The Technology Committee meet for the first time since the pandemic started and continued our discussion on the Rural Broadband issue. In an effort to get a better picture of where we stand the state's Geographic Information Office worked with the Broadband Manager to launch a speedtest website. We are asking citizens to go to the website, run a speedtest and then answer a few survey questions. This will let us know, in concert with what the providers are telling us, what we really have and where the greatest needs are.

We were updated on the $100 Million grant program. $33M in projects have been approved as of this time, that are expected to help some 40,000 Arkansans get high speed internet.

We were also heard from our new Chief Data Officer for the first time since he came on board. This was an office I created, which is helping the state become smarter, more efficient and is saving tax dollars in the process. He told me he has been working with Higher Ed and Work Force Services to begin sharing and running analytics on their data. This will help students, educators, and employers make better decisions about future needs and help students make the most of their education.

Lastly we got an update on the PUA data breach.

To take the broadband test and see the latest map visit: https://broadband.arkansas.gov/

Watch the meeting at: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00284/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20200914/-1/18748?viewMode=1

The Education committee is meeting today and getting an update from our consultants. The main thing we've been looking at today is poverty on achievement.

The long and short is higher funding, which typically goes to higher poverty districts, resulted in no statistical difference in outcomes. There is a variety of reasons for this beyond the scope of this post, but generally confirms more money won't necessarily fix the problems.

In the chart below the "1" on the bottom line is students that get least per pupil funding to those who get the most "10" and median test scores.

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, … are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.