Today, it was announced that the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment organizers failed to collect the required number of signatures to amend the state constitution. The failed petition would have weakened the LEARNS Program, making access more difficult for families.
The state requires at least 90,704 signatures from at least 50 counties.
“This further solidifies what we already know: Arkansas families want to be in the driver’s seat of their children’s education,” said Tiffany Barfield, government affairs director, yes. every kid. “The ballot initiative would have severely weakened the LEARNS Program and would have limited needed opportunities for students. Thanks to the leadership and commitment of Gov. Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas established itself as a national leader in education freedom with the passage of LEARNS. Today’s announcement shows that families support the program and want to ensure parental empowerment is protected.”
Background:
- The LEARNS Act passed in 2023 and created a statewide ESA program which empowers families with decision-making over their children’s education funding. By 2025, all families will be able to access nearly $6,614 per child statewide. This enables K-12 students to access funding for tuition, textbooks, tutoring, and more.
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