State Rep. James McLean of Batesville has filed HB 1689, a shell bill that, with a little pressure from parents and persons who believe that arts-infused education is a great way to teach kids, will get filled in with language to implement the Arkansas A+ model in 15 pilot schools and make its way into law.
The THEA Foundation has been helping schools implement Arkansas A+ with advisory help from the A+ organization in Oklahoma, where it's been introduced with great effect in dozens of schools. I wrote about Arkansas A+ in January.
THEA has put out a call for support:
House Bill - 1689
Students of Arkansas need your supportThe Thea Foundation has asked the legislature during this session to fund a pilot program over the next five years to implement the Arkansas A+ Schools model in 15 Arkansas public schools. Introduced by Representative James McLean, House Bill - 1689, if passed, would provide $2,000,000 to facilitate the transformation of 15 schools into A+ schools, accompanied by a research component to track their progress each year.
At the end of the pilot, the Thea Foundation would present to the legislature a detailed report on the progress of literacy and math test score improvements, as well as student disciplinary referral and attendance trends. In addition, student, teacher, and parent satisfaction will also be measured.
El Dorado's Hugh Goodwin Elementary implemented A+ in 2005. The results are groundbreaking.
You can research this A+ model via the links in the right margin. [HB1689, current A+ schools in Arkansas,A+ model articles, A+ model videos] If you have any questions, please contact the Thea Foundation for more information at 501.379.9512.
Write Your Legislator in Support Today!
If after your research you find the A+ model would benefit Arkansas, both educationally and fiscally, please write a letter to your legislator to express support for this bill (HB-1689).