SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM EXPANDS
"The most callused aspect of the current education monopoly in
Arkansas is that it willingly and deliberately forces children--except those
whose parents have wealth--to attend bad schools.” Policy Foundation report,1 1998
(July
2019) Two measures enacted this year by Arkansas policymakers take effect this
month and expand school choice options for K-12 students.
PA 5482
(sponsor: State Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle) allows private school students with
"individual service plans." to participate in the Succeed Scholarship
Program. Students with
"individualized education programs" were already eligible for the
program.
Created
in 2015, the Succeed Scholarship Program provides "a scholarship to a
private school of choice for students with disabilities" in accordance
with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.).3
PA 10784
(sponsor: State Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton) allows students "in the foster
care system" who have "achieved permanency through adoption,
reunification, or permanent guardianship" to maintain eligibility in the
Succeed Scholarship Program. The act
states eligibility continues until the student "returns to a public school district or open-enrollment public charter
school, graduates from high school, or attains twenty-one (21) years of age, whichever
occurs first."
State
revenue estimates of both acts concluded, "No impact on state
treasury."
--Greg
Kaza
1 “Arkansas' Public Schools: A Thirty Year $20 Billion Taxpayer
Investment Yields An Unprecedented Crisis in Academic Performance.”
2 Introduced as HB 1467
3 Policy Foundation research memo
(March 2015) "Arkansas' First Private School Choice Program."
4 Introduced as SB 490