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Applications for Arkansas’ school voucher program are now open, the state’s education department announced Tuesday.
This marks the fourth year of the program and the second year it’s been open to all Arkansas K-12 students after being phased in with increasing eligibility.
Red States’ School Vouchers Mark Biggest Shift in U.S. Education in a Century
Created under an expansive 2023 education law, the Educational Freedom Account program permits state funding to be used for allowable education expenses, such as private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, laptops, tutoring and educational therapies. Participating students could receive up to $6,864 during the 2025-2026 school year. That will increase to $7,208 for the 2026-2027 academic year, according to education department spokesperson Kaelin Clay.
Student applications have historically opened in March or April, except for the program’s first year when a lawsuit delayed implementation. As was the case last year, applications will be reviewed for funding priority within a series of three-week windows that ends June 1.
Applications are not processed strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the education department. Instead, they’re prioritized based on categories during each three-week window.
The highest priority categories are returning EFA students, students with specialized needs and students attending a school with a “D” or “F” rating under the state’s accountability system.
More than 44,000 students are participating in the program this year, and could choose from nearly 170 private schools and over 2,500 approved vendors, according to a press release. Applications for schools interested in participating in the program opened in February, Clay said.
“Every student has unique strengths and challenges, which is why offering multiple education pathways is essential,” Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said in the release. “By supporting the Education Freedom Account program, we are empowering parents to choose the learning environment that best fits their child’s needs, and the number of families enrolled proves the program’s success.”
Democrats and some rural Republican lawmakers have voiced concern about the growing cost of the program, which represents the largest increase to the governor’s proposed state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The proposed budget includes more than $309 million for the program, $122 million more than last year’s budget. The amount matches what was ultimately spent on the program this year.
The budget also calls for setting aside another $70 million from surplus funding for anticipated program growth.
More information about the program and applications are available on the education department’s website.
Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew DeMillo for questions: [email protected].
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