Arkansas
Arkansas legislative committee’s renewal of education contract with Solution Tree sparks debate
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT/KARK) – The Arkansas Legislative Council Review Subcommittee’s contract renewal with an educational contractor has sparked controversy recently.
According to our content partner KARK, the number one cause for debate stems from the company Solution Tree’s contract price of more than $100 million, while similar companies are offering between $18 and $29 million.
Legislators said during Tuesday’s meeting that the data does not appear to be backing the company up over the last seven years.
State Rep. Grant Hodges serves on the audit committee that recently looked at the contract, and he said the state has spent around $145 million of taxpayer money so far on the company whose purpose is to develop educational material for educators statewide.
“I’m not here to endorse a contract or not endorse it,” Education Secretary Jacob Oliva told the subcommittee. “We’ve followed a process. I feel like we can use this vehicle to implement LEARNS. That is what we are tasked to do.”
Hodges said he is not sure that students are benefiting much at all from the professional teacher development services the company’s supposed to be providing.
For additional information, you can visit KARK’s website.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2024 KAIT. All rights reserved.
Rex Nelson
Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”
After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.
He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.
Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.
From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.
Dylan Sherman
Dylan Sherman is a business reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He is based in Northwest Arkansas and focuses on Tyson Foods Inc. and the transportation industry. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he has been with the newspaper since 2023.
Where to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Indiana today, TV, time
Kansas Citians hold vigil, protest for Renee Good to get ‘justice’ while demanding ICE reform
Mark Pope updates injury status of Jayden Quaintance
Commentary: Trump can be hard to take. But his tariffs keep this fisherman afloat
Conservation, not courts, should guide Maine’s fishing rules | Opinion
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Trump says Venezuela has begun releasing political prisoners ‘in a BIG WAY’
Somali minister says Israel plans to displace Palestinians to Somaliland
Slow-moving prisoner releases in Venezuela enter 3rd day after government announces goodwill effort
Video: Raising a Baby in Altadena’s Ashes
Trump signs order to protect Venezuela oil revenue held in US accounts
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology5 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX2 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX6 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Delaware2 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Iowa5 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Health7 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Nebraska4 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska