Policy Research

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...

(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...

“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...

“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...

“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.”...

“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...

(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...

  (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...

“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...

(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...