State Supreme Court receives first briefings in Arkansas LEARNS Act suspension

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The initial briefings justifying or opposing the suspension of the Arkansas LEARNS Act were made to the state Supreme Court Tuesday morning.

The question before the court is if it should uphold the current temporary restraining order blocking LEARNS Act implementation that was granted two weeks ago by Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Herbert Wright.

The group who sought the restraining order claimed the Arkansas General Assembly did not properly follow legislature procedure in approving the act with an emergency clause, which would have put it into immediate effect. The group argued that a separate vote as required by the state constitution for the emergency act status but that it was not taken.

The judge agreed with the opponent’s position, putting the implementation of the act on hold. This in turn stopped an in-progress transition of the Marvell-Elaine School District to being taken over by the Friendship Education Foundation.