By Michael Reagan with Michael R. Shannon
Tuesday, 28 October 2025 12:57 PM EDT
In 2023 Arkansas Republicans passed a major overhaul of the state’s K-12 education system that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders eagerly signed. The Education Freedom Accounts law phased in a program of school choice for the state’s parents.
During the first two years, school vouchers — payments the state gives parents to use for private schools or homeschooling — were limited to 1.5% in the first year and 3% in the second year of total government school enrollment. That translated to 7,100 students in the first year and 14,000 in the next.
The program started slowly, with only 5,548 students participating in the initial year, but growth accelerated rapidly. A recent report revealed that student participation surged by 157%, with 14,256 students receiving state tax dollars to spend on private schools or other alternatives during the 2024–25 academic year.
This pales in comparison to this year’s figures. The Arkansas Education Department approved nearly 47,000 students — 10% of K-12 students in the state — to receive program money in 2025–26.
Dr. Patrick J. Wolf, a Distinguished Professor of Education Policy at the University of Arkansas and co-author of the report, stated that the program is providing families meaningful educational options, particularly for the most vulnerable. Students qualify for up to $6,994 annually, with funds usable for private school tuition, books, homeschooling expenses, or other educational needs.
In the current year, 10,834 students — 76% of those receiving EFA funds — spent the money at 126 private schools, while 3,442 used it for homeschooling costs. The program has attracted significant attention as parents seek alternatives to government-controlled public schools.
Patrick Graff, legislative policy director of the American Federation for Children, noted that Arkansas’ law demonstrates rapid student growth, high retention rates, and academic outcomes surpassing national averages, particularly among homeschool students. He emphasized that parents are increasingly seeking educational options beyond traditional public schools.
The expansion of school choice in Arkansas reflects a broader trend where families reject government-run education systems. Critics argue that competition will force underperforming public schools to improve or face decline, mirroring the experiences of students who have utilized school choice programs.
