Supporters of a ballot initiative to amend the education clause of the Arkansas Constitution will begin gathering signatures next week after the attorney general approved ballot language on Friday.
The 2024 Arkansas Education Rights Amendment aims to hold private schools that receive state aid to the same standards as public schools.
In an opinion Friday, Attorney General Tim Griffin certified the proposal's common name and ballot title, with a few minor changes.
Griffin twice rejected the For AR Kids initiative after the voting group submitted its first proposal in December.
Bill Kopsky, a spokesperson for AR Kids and executive director of the Arkansas Public Policy Commission, told The Advocate on Friday that changes to the proposal over the past several months have strengthened the measure.
“With this action, we have a real opportunity to take a big step forward for Arkansas students,” Kopski said. “[we] Now all I have to do is do the rest of the work, so I'm really looking forward to it. ”
This proposed constitutional amendment is supported by the For AR Kids Coalition, which includes the Public Policy Panel, the Arkansas Education Association, the NAACP Arkansas Conference, Citizens First Conference, and Citizens for Public Education and Students of Arkansas (CAPES).
For AR Kids will host a rally at the Arkansas State Capitol on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. where people can learn more about the initiative and sign the petition. Supporters need to collect 90,704 signatures from at least 50 counties by July 5 to get the measure approved for the 2024 ballot.
“We are finally able to begin the signature process to put solutions before voters that will help our students,” Elaine Williams, an early childhood educator in Prescott and education chair of the Arkansas Citizens First Assembly, said in a statement. It feels great,” he said.
“We know we have strong support across the state, and now we can finally move forward with a campaign to inform voters about this bill after months of drafting, researching, and drafting it,” Williams said. ” he said.
The proposed ballot measure is a response to a new voucher program that would provide approximately $6,700 in state funds per student for allowable educational expenses, including private school tuition.
Critics of the Educational Freedom Account program, created under the LEARNS Act, say private schools that receive state funding are required to admit all students, provide transportation, and administer certain standardized tests. , which they argue is unfair because they don't have to follow the same requirements as public schools.
The LEARNS Act requires private schools to administer approved annual exams for EFA students.
In addition to equal standards, the proposed constitutional amendment would also provide for 3- and 4-year-old preschool, after-school and summer programs, high-quality special education, and increased access to children from families with enrollment rates within 200%. It guarantees voluntary and universal access. Federal Poverty Line ($62,400 for a family of four).
The measure would also establish minimum quality standards mandated in Lakeview School District No. 25 v. Huckabee. This lawsuit, which lasted 15 years, established a process to ensure that Arkansas public schools are properly funded.
The Arkansas Advocate is part of State Newsrooms, a network of newsrooms supported by a coalition of grants and donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. This article was published with permission from the Arkansas Department of Legal Advocacy. If you have any questions, please contact editor Sonya Alvarado. [email protected]. Follow Arkansas Law Defenders on Facebook twitter.
