LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Some Arkansas parents are celebrating the first year of a program made possible by the Arkansas LEARNS Act allowing their students to have more school choice options.
Parent Pamela Esters said the first school year with Education Freedom Accounts in effect is a night and day difference compared to education opportunities in Arkansas at this time last year when students didn’t have the resources to attend private schools through public funds.
The EFAs, provided through funding as part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, have allowed Esters’ son Phoenix to transform his education.
Phoenix, who is battling cancer, vision impairment and autism is now able to attend Easterseals Academy in Little Rock without his family having to pay a dime.
“When you come from a place of not being able, and there’s something out there that can help you afford the things you need for your children, your grandchildren, there’s no way to describe it,” Esters said.
Steve Grappe has had his fair share of doubts with the LEARNS Act from day one, but his mission now is to come in where he thinks the law is lacking to make sure it provides for everyone, public school or private.
“We need more resources,” Grappe said. “We need more teachers. We need more individual education plans for these disability students in public schools.”
Governor Sarah Sanders announced Monday more Arkansas students will be eligible for the Education Freedom Accounts next school year.
The state is expanding eligibility to children of veterans, military reserve members, first responders, law enforcement officers and any students who previously were in D-rated schools.
