Not Giving Up On Children Expelled From School: Rep. Don Glover’s Bill Becomes Law

Our communities can only thrive if our children get a good education. But too often we give up on certain students, and expel children who have a great difficulty behaving. That may be the right decision for a school, but it’s never the right decision for the state of Arkansas to give up on educating a child.

That’s why state Rep. Don Glover of Dermott joined with state Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock to pass HB1790 into law. The legislation ensures that the state continues to provide access to educational opportunities to expelled students.

“A public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that expels a student under § 6-18-507 shall offer to the expelled public school student digital learning courses or other alternative educational courses for which the student may receive academic credit that is at least equal to credit the expelled public school student may have received if he or she was still enrolled in his or her assigned public school or open enrollment public charter school immediately before he or she was expelled.”  

This type of legislation is especially important in many rural areas, where sometimes few education options exist beyond a student’s original school. That’s why despite being a freshman state legislator, Rep. Donald Glover was able to deliver on this important education bill.

Glover represents several Delta counties, including portions of Chicot, Ashley, and Desha Counties. While Glover is new to the Arkansas Legislature, he is no stranger to public service.

Rep. Glover is a retired Judge and Lawyer. He previously served as Circuit Court Judge for District 10 and Municipal Judge of Dermott, AR. He attended the Univerisity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and later the Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.