Group aiming to amend education article of Arkansas Constitution attempts to receive attorney general’s approval for 4th time

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A group looking to make changes to the education article of the Arkansas Constitution is now awaiting approval from Attorney General Tim Griffin for the fourth time.

The ballot measure, submitted under the popular name Arkansas Education Rights Amendment of 2024, is being proposed by a group called For AR Kids.

Group re-submits Arkansas education rights ballot question to attorney general’s office

The measure looks to add three requirements to the state constitution education article:

1. Require any school receiving any amount of public funds to follow the same standards that traditional public schools are required to follow;

2. Establish the minimum quality standards ordered by the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2002 in its Lakeview decision; and

3. Guarantee voluntary universal access to Pre-K for 3-4-year-olds, afterschool and summertime programming, quality special education, and wrap-around services for children within 200% of the federal poverty line.

Steve Grappe, who is working with the organization, said this is not targeting the new education reform law known as the LEARNS Act, though he was the Executive Director of the organization CAPES that tried to repeal the law in 2023. Grappe said this proposal would have happened with or without the new law, based on what the group has seen from Arkansans in polls.

“As long as the message doesn’t get mixed, we’re going to have a bipartisan group, and I am personally reaching out to the republican side at the same rate as the democrat side,” he said.

Study ranks Arkansas No. 1 among states for early childhood education

However, state Republicans have acknowledged that, contrary to statements made, it is an attack on LEARNS, and supporters of the law have argued that the current policy in place is accomplishing its purpose of improving Arkansas education.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education sent a statement in response to the proposal.

“Arkansas LEARNS is already having a positive impact on education in Arkansas,” the statement read. “From empowering parents with educational options to increasing starting teacher salaries to one of the highest in the country, the education system in Arkansas is finally moving in the right direction with students at the forefront. We look forward to seeing future successes as additional components are implemented.”

CAPES responds to latest attorney general ruling against proposed Arkansas education ballot measure

If the measure is approved, the group will need to turn in 90,704 signatures by July 5 for the measure to be placed on the ballot.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.