Arkansas can’t keep teachers, but lawmakers chose tax cuts instead of educator raises.
Today the Department of Ed will ask the Arkansas Legislative Council to approve emergency request to teacher licensure. Why? Because of a dire teacher shortage.
“The State of Arkansas currently is suffering from a severe teacher shortage, which creates an imminent peril to the welfare of the State and its public school students. Consequently, the Division seeks to promulgate these amendments as emergency rules pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-204(c). The Division also will simultaneously promulgate the amendments through the permanent rulemaking process.” -Department of Ed
Lest we forget, lawmakers just had the chance to permanently increase teacher pay. Instead, a majority voted to cut taxes for the wealthy and ignored the pleas of educators statewide.
It’s almost like we saw this coming.
Educators deserve better from lawmakers.
