Education

This summer, Arkansas PBS will expand its original content to help combat summer learning loss after a year of education disruptions from COVID-19. The new, six-week series, 'Rise and Shine,' is partnership with Arkansas teachers of the year and the Arkanasas Department of Education and airs weekdays from 8 - 11:30 a.m. beginning July 6. 

Jared Middleton, a teacher with the Springdale Public School District, is concerned about overreach that could limit educators' ability to teach the complete history of the United States. He organized a rally this month so he, and others, could express their concern.

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County, in Bentonville, and the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, headquarted in Fayetteville, are merging July 1st. CEO Tyler Clark says the process took 14 months and will offer applicants more opportunities to further education.

After canceling in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cherokee College Prep Institute is shifting to a virtual platform for 2021. The program, open for Cherokee and other native high school students, provides access to college planning and financial aid resources. 

Lacrosse is growing in popularity in Arkansas and Saturday at noon the first-ever state championship match will feature teams from Bentonville and Little Rock.

Legislation passed by Arkansas lawmakers this year requires new school construction to install water bottle filling stations. Supporters of the legislation say it will allow students to maintain proper hydration. Mary Miller, Coordinated School Health Coordinator with Springdale School District, says the stations can help students' health in many ways.

Student performances, from band to theater, have been at a standstill for more than a year. Tomorrow night ten actors at Fayetteville High School will perform a live play. The audience will still be virtual, but the cast and crew are gratrful for the opportunity.

In 2018, the Batesville School District voted to work with Entegrity Partners to go solar to make room in its budget for salary increases for teachers. Now, Entegrity is working with 20 other school districts to harness the power of the sun to save money. Aside from becoming more affordable overall, Arkansas laws like the Solar Access Act of 2019, have made it more economically feasible for public entities like school districts to make the switch to solar power.

The University of Arkansas Fort Smith will be going through some changes at the start of the new fiscal year in July. Chancellor Terisa Riley discusses the reorganization, which she says will not come with a loss of degree programs or jobs.

A proposed Arkansas law to protect teachers and school administrators who misgender public school and college students is expected to be approved by the state legislature. House Bill 1749, which prohibits requiring public school and college employees from identifying students by genders inconsistent with a student’s biological sex, was approved by the House and is now being considered by the Senate.