Senate committee passes bill to create Arkansas tutoring corps to address learning loss

The Senate Education Committee passed SB 564, a bill intended to establish an Arkansas tutoring corps to address learning loss from pandemic disruptions.

Senator Elliott presented the bill and said its purpose is to allow districts flexibility in delivering tutoring and to make use of remaining ESSER funds set aside for learning loss. "The idea is, just like AmeriCorps... we'll create a tutoring corps," Elliott said, adding sponsors worked with the Department of Education to leave details to rulemaking rather than embedding strict rules in statute.

Senator Rebecca English voiced support, calling the bill a plan for using available dollars and moved that the bill do pass as amended. Committee members asked whether the program would be temporary or permanent and whether it would duplicate earlier, underfunded programs; staff and the sponsor said ESSER funding provides a three‑year period to spend learning‑loss dollars and the bill enables — but does not mandate — continuation beyond that period.

The committee adopted a sponsor amendment to add co‑sponsors and then approved the bill as amended by voice vote.