The ACTAA (AR Communication and Theater Arts Association) Professional Standards Committee Chairman, Jacki Reiff, contacted me regarding the movement of our Arkansas Department of Education to blend Oral Communication courses with English courses across the state. Although ACTAA has written a statement regarding this trend and communicated with ADE and superintendents about this, the action was approved by legislature. Some of Arkansas’ small, rural districts may have found this action particularly appealing to save dollars in hiring.

If any other states have this action happening in their states, ACTAA’s sample letter they sent out can be found at: http://www.actaa.net/revised-oral-comm-position-statement-summer-2014

Thank you.