(The Center Square) – Arkansas lawmakers have approved an additional $32 million in funding for Education Freedom Accounts for the fiscal year after a request was sent by the Arkansas Department of Education.
The funding request was outlined in a letter from Arkansas Department of Education Chief Financial Officer Greg Rogers, who asked legislators to approve the additional allocation for the 2025–26 school year. According to the letter, the funds are necessary to meet growing participation in the program.
“Every Arkansas family deserves access to the best possible school options for their children,” the letter states. “The Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program empowers parents to choose a school based on students’ individual needs.”
The year 2025 is the first time EFAs are available to all students statewide. Now that the additional funding has been approved, the total funding for the fiscal year would be over $300 million. The ADE expects the funds will support about 43,200 participating students.
EFAs allow families to use state education dollars for approved expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring and other educational services.
Critics who oppose the additional funding argue that EFAs divert funds away from public schools and claim that the funds are “school vouchers.”
“They like to call them education freedom accounts,” said April Reisma, president of the Arkansas Education Association.
“But we know what they really are,” Reisma told THV11. “They’re vouchers.”
The approved $32 million request will now move to the Arkansas Legislative Council for final consideration later this week.
The Center Square contacted the Arkansas Department of Education for comment, but did not receive a response.
