{"podcast":{"title":"ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse Spotlights","slug":"excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights-6742239","podcast_index_feed_id":6742239,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/657c82564969990016c55eb9","website_url":"https://shows.acast.com/657c82564969990016c55eb9","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1702658334421-5db438be1e53cf13f9243c8c2933e723.jpeg","author":"ExcelinEd in Action","episode_count":64,"summary":"ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse Spotlights is a weekly podcast that provides quick, timely updates about K-12 education legislation across the country. Hosted by the ExcelinEd in Action Advocacy team, we track and report on bills about several key student-centered policy areas, including early literacy, the teacher pipeline, school funding, the digital divide, education choice, reimagining learning, school accountability and college and career pathways. In a nutshell: The ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse Spotlights podcast is the perfect way to stay up to date on the latest education policy news and trends during state legislative sessions from a team of experts you can trust. Why should you listen? You'll find out about what’s trending in K-12 education policy in state legislatures. You'll stay informed on how bills are changing, stalling or advancing You’ll learn which state legislative champions are shaping the future of education. You'll be inspired to take action to improve education for all students. Subscribe to ExcelinEd in Action Statehouse Spotlights today, and never miss an episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights-6742239"},"episode":{"title":"Arkansas parents weigh in on the LEARNS Act three years later | Secretary Jacob Oliva","slug":"arkansas-parents-weigh-in-on-the-learns-act-three-years-later-secretary-jacob-oliva","published_at":"2026-04-02T11:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights-6742239/arkansas-parents-weigh-in-on-the-learns-act-three-years-later-secretary-jacob-oliva","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights-6742239","url":"https://shows.acast.com/excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights/episodes/arkansas-parents-weigh-in-on-the-learns-act-three-years-late","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/657c82564969990016c55eb9/e/69cd6af5ab5d25f9c9724b27/media.mp3","summary":"In this episode of  Statehouse Spotlights , host Ashley Mullins brings us to Arkansas to examine what happens after a major education reform package moves from passage to implementation. Three years after the enactment of the LEARNS Act, new statewide polling offers a critical lens into how families are experiencing the law—and how their perceptions are evolving over time.  Ashley is joined by Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva to discuss the state’s progress implementing one of the most comprehensive education policy packages in the country. The conversation explores how key components of the LEARNS Act—from expanded Education Freedom Accounts and merit-based teacher incentives to early literacy initiatives and career-ready pathways—are shaping the education landscape across the state.  As participation in school choice programs grows and satisfaction rates remain high, the episode takes a closer look at what families are saying about their experiences and what may be driving increased intensity of support among parents. Secretary Oliva also shares insights into how Arkansas is supporting educators, aligning education with workforce needs and refining policies based on real-time feedback from schools and communities.  With other states considering similarly ambitious reforms, Arkansas’ experience underscores an important lesson: sustained success depends not only on strong policy design, but also on thoughtful implementation, continuous improvement and maintaining public trust.   Tune in for a timely discussion on how education reform is taking shape in practice—and what it means for students, families and policymakers nationwide.  Remember to join the con…","meta_description":"In this episode of Statehouse Spotlights , host Ashley Mullins brings us to Arkansas to examine what happens after a major education refor…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2054,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights-6742239/episodes/arkansas-parents-weigh-in-on-the-learns-act-three-years-later-secretary-jacob-oliva/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/excelined-in-action-statehouse-spotlights-6742239/arkansas-parents-weigh-in-on-the-learns-act-three-years-later-secretary-jacob-oliva.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}