Senate OKs district consolidation waivers

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Senate has given final approval to a bill allowing some school districts that have fallen below the state's minimum enrollment level to seek a waiver from a state law requiring them to merge with other districts.

By a 22-0 vote, the Senate backed the legislation allowing districts with fewer than 350 students to apply for the waivers if they're not on the state's fiscal, academic or facilities distress list. The House bill now heads to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's desk.

The legislation scales back a key part of the 2004 law that reduced the number of districts in the state by requiring districts with fewer than 350 students to merge. The consolidation law was enacted in response to the Lake View school funding case, which ended in 2007.

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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