More than 10 years ago, I expressed great hope for school choice in Colorado and Pennsylvania, only to then be disappointed.
Today, there is no sadness.
States such as West Virginia, Arizona, Iowa, and Utah have recently reformed their education policies so that families now have the benefit of choice and competition.
This is very bad news for teacher unions, but it’s great news for children in those states.
And now we have another reason to celebrate. Arkansas has joined the school choice club.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has a report by Neal Earley.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed her education bill into law Wednesday afternoon, calling it “the largest overhaul of the state’s education system in Arkansas history.” …The law, also known as the LEARNS Act, has been the top priority for Sanders since taking office in January. …Since taking office in January, Sanders has said education will be her top priority as governor, saying she wanted to put an end to a system where students were trapped in failing schools because of their zip code. …The bill would tie education funding to students, giving them 90% of what schools get per student in state funding from the previous school year to attend a private or home school, which would currently amount to $6,672. …The Educational Freedom Account will be phased in over three years beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
In a story for the Washington Examiner, Jeremiah Poff provides more coverage.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed an education reform bill into law Wednesday that makes Arkansas the third state this year to enact a universal school choice program. …The bill phases in a universal school choice program and raises teacher pay… “Arkansas made history today, setting the education model for the nation,” Sanders tweeted after the bill was signed. “The failed status quo is dead, and hope is alive for every kid in our state!” …The new law makes Arkansas the third state this year to enact a universal school choice program after Iowa and Utah enacted similar bills earlier this year. The three states join Arizona and West Virginia as the only states to date that have enacted universal school choice.
By the way, it’s quite possible that more states will join them in the next couple of months. Fingers crossed.
The bottom line is that the arguments for choice are strong, and the teacher unions have no good responses.
It’s taken a long time for the breakthrough, but it’s happened. School choice is finally spreading around the nation!
That’s cause for celebration.
P.S. Wealthy leftists like private schools for their kids, but they have a nasty habit of wanting to deny the same opportunities for other children.
P.P.S. School choice is not just good for kids. It’s also good for taxpayers.
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Image credit: Gage Skidmore | CC BY-SA 2.0.
