Stop the Rollback: Protect Educational Progress in Arkansas

Stop the Rollback: Protect Educational Progress in Arkansas

Arkansas is facing a deceptive challenge with the proposed 'Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024.' While it may sound promising on the surface, a deeper look reveals that it could unravel the hard-won advancements in education and compromise individual rights under the guise of improvement.

1. Redundancy and Risk to Progress

This proposed amendment duplicates the efforts of the LEARNS ACT, a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing critical educational issues such as universal voluntary pre-K, transportation enhancements, funding accountability, and support for at-risk students. The LEARNS ACT has already laid a solid foundation for progress, including the establishment of the Office of Early Childhood and the Transportation Modernization Program, both crucial for advancing educational access and quality.

2. Financial Burden and Unreasonable Demands

Arkansas already allocates a significant portion of its state budget to education, prioritizing it above all other sectors. Annually, more than $6 billion from local, state, and federal sources is invested in K-12 public education, highlighting the state's top financial commitment to this sector. Notably, $2.5 billion of this amount comes from state general revenues each year. However, the proposed amendment demands "several hundred million dollars" in additional funding, potentially burdening taxpayers further. Given the existing substantial investment in education and the challenges posed by the current economic climate, such demands seem unreasonable and could lead to increased taxes for Arkansans.

3. Threat to Vulnerable Students and Parental Choice

The LEARNS ACT's Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) have been instrumental in supporting vulnerable students, including those with disabilities, in foster care, or experiencing homelessness. These EFAs provide families with the flexibility to choose the best educational options for their children, ensuring that every student receives the support they need to thrive. The proposed amendment puts this flexibility at risk, jeopardizing the educational opportunities of vulnerable children and limiting parental choice.

4. Upholding Progress and Choice

The LEARNS ACT strikes a balance between equality and equity in educational funding, ensuring that each student using EFAs receives equal funding while allowing families to tailor educational resources to their child's unique needs. This approach promotes innovation and empowers parents to make informed decisions about their children's education.

Stand Against Deception: Support LEARNS

The 'Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024' disguises a threat to educational progress and parental choice under the guise of protecting rights. It undermines the significant strides made in education and could destabilize Arkansas's education system and state budget. Join Americans for Prosperity-Arkansas in rejecting this deceptive proposal. Do not sign the petition for this amendment, and stand firm in preserving the progress achieved through the LEARNS ACT.