04-03-2025
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces Education Freedom Accounts now available for every family in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Monday afternoon Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that for the first time in history, education freedom is available to all families in the Natural State.
According to a release from the Governor, Education Freedom Account (EFA) applications for the 2025-2026 school year are now open to every child in the state.
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The release said that the EFA program was created by the LEARNS Act in 2023 and provides funding for students to attend the school that best meets their needs whether it be private, public, parochial or homeschool.
'There is an education freedom revolution sweeping America and Arkansas is proud to lead the way by offering universal education freedom for every single child in the state,' the governor said. 'The EFA program has been enormously successful over the past two years, helping thousands of Arkansas kids go to the school that meets their needs, and I look forward to thousands of others joining the program.'
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Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said that the EFA program assisted over 14,000 students for the 2024-25 school year and expressed excitement that all students now have access.
'We know that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't meet the needs of all students and families,' Oliva said. 'Families deserve the opportunity to choose the best school for their child, no matter their zip code, and through the EFA program, they have that opportunity. For the 2024-2025 school year, the EFA program assisted more than 14,200 students with finding their school of choice, and we are excited to expand that opportunity to all families for the next school year.'
More than 20K school choice applications submitted in Arkansas in 2024
According to the governor, in Arkansas revealed that 72% of parents support universal education freedom. A total of 5,548 students and 97 schools participated in the EFA program during the 2023-2024 school year. In the 2024-2025 school year, participation increased to 14,297 students and 128 schools.
To be eligible for an EFA, students must be eligible to enroll in a public school and be a resident of Arkansas. To apply, .
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