New Arkansas Education Freedom Account numbers released

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

An annual report accounting for state school voucher money shows that most of the dollars go to students already in a private school, though at slightly lower numbers than the last school year. This is in keeping with the same report data from 2023-2024.

“Education Freedom Account” money is a pile of tax money allocated to private, religious and homeschool students. It is the result of a massive education law known as Arkansas LEARNS, signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders last year.

A main criticism of the LEARNS EFA program is that funds typically go to children already enrolled in private schools. For the 2023 school year, 95% of the money went to kids already in a private school. For the 2024 school year, that number fell slightly, but 82% of kids were not enrolled in a public school before they received the money. The report says, 90% of the students who received the money last year kept with the program for this school year.

New Arkansas Education Freedom Account numbers released

Private School Tax Credit Measure Clears Senate Revenue & Tax Panel

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

A program that would create a tax credit scholarship for impoverished students to attend private schools was passed Wednesday (April 14) during the state Senate Tax and Revenue Committee meeting.

SB 680, also known as the “Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids Program Act” will be capped at $2 million and will help up to 250 students in the state each year, bill sponsor Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, told the committee.

For a student to qualify, their family must have an annual income that is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. The credits and application process will be handled by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DF&A). Credits will be given on a first come basis. It will cost DF&A about $100,000 per year to handle the program, according to estimates. Taxpayers who donate to the program will get an off-setting tax credit.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/private-school-tax-credit-measure-clears-senate-revenue-tax-panel/

School Voucher Bill Passes Arkansas House Committee

By DANIEL BREEN

Following hours of debate, members of the Arkansas House Education committee narrowly passed a bill that would provide private school scholarships for low-income students.

Lawmakers on Tuesday voted 11 to nine in favor of House Bill 1371, sponsored by Republican Rep. Ken Bragg of Sheridan.

The bill would create a tax credit for individuals and businesses to donate to two funds, which would be run by a private nonprofit. One would provide up to $6 million in credits for donations to provide grants to public schools, while the other would provide $4 million in credits for donations to a fund for low-income students to attend private schools.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/school-voucher-bill-passes-arkansas-house-committee

Arkansas Education Association President Carol Fleming speaks against House Bill 1371 as the bill's sponsor, Rep. Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan, looks on.

CREDIT ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE