The Arkansas Department of Education has reported a total of 54,442 applications for Educational Freedom Accounts for the upcoming school year. This program, which expands state taxpayer funding for private school tuition and some homeschool expenses, closed its application window on Monday.
Governor’s Support for Educational Freedom
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed her support for the program, stating, “Tens of thousands of Arkansas families agree: universal education freedom is the right choice for Arkansas.” She highlighted the program’s role in transforming education by allowing students to attend schools that best fit their needs, raising literacy standards, increasing teacher compensation, and making significant investments in public schools.
This year marks a slight increase in applications compared to the previous year, which saw 52,529 applications. Notably, last year’s application period was almost twice as long. The 2026-27 school year will be the second year the program is open to all Arkansas students, following its initial limited rollout.
Financial Aspects and Legislative Support
For the 2026-27 school year, students receiving accounts will get $7,208, up from $6,864 the previous year. Former Succeed Scholarship recipients will receive $8,162. The state legislature has approved up to $379 million in funding for the program, which Sanders and advocates argue is crucial for providing families with educational choices.
Critics, however, argue that the program primarily benefits families already able to afford private education. Rep. Andrew Collins, D-Little Rock, criticized the program’s increasing costs and questioned its impact on academic outcomes. He suggested that many account holders were already enrolled in private or homeschool settings before participating in the program.
Advocates and Critics Weigh In
Emmy Henley of The Reform Alliance emphasized that the program opens educational opportunities for working-class families. “Every successful application represents another child with another opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” she said.
Conversely, Bill Kopsky of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of similar programs in other states, which he claims “eat state budgets.” He advocates for investment in proven educational programs like special education and after-school initiatives.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
