foundation, 1998   “This week I signed into law the Quick-Action Closing Fund. This legislation will provide our State with an additional tool in our economic-development toolbox.” Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, March 29, 20071   (November 30, 2011) Arkansas payroll employment is lower […]

“Reduce the state’s income tax. Among the reforms, consider an across the board 10% cut…reduce the marginal rates, exempt taxpayers below a certain income level from filing, and expedite the process of indexing for inflation.” (Policy Foundation, Murphy Commission project, 1998)   (November 2011) Arkansas still has the highest income tax rate among states that […]

“Issue school-by-school performance report cards to parents and the public. Use the results of this report card to hold schools accountable–rewards for those performing on an exceptional basis and sanctions for low performing schools.”  Murphy Commission (Policy Foundation project), 1998   (October 3, 2011) Five Arkansas school districts that earned the top ‘A’ grade in four […]

(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 […]

  (October 1, 2011) The Little Rock School District, the state’s largest, has half of the failing schools in the first state education report required by a 2003 law that requires a numerical grade for Arkansas K-12 public schools.   The Little Rock schools “in need of immediate improvement” are the district’s Accelerated Learning Program, […]

“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 […]