KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

The Sanders administration’s proposal to reduce funding for Arkansas’ 15 education service cooperatives has co-op directors concerned about the impact on students, especially those in smaller school districts.

Fourteen cooperatives would receive $4.3 million less in state funds next fiscal year under the Department of Education’s 2025 budget proposal, according to estimates provided to the Advocate by co-op directors.

The Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative did not return requests for comment, and ADE did not provide a funding total.

Arkansas education co-ops concerned about effect of reduced funding