In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

• Arkansas
• Steve Bounds (bio)

funding priorities/trends for p-12 and/or higher education

Arkansas is a very-low-income state. Using most measures of income, Arkansas is regularly ranked as one of the three poorest states in the nation. In 1945, Arkansas passed the Revenue Stabilization Law which limits the ability of the state to have budget deficits and basically requires the state to have a balanced budget. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, in March 2020 the governor announced the state anticipated a $353 million revenue shortfall. As a result, the state cut funding to public schools by $121 million during the spring of 2020 and cut higher education by $42.4 million. Employees were furloughed, travel was reduced or eliminated, and supply budgets were slashed. Educational leaders began developing significantly reduced budgets for FY21. Fortunately, the state of Arkansas fared better than expected during the last quarter of the fiscal year (FY) and ended the year with $360 million more than anticipated.

In the April fiscal session, the General Assembly approved a $5.89 billion general revenue budget for FY 2021. The state's April forecast for FY 2021 would provide $5.68 billion for that budget and leave $212.2 million of the budget unfunded. The impact on public school and higher education is unclear at this time; however, the governor committed to restoring the cuts to public schools and higher education for FY 21. He has also emphasized the cuts to the Medicaid program will be restored.

changes to the funding for p-12 and/or higher education

In the most recent legislative session, the Legislature increased the per-student foundation funding from $6,899 to $7,018 per student for the 2020-2021 school year for public schools. The state also increased funding in several categorical areas by approximately 2 percent. Generally speaking, about half of school district/charter school operating revenue comes from state sources, about 40 percent is generated locally and about 10 percent comes from the federal government. With a $212 million deficient in the proposed state budget, it is unclear how much, if any, impact this will have on public school and higher education funding at this time. Current allocations show an increase in funding to public schools but a 3.5 percent decrease in funding to higher education for FY 21.

pressing state issues affecting p-12 and/or higher education funding

Because of the Revenue Stabilization Law, Arkansas does not maintain a budget surplus, or rainy day fund, like most states. As a result, adjustments must be made during the [End Page 249] FY in which shortfalls occur. These impact all aspects of government, including public schools and higher education.

Teacher salaries are an issue impacting many districts in the state, especially in the rural areas. The legislature has mandated minimum teacher salary of $33,800 for FY 21, $34,900 for FY 22, and $36,000 for FY 23. In addition to the increase in minimum salaries, the district's share of health insurance premiums and teacher retirement contributions have increased for FY 21.

Another reduction in state income, albeit relatively small, is the Homestead Property Tax Credit which will increase from $350 to $375. The impact to schools should be relatively small. The continued uncertainty of the economic impact of the COVID pandemic is a concern for public school and higher education administrators as they plan for FY 21 and beyond.

alternatives to traditional public schools offered by the state

In Arkansas there are two basic types of public charter schools, an open-enrollment charter school and a district conversion charter school. Currently, approximately 40 charter schools exist in the state enrolling 30,000 students. The state is currently providing $7,575,000 for charter schools.

p-12 per-pupil expenditure

$10,229

allocation of state dollars and percent of the state budget for p-12 and higher education

$823,625,572-Higher Ed (14 percent) for FY 21

$1,927,097,296-P-12 Ed Foundation Funding (33 percent)

$ 5,890,000,000-State Budget [End Page 250]

Steve Bounds

Steve Bounds is Professor of Educational Leadership at Arkansas Tech University.

Copyright © 2021 Board of Editors...

中文翻译：

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阿肯色州

代替摘要，这里是内容的简要摘录：

• 阿肯色州
• 史蒂夫·邦兹（生物）

p -12和/或高等教育的资助重点/趋势

阿肯色州是一个收入很低的州。使用大多数收入指标，阿肯色州通常被列为全美最贫穷的三个州之一。1945年，阿肯色州通过了《收入稳定法》，该法律限制了该州出现预算赤字的能力，并且基本上要求该州拥有平衡的预算。由于冠状病毒大流行，州长于2020年3月宣布该州预计收入缺口为3.53亿美元。结果，该州在2020年春季削减了对公立学校的拨款1.21亿美元，并削减了高等教育4,240万美元。员工休假，减少或减少差旅，并削减供应预算。教育领导者开始大幅减少21财年的预算。幸运的是，

在4月的财政会议上，大会批准了2021财年58.9亿美元的一般收入预算。该州4月份对2021财年的预测将为该预算提供56.8亿美元，而预算中仍有2.122亿美元没有资金。目前尚不清楚对公立学校和高等教育的影响；但是，州长承诺在21财年恢复对公立学校和高等教育的削减。他还强调，对医疗补助计划的削减将恢复。

更改-12岁和/或高等教育的资金

在最近的立法会议上，立法机关将公立学校的2020-2021学年每名学生的基金会资金从每位学生的$ 6,899增加到$ 7,018。该州还在几个类别的领域中增加了约2％的资金。一般来说，学区/特许学校的营业收入中约有一半来自州政府，约40％来自本地，约10％来自联邦政府。由于国家预算提案中有2.12亿美元的赤字，因此目前尚不清楚这将对公立学校和高等教育经费产生多大的影响（如果有的话）。目前的拨款显示，到21财年，对公立学校的资助有所增加，但对高等教育的资助减少了3.5％。

影响p -12和/或高等教育经费的紧迫国家问题

由于《收入稳定法》的规定，阿肯色州不像大多数州那样保持预算盈余或未雨绸缪。因此，必须在[结束页249]财政年度期间进行调整，以确保出现短缺。这些影响到政府的各个方面，包括公立学校和高等教育。

教师工资是一个影响该州许多地区的问题，尤其是在农村地区。立法机关规定，21财年的教师最低工资为33,800美元，22财年的教师最低工资为34,900美元，23财年的36,000美元。除了最低工资的提高，该地区21财年的医疗保险费和教师退休金份额也有所增加。

州收入的另一个减少，尽管相对较小，是霍姆斯特德财产税抵免额，将从350美元增加到375美元。对学校的影响应该相对较小。公立学校和高等教育管理者计划在21财年及以后开展计划时，COVID大流行对经济影响的持续不确定性令人担忧。

国家提供的传统公立学校的替代品

在阿肯色州，有两种基本类型的公立特许学校：公开招募特许学校和地区转换特许学校。目前，该州约有40所特许学校，招收30,000名学生。该州目前为特许学校提供7,575,000美元。

p -12人均支出

$ 10,229

p -12和高等教育的州拨款和州预算的百分比

$ 823,625,572-21财年较高的教育水平（14％）

1,927,097,296美元-P-12教育基金会（33％）

5,890,000,000美元的州预算[完页250]

史蒂夫·邦兹（Steve Bounds）

史蒂夫·邦兹（Steve Bounds）是阿肯色科技大学的教育领导力教授。

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