HB1755
To Require Each Public School To Participate In The Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1755 mandates that all public schools in Arkansas participate in the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA) Survey beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The survey focuses on identifying student needs regarding substance use, mental health, academic performance, and violence. The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health of the Department of Human Services is responsible for maintaining the survey and providing technical support to school districts for data analysis and intervention planning. The bill requires school districts to notify parents in writing about the survey and provides them the right to opt their children out. Furthermore, results from the previous year's survey must be shared with specific legislative leadership and committee chairs. The implementation of this mandate is contingent upon the availability of federal funding, and the requirement is waived if sufficient funding is not provided. The survey will specifically target students in grades six, eight, ten, and twelve.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are Arkansas public school students and their communities, as the survey is designed to inform mental health and substance abuse prevention strategies tailored to local needs. Public school administrators and educators also benefit from receiving actionable data that can help guide school-based intervention programs and improve student outcomes.
Who Might Suffer?
Public school districts may experience a negative impact due to the administrative burden of coordinating the survey, notifying parents, and processing opt-out requests. Additionally, schools that do not have existing infrastructure for handling such data or implementing subsequent prevention strategies may face increased operational requirements to comply with the mandate, provided federal funding is available.
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