SR16
To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill Concerning The Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program.
Last Action (April 8, 2026): Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
This bill modifies the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program, which provides state-funded accounts for educational expenses. It establishes a cap of $5,000 for homeschooled students and mandates that participating students must achieve a minimum score on annual assessments to maintain eligibility and receive disbursements. The bill introduces performance-based funding, where account amounts may be reduced based on assessment results. It restricts program eligibility to students who are not currently attending private schools at the time of application. Additionally, it tightens testing requirements by mandating that assessments be completed at an educational service cooperative. Finally, it classifies participating service providers for homeschooled students as mandated reporters for the purposes of reporting child maltreatment.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are public school students who seek alternative educational settings or private schooling, specifically those who were not previously enrolled in private schools, as this legislation aims to limit the program to students transitioning from public education or seeking new alternatives. Additionally, the state education system benefits from increased oversight and standardized performance metrics for students using public funds for private or alternative education.
Who Might Suffer?
Students currently enrolled in private schools are negatively impacted because they are explicitly barred from applying for or maintaining accounts under this program. Additionally, students who do not perform well on standardized tests may be negatively impacted as they risk losing their program eligibility or seeing their funding amounts reduced. Families who prioritize flexible testing arrangements may also be burdened by the new requirement to complete assessments at specific educational service cooperatives.
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