Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas A Bill
2 95th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1874
4
5 By: Representative B. McKenzie
6 By: Senator B. Davis
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF
10 2003; TO AMEND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
11 THAT IS USED BY THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND
12 SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
13 COMMUNITIES; TO REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
14 FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AWARDED TO
15 PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO BE USED
16 TO IMPLEMENT ACTS 2023, NO. 237, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
17 "LEARNS ACT"; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
18
19
20 Subtitle
21 AN ACT TO AMEND THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL
22 DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT EXCEEDS THE
23 MAXIMUM AMOUNT AWARDED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
24 FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS UNDER THE
25 PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003.
26
27 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
28
29 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 6-20-2305(b)(5), concerning professional
30 development funding under the Public School Funding Act of 2003, is amended
31 to read as follows:
32 (5)(A) For each school year, professional development funding
33 shall be equal to an amount of up to forty-one dollars ($41.00) multiplied by
34 the school district's previous school year average daily membership.
35 (B) Funding for professional development for teachers in
36 Arkansas public schools required under the Teacher Excellence and Support
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HB1874
1 System, � 6-17-2801 et seq., other law or rule, or by the school district
2 shall be used for professional development activities and materials that:
3 (i) Improve the knowledge, skills, and effectiveness
4 of teachers;
5 (ii) Address the knowledge and skills of
6 administrators and paraprofessionals concerning effective instructional
7 strategies, methods, and skills;
8 (iii) Lead to improved student academic achievement;
9 and
10 (iv) Provide training for school bus drivers as
11 outlined in rules promulgated by the Commission for Arkansas Public School
12 Academic Facilities and Transportation.
13 (C)(i) For the 2023-2024 school year and each school year
14 thereafter, additional funding up to sixteen million five hundred thousand
15 dollars ($16,500,000) provided for professional development Funding provided
16 above the maximum amount in subdivision (b)(5)(A) of this section shall be
17 used by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for the
18 development and administration of professional learning communities for the
19 benefit of public school districts implementation of the LEARNS Act to
20 improve student academic outcomes.
21 (ii)(a) The division may distribute funds under
22 subdivision (b)(5)(C)(i) of this section through grants to eligible entities.
23 (iii) The Division of Elementary and Secondary
24 Education shall may promulgate rules to administer the additional
25 professional development funding under subdivision (b)(5)(C)(i) (b)(5)(C) of
26 this section.
27 (b) The Division of Elementary and Secondary
28 Education may partner with or choose a person, firm, corporation, or
29 education service cooperative to provide the knowledge, skills, experience,
30 and expertise for the development of a research-based process for the
31 implementation of professional learning communities.
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2 03/20/2025 12:47:04 PM TNL316Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.