Arkansas Senate Education Committee debates hiring outside consultants; informal poll favors one study

The Arkansas Senate Education Committee met for a special session to discuss whether to hire outside consultants to review school funding adequacy and the state’s funding matrix after a subcommittee action sent two consultant contracts to ALC.

Chairing the meeting, the chair said the purpose was discussion, not a formal motion, and asked members to avoid personal attacks while weighing three options: no outside consultant, a single consultant, or two consultants. "This is not about a motion today," the chair said, asking members to focus on solutions for Arkansas students.

Members divided along two broad lines: those who urged commissioning outside expertise to bring new data and comparative lessons, and those who pressed the committee to rely on existing internal data and staff analysis. Senator Elliott argued for caution about expecting a full "study" where law limits the Legislature to a "review," and…