Former state Rep. Jodie Mahony of El Dorado received a standing ovation today at a joint meeting of the House and Senate Education Committees.

Mahony,  who also served in the Senate and is now an assistant to House Speaker Robbie Wills, was honored for sponsoring Act 102 of 2003, which requires Arkansas high schools to offer Advanced Placement courses in the four core subjects: math, English, science and social studies.

Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, who worked with Mahony on the legislation, presented him with a framed map of the U.S. with school districts that offer AP courses shaded in green. Arkansas was one of the greenest states on the map.

Elliott said the before the legislation passed, only 35 percent of districts in the state offered AP courses. Starting with the 2009-2010 school year, 100 percent of districts in the state will be required to offer the courses.

“Thank you for a wonderful surprise,” Mahony said.

The College Board provided the framed map. Identical maps were given previously to Elliott, Gov. Mike Beebe and the state Department of Education.

Tags: Advanced Placement, Jodie Mahoney, Joyce Elliott, Mike Beebe, Robbie Wills

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