Arkansas Senate Rejects Amendment to LEARNS Program Funding

LITTLE ROCK, AR. - The Arkansas Senate recently voted down a proposed amendment by Senator Bryan King that aimed to impose new restrictions on how funds for the LEARNS education program are distributed. The resolution failed during its third reading, with 22 votes against, 8 for, and 4 abstentions.

Senator King argued that the LEARNS program, particularly its Educational Freedom Accounts (EFA), is financially unsustainable. He cited that $120 million has already been used from a one-time account, with an additional $70 million estimated for the next budget. King expressed concern that these "one-time payments" are diverting money from other crucial programs, such as those benefiting cities and counties. He suggested that the $100 million spent on EFAs in 17 counties could instead fund 400-600 new police officers.

King emphasized that while he supports school choice, it must come with responsibility. His amendment sought to tie homeschool funding to specific educational standards, making them consistent with those for public and private schools. He also proposed capping homeschool EFA funds at $5,000 annually and requiring homeschool service providers to become mandatory reporters, arguing that "unaccountable, non-transparent money" can lead to fraud and waste.

Speaking against the amendment, Senator Alan Clark championed parental choice, stating that parents are best equipped to make decisions for their children's education. He worried that King's proposal would burden homeschools and private schools with the same regulations as public schools, thereby undermining the purpose of offering alternative education options. Clark also noted that the amendment's proposed cap on homeschool funds was not indexed for inflation.

Senator Mark Johnson also opposed the amendment, asserting that public funds should be accessible for private education because all taxpayers contribute. He highlighted that until recently, families choosing private or homeschool options paid for public schools in addition to their own educational costs. Johnson concluded that supporting individual students and respecting parental rights should be paramount.