American students are half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement levels in math and reading, according to a recent Education Recovery Scorecard report.

Why it matters: The average student achievement in Arkansas in 2024 was 45% of a grade equivalent below 2019 levels in math and 42% of a grade equivalent in reading.

The big picture: No state showed improvements in both math and reading from 2019 to 2024, according to the Nation's Report Card — a national assessment of math and reading achievement.

• High-income districts are four times more likely to have recovered, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard, which combines results from the Nation's Report Card assessment and state test scores.
• The slide in test scores "masks a pernicious inequality: scores have declined far more in America's middle- and low-income communities than its wealthy ones," Sean Reardon, director of Stanford's Educational Opportunity Project, said in a statement.

Zoom out: Chronic absenteeism, which worsened during the pandemic, has started to show improvements, per the report. But it slowed academic recovery, especially in high-poverty districts.

• In 2019, the national rate was 15%. That nearly doubled to 29% in 2022 and dropped slightly to 26% in 2023.
• In Arkansas, students absent more than 10% of the school year grew from 22% in 2019 to 28% in 2024, the research found.

What's next: Researchers urged states and districts to redirect funding toward interventions, now that federal pandemic relief has dried up.

• They also said mayors, employers and other leaders should help in addressing chronic absenteeism so that all of the burden doesn't fall on schools.

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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday revealed more details on a higher education reform package aimed at preparing high school and nontraditional students for the workforce.

The big picture: About 475,000 students are enrolled in Arkansas public schools in any given school year.

• The bill will focus on the transition about 35,000 of those students face as they graduate, and it would provide more resources to people who want to further their education, like working parents.

State of play: The plan is dubbed the "Arkansas ACCESS" bill. ACCESS stands for acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships and standardization. Its goal is simplifying pathways to college, increasing scholarships and expanding access to non-degree credentials.

Though the legislation isn't yet filed, Sanders highlighted some of its points in her announcement:

• Applicants will be able to use a single application for any state-supported college or university.
• In-state tuition will be offered to military families.
• Funding will be increased for the Workforce Challenge and the Academic Challenge scholarships.
• Creation of a funding model for non-degree programs to prepare students for the workforce.

Zoom in: The bill will also remove mandates for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and introduce accountability measures for professors to ensure that students are not compelled to affirm certain beliefs.

Follow the money: Sanders said authors of the bill don't expect the package to use any new funds from the state's general revenue, but that existing funds will be repurposed.

What we're watching: Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Little Rock) said the 100-plus page bill may be filed on Monday.

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🏗 J.B. Hunt Transport Services bought 56 acres east of Interstate 49 for about $18 million to expand its Lowell campus. (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal)

💧 The Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority has a new paid internship program for graduating high school seniors. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

🧑‍💼 The Greater Bentonville Chamber of Commerce recently laid off staff and has plans for revamped programming. (Bentonville Bulletin)

The Fayetteville City Council meets tonight. Here's a preview of what they plan to vote on:

🧑‍💼 Adding seven new full-time staff positions, including four in development services and three in public works for a total of $813,700.

🏠 A resolution asking the state legislature to allow cities to conduct initial health and fire safety inspections of short-term rentals like Airbnbs.

• Visitors paying for a short term rental should have the same protections they would as if they were staying in a hotel, according to city documents.

If you go: 5:30pm at City Hall or online

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