SB156 Summary

• Appropriates $23,997,211 from the Department of Education Fund Account for State Operations, including $14,193,335 for regular salaries of 344 employees and funding for programs including Advanced Placement, Reading Recovery, and Arkansas Leadership Academy.

• Establishes maximum of 344 regular employees for the Department of Education with salary ranges from $43,303 to $252,949 depending on position classification and grade level.

• Appropriates $523,496,348 in federal funds for Federal Elementary and Secondary Education programs, including $496,095,368 for entitlement grant programs and $2,693,809 for regular salaries.

• Provides additional appropriations for Child Nutrition Program ($258,405,024), Revolving Loan Certificates ($13,097,857), Professional Licensure Standards Board ($1,307,415), and other programs totaling approximately $827 million across all funds.

• Authorizes flexible "position pool" of 5 professional/executive positions and 10 classified positions to address emerging statewide education needs, with monthly reporting requirements to the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee.