A panel of state lawmakers endorsed a nearly $12.4 million federally funded contract with a California-based virtual tutoring firm on Tuesday.
The agreement requires Air Education Inc., also known as Air Reading, to provide high-impact tutoring to 750 first graders across 50 rural schools over four years, according to the Arkansas Department of Education. The Arkansas Legislative Council's Review Subcommittee advanced the contract without any audible dissent.
Under the contract, Air Reading would provide "Science of Reading-based foundational literacy instruction" to small groups of no more than three students, four times per week, in 30-minute-long sessions, according to the Education Department. Each student would receive about 65 tutoring sessions annually. A Stanford University research team would evaluate the program's effectiveness.
If approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council on Friday, the agreement will begin Sept. 1 and continue through Aug. 31, 2030. It is estimated to cost $12,395,400.40.
One state lawmaker asked state Education Department officials at Tuesday's meeting why the state sought to hire a company headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., to provide...
Source: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/aug/18/legislative-panel-advances-124-million-virtual/
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