Latest news with #ArkansasEducationFreedomAccounts
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two bills on Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders desk would impact school funding, vouchers
Video – Working 4 You: How are some recipients of Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts spending the money of Natural State taxpayers LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two bills on Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' desk will impact school funding and place limits on voucher spending if they are signed into law. House Bill 1312 would raise the per-student funding amount from $7,618 per student to $8,162 for the 2025-2026 school year, including $320 for employer contributions to insurance. In the 2026-2027 school year, the amount changes to $8,037 but does not include the insurance since that will now be paid directly to the Employee Benefits Division on behalf of public schools. More than 34K Arkansas students apply for next school year's vouchers The per-student fund is paid to schools by the state based on the previous school year's daily membership. Funding adequacy for public schools came from the Public School Funding Act of 2003, the response to the Arkansas Supreme Court's Lake View decision in 2002. HB1312 was passed by the legislature on Tuesday, the day before the legislature went into recess, and transmitted to the governor on Wednesday. Working 4 You: How are some recipients of Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts spending the money of Natural State taxpayers Senate Bill 625 limits the funds that a student's Children's Educational Freedom Account Program may spend. Limits include limiting 25% of spending on extracurricular activities and transportation and, in most cases, not allowing the money to be used to purchase a video game console or a cell phone. An Educational Freedom Account, part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, pays 90% of the per-student funding amount to a student who is attending a private or home school. The program is open to all students for the 2025-2026 school year. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces Education Freedom Accounts now available for every family in Arkansas SB625 was passed on the final work day of the 95th General Assembly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Working 4 You: Equestrian, martial arts on list of approved vendors for Education Freedom Accounts
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In just a few weeks, the application portal for the state's Education Freedom Accounts will open, giving all parents in Arkansas the option to choose where their kids go to school. Education Freedom Accounts or EFA's were a big portion of the Arkansas Learns Act, allowing parents to use state money to pay for private school tuition, home school curriculum, and any other educational activity or supplies needed. Lawmakers have debated the use of EFA's for well over two years now, but conversations came to a head just a few months ago when an equestrian company posted to social media that they were accepting EFA funds. Lawmakers against Arkansas LEARNS are now questioning what else parents can use EFA's for. Working 4 You: How are some recipients of Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts spending the money of Natural State taxpayers Working 4 You obtained a list of more than 500 approved EFA vendors in November. The list includes private schools, online schools, therapy organizations, tutors, and homeschool curriculum. There are also gymnastics, martial arts, batting cage facilities, baking box subscriptions, personal training, and horseback riding lessons on the list. 'I think a lot of people were surprised to see some of the things that they could be spent on,' Arkansas State Senator Greg Leding said. Leding said the extra curriculars on the list are questionable. 'To some extent, I suppose there is a defense in that home school children might not have access to physical education, but I don't think these are the kind of activities Arkansans thought they'd be supporting if they supported school vouchers,' Leding said. In its first year, the state spent more than $34,000 on EFA's or what some are calling 'school vouchers.' New lawsuit claims Arkansas LEARNS Act vouchers violate state constitution Next school year, the program goes universal, opening up applications to all school-age children in the state. 'Let's let parents decide what's best for their kids in education,' Arkansas State Senator Bart Hester said. School choice is becoming a widely popular idea across the nation, mostly led by the Republican Party. Hester has been a supporter of school choice and Arkansas LEARNS since the beginning. He said parents should have the option to choose where their children go to school and not be confined to a certain school district or type of school. 'I think if you ask parents, [the EFA program] is going very well,' Hester said. In past stories, Working 4 You talked to parents using EFA funds for private school, tutoring, and homeschool co-ops. 'For me, it was like this is it,' said Ginny Heisler, who has moved her daughter into a micro school this year. 'I don't worry about her learning anymore and I don't worry about her socially anymore.' Heisler said Arkansas Learns, and more specifically the EFA program is a blessing for her family. More than 20K school choice applications submitted in Arkansas in 2024 Its not necessarily stories like these though, that have lawmakers like Leding concerned. 'A lot of [approved vendors] are out of state, out of the country. Some places [listed] in the U.S. are as far away as San Francisco,' Leding said. Leding went on to say activities like horseback riding and martial arts seem excessive and should not be approved as vendors in the EFA program. Working 4 You took these concerns to State Senator Hester. 'Look, I hear those arguments all the time. I hear, 'Is it really necessary that we have big football stadiums for football on Friday night?' At the end of the day, everyone's not going to agree. That is why it's important to let parents choose what is best for their child's education,' Hester said. The application process to become an EFA-approved vendor is briefly outlined on the Arkansas Department of Education website. Below are the qualifications for vendor complete background checks for all student-facing employees Provide education in ELA, math, social studies, and science Administer assessments to participating students Must not discriminate on any basis prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Cannot employ anyone who may pose a risk to EFA funds Provide a list of all goods and services offered with corresponding prices or rates Provide proof of credentials to demonstrate that relevant staff meet at least one of the following: Hold an Arkansas Standard or Provisional Professional Training License or qualify through an ADE-recognized Alternative Route ProgramMeet the requirements set by a tutoring organization accredited/recognized by the State BoardAre employed in the teaching/tutoring role at an accredited high education institutionHold a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree in the subject they teachHave at least three years of prior teaching experience demonstrating special skills, knowledge, or expertise qualifying them to provide instruction Provide evidence of subject matter expertise in their fieldMust complete background checks and fingerprinting Meet additional requirements based on service type: Tutors: Provide proof of credentials meeting at least one of the following: Hold an Arkansas Standard or Provisional Professional Teaching License or qualify through ADE-recognized Alternative Route Program Meet the requirements set by a tutoring organization accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the State Board. Are employed in a teaching/tutoring capacity at an accredited institution of higher education Hold a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree in the subject area for which tutoring or instructional services are provided Have at least three years of prior teaching experience demonstrating special skills, knowledge, or expertise qualifying them to provide instruction Provide evidence of subject matter expertise in their field Therapists: must hold an active state license Transportation providers: Must hold an active state driver's license The Department of Education's website has little information about vendor qualifications so Working 4 You asked both state senators. 'I think they just have to prove to the Department of Education that they're a real business, that they're really functioning and that they are providing some service,' Hester said. 'There are some requirements and so you would go through the Arkansas Department of Education,' Leding said. Working 4 You: Are Education Freedom Accounts truly available to families of all backgrounds? State lawmakers say they are planning on adding $90 million to the cost for Arkansas LEARNS next school year. Opposers say now is the time to put in more regulations. 'The chief concern for most of us is the voucher program and its cost and so maybe making sure they are going to students who actually need them, not subsidizing families who are already able to send their students to private schools,' Leding said. We asked Hester if there is a concern with the cost of Arkansas LEARNS as it becomes universal next year. 'There certainly is a concern but we're committed to it,' Hester said. 'The more the cost goes up the more we have to say why are parents choosing this? Why are so many parents choosing to leave their public schools?' Hester said the state is expecting a $250 million to $300 million surplus this year, and they will likely pull the money from that to help fund Arkansas LEARNS. Democrats say at this point there is not enough support against the bill to make any changes right now but are expecting conversations to increase after Arkansas LEARNS is fully operational next school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
