Arkansas AG certifies education coalition’s 2026 ballot proposal

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Arkansas’ attorney general on Thursday approved for the 2026 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would require public and private schools that receive state funds to be held to the same standards.

The constitutional amendment is backed by For AR Kids, a ballot question committee that failed to collect enough signatures to qualify an identical measure for the 2024 ballot. Attorney General Tim Griffin in July certified two other measures for the 2026 ballot that target government transparency and eliminating the sales tax for feminine hygiene products. Those proposals also failed to qualify for the 2024 election.

Griffin rejected For AR Kids’ initial 2026 submission in August because it did not include the full text of the measure as required by law. The committee resubmitted the full proposal last week.

Arkansas AG certifies education coalition’s 2026 ballot proposal

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Bill Kopsky, executive director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, talks about the governor’s proposed education legislation during a rally on Feb. 15, 2023. Groups concerned with public education rallied, on the steps of the State Capitol.

Public education ballot group continues signature collection

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

For AR Kids says they are almost halfway to collecting the amount of signatures they need to put their proposal on the ballot.

It's called the “The Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024.” The proposal comes after the passage of Arkansas LEARNS last year, which allows for public tax money to go to private schools through a voucher program. The amendment would add requirements for private schools accepting tax money. The group says this will equalize education in Arkansas, though they are short on funding.

To get their proposal on the ballot, For AR Kids needs more than 90,000 signatures from over 50 counties, with a deadline of July 5. Group leaders say they will have to collect 1,000 signatures a day for the next 45 days. For AR Kids says they have more than 1,000 volunteers collecting signatures.

Public education ballot group continues signature collection

Megan Prettyman

The 11th grade social studies classroom of Megan Prettyman at Little Rock West High School of Innovation.

Supporters of education amendment say signature gathering strong, cost estimates forthcoming

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

For AR Kids, a ballot question committee supporting changes to Arkansas education policy, says their kick-off for signature gathering is off to a great start.

Appearing on this week’s Capitol View and Talk Business & Politics TV program, leaders of the group said they are confident they will meet the threshold of more than 90,000 signatures to get the “Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024” on the November ballot.

“We had our kickoff last week at the [state] Capitol and even though it’s early on – it’s only been two weeks – we are blaring. I mean, it is crazy how many signatures we have,” said April Reisma, President of the Arkansas Education Association and Vice-president of the For AR Kids coalition.

Supporters of education amendment say signature gathering strong, cost estimates forthcoming