The Attack On...
ARKANSAS TAXPAYERS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY EDUCATION FREEDOM ARKANSAS FAMILIES
The “Educational Rights Amendment” that Arkansans rejected in 2024 has been dusted off and repackaged for 2026. They’re saying it supports education and helps kids. What they won’t tell you is what it costs, and how it will hurt Arkansas families.
what the “educational rights amendment” would really do
01. WHAT THEY SAY
“Extra help for children” — early childhood education, after-school programs, and assistance for children in poverty.
What it would really do
A blank check for new spending.
Taxpayers on the hook for billions.
No way to pay for it.
Creates a series of new, universal welfare programs with no cost estimate, no funding mechanism, and no ceiling — all of it cemented as a “constitutional right.” Conservative estimates put the minimum price tag at a billion dollars a year, with no way for the legislature to fix it. And like every massive entitlement rolled out overnight, it’s wide open to fraud — the same kind of abuse that fueled Minnesota’s daycare scandal, with Arkansas taxpayers footing the bill.
CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES
$1.7 BILLION PER YEAR
EVERY YEAR.
FOREVER.
02. WHAT THEY SAY
“Equal standards for schools” — private schools accepting public funds must comply with the same accreditation rules, regulations, and curriculum as public schools.
What it would really do
A direct attack on faith-based education in Arkansas.
Forces faith-based schools to stop teaching religious subjects and teach concepts that contradict their beliefs as a condition of participating in EFA or PIAK scholarships. Abandon your faith, or abandon the families you serve.
FAITH-BASED EDUCATION
03. WHAT THEY SAY
“Accountability” — private schools that accept EFAs or scholarships should comply with the same state testing and assessment standards as public schools.
What it would really do
Ends education freedom.
Imposes compliance rules no private school could realistically meet — stripping Education Freedom Account and PIAK scholarship access from nearly 50,000 Arkansas kids, including low-income families and students with disabilities.
50,000+
Arkansas kids would
lose access to educational options
04. WHAT THEY SAY
“Better education” — putting certain academic standards into the constitution itself will improve outcomes for Arkansas students.
What it would really do
Stifles innovation in all schools.
Locks every school accepting any state or local resources into one-size-fits-all standards. Charter schools, alternative schools, public-school waivers, online and hybrid schools would all lose their ability to provide innovative solutions to students.
- Public school innovation
- Alternative school formats
- Charter school flexibility
- Online education options
- Hybrid schooling options
- Specialized educational tracks
— The Bottom Line —
The "Educational Rights Amendment"
would raise taxes.
end education freedom.
hurt Arkansas families.
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