The landscape for putting an education-focused constitutional amendment on the November ballot changed last week, with one group declaring neutrality on the initiative and another group forming an opposition.
of Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 The purpose is to hold private schools that receive state funding to the same standards as public schools. The bill is supported by For AR Kids, a ballot question committee, and a coalition of organizations that previously included the Arkansas Citizens for Public Education and Students (CAPES).
CAPES is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to supporting remaining tax dollars for public schools, but prefers to remain neutral when it comes to voting efforts, according to a press release issued Thursday.
“We have noted that there may be confusion regarding CAPES’ involvement in the current education petition process,” the press release states. “CAPES has chosen not to take a public position on the petition organization ForARKids and its efforts. This decision reflects CAPES' commitment to remain nonpartisan and ensure fair representation of all stakeholders. This was done taking into consideration.”
CAPES lost its representative on the Ballot Questions Committee when former executive director Steve Grapp resigned in March, according to a press release.
On April 3, For AR Kids announced a new organization listing the Arkansas Conference of the NAACP, the Arkansas Education Association, the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Citizens First Conference, and two new organizations, the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association and Stand Up Arkansas as members. An organizational statement was submitted.
Grappe is the founder of Stand Up Arkansas, and he told the Advocacy Bureau on Friday that the group is going through the process of obtaining 501(c)(3) status. While Grappe focuses on education through his work with CAPES, Stand Up Arkansas is “focused on leveraging direct democracy to improve citizen participation and impact overall voter turnout.” “I'm putting it there,” he said.
For AR Kids, collect by July 5th 90,704 signatures Votes from at least 50 counties are required to qualify for the 2024 ballot.
The group's proposed voting plan has its roots in new schools. voucher program A program that provides state funding for allowable educational expenses, such as private school tuition.
created through how to learnCritics argue that private schools that receive state funding are not subject to the same requirements as public schools, such as admitting all students, providing transportation, or administering certain standardized tests, so they are not subject to educational freedom accounting. They claim the program is unfair.
The LEARNS Act requires private schools to administer approved annual exams for EFA students.
What CAPES pursued was referendum In an attempt to overturn the LEARNS Act, the group Could not collect enough signatures last summer to put the measure on the 2024 ballot.
While CAPES made clear its neutral stance on education law reform last week, a new ballot question committee led by people associated with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced its opposition to the bill.
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On April 1, Arkansans for Students and Educators filed a statement of organization with the Arkansas Ethics Commission. The group's stated goal is to “disqualify and/or defeat the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024.”
“Our measures are based on the best research on delivery methods. [the] “Our goal is to provide the highest quality education to every child in Arkansas,” AR Kids spokesman Bill Kopski said Friday. “I don't understand why anyone would oppose that goal.”
Three executives of the Arkansan Student and Educators Association could not be reached for comment Friday.
The group is chaired by Randy Lawson, whom the governor appointed to the Oil and Gas Commission last year. Mr. Lawson also served on the Arkansas State Board of Education after being appointed by Mr. Sanders' father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Sanders appointed the group's vice chairman, John Schmelzl, to serve on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission in 2023.
The Ballot Questions Committee's treasurer is Chris Caldwell, a political consultant chosen by Sanders to be his 2022 and 2026 gubernatorial campaign manager.
Caldwell is also the chairman. Stronger Arkansasthe Ballot Questions Committee focused on the rejection and/or disqualification of education amendments, as well as amendments focused on access to medical marijuana and abortion.
According to the Arkansas Democrat-GazetteThe day-to-day operations of Arkansans for Students and Educators will be managed by Jordan Powell, the governor's former communications director.
Powell previously served as deputy campaign manager for Sanders' gubernatorial campaign and previously for his father's presidential campaign. Sanders also appointed Powell to a six-year term on the Arkansas Cyber Task Force in 2023.
