Rally held at State Capitol against Gov. Sanders' 'Arkansas LEARNS' education plan
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Opposition is mounting against Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' proposed omnibus education policy, 'Arkansas LEARNS,' which she unveiled last Wednesday.
A rally against the education plan was held this Wednesday on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol.
"Despite the beliefs of some of our Arkansas legislators, the schools that need the most support have not been funded in an equitable matter," said Special Sanders with New Generation of Leaders.
Several education- and policy-focused organizations banded together to protest against the proposed legislation this afternoon--their primary point of contention: a planned increase in public funds for a school choice program.
The 'Arkansas LEARNS' bill, which will soon be heard in committee, is said to include increased public funding for a statewide school choice voucher program, allowing parents to send their children to schools outside their district as well as private institutions. It is perhaps the most controversial element of Sanders' education plan.
"[It] allows parents to enroll their kids in whatever school is most appropriate for their family whether it be public, private, parochial or homeschool," Sanders said during the unveiling of her plan. "We're rolling out this program for our most at-risk families first, and within three years it will be available to every family in Arkansas."
"Public funds should remain in public schools," Carol Fleming, President of the Arkansas Education Association, said at the rally.
"There's just not much evidence that privatization works," said Bill Kopsky, Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, "It's incredibly frustrating, this is such a missed opportunity."
"The governor wants to be the education governor, we want her to be the education governor. It'd be good for our kids and good for the governor if her proposals worked, but all the evidence is that her proposals are going to be undermine from the get-go because she's betting on strategies that have just failed in state after state," Kopsky said.
Many opposed to the proposed bill say they like aspects of it, such as increased teacher pay and increased access to broadband and Pre-K education for Arkansas students--but they cannot reconcile the perceived positives with what they see as steps backward.
Among the other controversial elements of the proposed bill is Sanders' suggested repeal of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act.
"There's things in this bill that I'm genuinely excited to see. And there's things that I have deep concerns about," said Olivia Gardner, Director of Education Policy for Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.
"So, it feels like a bit of a mixed bag, as sort of a top-line takeaway," Gardner said, "but as I read through the proposal a little bit more or learn more about it, the more concerns I have, to be honest."
There is no word yet on when the 'Arkansas LEARNS' bill will be heard in committee, though it is anticipated to be soon.
