Former Little Rock School District board member Ali Noland has been speaking out against the Arkansas LEARNS school voucher program, calling it a “welfare-for-the-wealthy scheme.” Noland has highlighted that the vouchers, amounting to nearly $7,000 per child, mainly benefit families who can already afford the high tuitions of private schools. In fact, the top schools accepting these vouchers charge significantly more than the voucher amount, leaving families to cover the difference.
Noland’s observations from the previous year showed that the vouchers were primarily going to families in wealthier areas like Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas, rather than benefiting those in need. The Arkansas Department of Education is expected to release a report revealing more information on where these vouchers are going in the current school year.
Noland’s concerns echo other reports from various states, where voucher programs have been criticized for essentially providing public funds to wealthy families who were never a part of the public school system to begin with. She has highlighted the burden placed on average families who cannot afford the extra costs associated with private school vouchers, ultimately questioning the fairness and effectiveness of such programs.
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