The House Education Committee recently rejected two bills sponsored by state Rep. Jim Wooten (R-Beebe) that aimed to impose additional requirements on private schools receiving Arkansas LEARNS vouchers. Despite bipartisan support for one of the measures, the bills were not passed. The LEARNS program provides taxpayer dollars to families to cover tuition and other expenses at private schools or for homeschooling and is expected to see a significant increase in enrollment and costs in the 2025-26 school year when it opens to all students in Arkansas.
One of Wooten’s bills would require voucher-receiving private schools to provide transportation for certain students, ensuring equitable access to education. Another bill would mandate private schools to conduct uniform annual tests and admit any student with a voucher if they have the capacity. The bills aimed to address discrepancies between requirements for public and private schools participating in the voucher program.
The bills faced opposition from some committee members who questioned the implications and costs for private schools. However, some Republicans expressed sympathy for Wooten’s arguments, highlighting concerns about the unequal treatment between public and private schools under the LEARNS program. The bills were ultimately voted down, with bipartisan support from a few Republicans and Democrats.
The rejection of the bills sheds light on the ongoing debate surrounding state funding for private education through voucher programs and the need to ensure fairness and accountability in the education system. Despite the disagreement among lawmakers, the discussion underscores the importance of addressing the disparities between public and private schools participating in state-funded programs.
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