LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Some parents in Arkansas are celebrating the first year of a program made possible by the Arkansas Learning Act that gives students more options for school choice.
Parent Pamela Esters said the first school year that Educational Freedom Accounts went into effect was the same as in Arkansas at this time last year, when students didn't have the money to attend private schools with public funds. He said there is a night and day difference when it comes to educational opportunities.
EFA, provided through funding as part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, enabled Esters' son Phoenix to transform his education.
Phoenix, who battles cancer, visual impairment and autism, is now able to attend Easter Seals Academy in Little Rock without paying his family a dime.
“When you come from a place where you can't do anything, and there's something out there that helps you buy things for your kids and grandkids, there's no way to explain it,” Esters said.
Steve Grappe has been highly skeptical of the LEARNS Act since its inception, and now his mission is to step into what he believes is lacking in the law and make it more effective for all schools, public and private. The goal is to ensure that the law is available to the people of the country.
“We need more resources,” Grapp said. “We need more teachers. We need more individualized education plans for these students with disabilities in public schools.”
Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Monday that more Arkansas students will be eligible for Educational Freedom Accounts starting next school year.
The state is expanding eligibility to children of veterans, reservists, first responders, law enforcement officers and students who previously attended D-rated schools.
