Arkansas Students Apply for More School‑Choice Money

A recent count shows 54, 442 families in Arkansas have asked for Educational Freedom Accounts (EFAs) to help pay for private schooling or homeschooling next year. The deadline closed on Monday, and the new figures are a touch higher than last year’s 52, 529 applications. That slight jump comes even though this year’s application period was almost half as long. EFAs give students up to $7, 208 in 2026‑27, an increase from the $6, 864 received last year. Those who were on the earlier Succeed Scholarship program will now get $8, 162. The state has earmarked nearly $379 million for the program in the next fiscal year, a move praised by supporters who say it lets families choose schools that fit their children’s needs. Critics, however, argue the accounts mostly help those who can already afford private tuition or homeschool supplies. Representative Andrew Collins warns that rising costs could hurt public schools, which still serve most Arkansas students. He also doubts the program’s ability to lift statewide test scores.Supporters point out that EFAs open doors for working‑class families whose kids struggle in public schools. Emmy Henley of the Reform Alliance says each new account is another chance for a child to thrive. She notes that parents increasingly want options beyond the traditional classroom. Policy experts say states with similar voucher programs often see their budgets stretched thin. Bill Kopsky of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel suggests investing instead in proven public‑school initiatives like special education, poverty services, and early childhood programs. He also backs a ballot measure that would require private schools receiving state funds to meet the same standards as public ones. The debate over EFAs reflects a larger national conversation about school choice, funding, and educational equity. Whether the increased applications translate into better outcomes remains to be seen.