State Digest
Arkansas preschool intervention program sees high demand
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A new state intervention program designed to eliminate Arkansas preschool suspensions and expulsions served almost triple the number of children initially predicted in its first year.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the state Department of Human Services' BehaviorHelp Response System has served nearly 265 children at more than 170 pre-kindergarten centers since 2016.
Federal brochures cite Arkansas as a success story in requiring all publicly funded childcare facilities to seek state intervention before suspending or expelling a child.
A Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education specialist will contact a provider reporting that a student has reached a critical point via the online BehaviorHelp system.
The department found that about 4 percent of the children referred to the program in its first year were expelled after attempting intervention methods.
Arkansas foundation adds $300M to charter school loan funds
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas foundation is giving open-enrollment schools across the country easier access to loans to buy or build school buildings.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the Walton Family Foundation announced Monday it's spearheading an initiative to add $300 million into two new loan funds. One fund is for longterm, mortgage-like loans. The other is for short-term loans of up to five years.
The foundation says nearly 15 percent of charter school funds go toward facility-related expenses.
Marc Sternberg is the foundation's education program director for kindergarten through 12th grade. He says the loan programs will add about 18,000 charter school seats by 2027. Sternberg says the funds will allow schools to put more money toward teacher salaries, after-school programs and professional development.
Arkansas has 25 open-enrollment charter schools and charter school systems.
Jury selection starts in Arkansas ex-senator's federal trial
FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Jury selection is underway in the trial for a former Arkansas state senator accused in an alleged kickback scheme.
Former Sen. Jon Woods faces 15 fraud charges. Prosecutors accuse of him of taking kickbacks from former Ecclesia College president Oren Paris III in exchange for directing state funding to the college.
Paris pleaded guilty last week to one count of fraud and agreed to testify for prosecutors. Woods' attorney, Patrick Benca, has said his client is innocent and that defense attorneys will prove that, despite Paris' guilty plea.
According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , about 70 prospective jurors were called to the federal courthouse in Fayetteville on Monday.
Johnny Cash's boyhood home among National Register nominees
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The boyhood home of country music icon Johnny Cash is among 18 places in Arkansas that are being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the state review board of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program has approved all 18 properties under consideration.
Program spokesman Mark Christ says the board should hear back from the National Park Service within two months. Christ says at least 98 percent of the properties nominated by the board make the National Register, which is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation.
Cash lived in the house at Dyess from the age of 3 through high school. The structure was rejected by the National Register in February but the board was urged to resubmit the nomination.