Arkansas Schools Eye $70M Boost | Little Rock News

Arkansas lawmakers are poised to unlock $70 million in reserve funds to fuel the state’s school choice program, pushing total funding for the 2026-27 school year toward nearly $400 million. The Educational Freedom Account—often called “vouchers”—now covers all K-12 students and costs around $7,300 per child, including platform fees. Supporters tout rising test scores as proof of success, while critics demand more data, citing uneven testing standards across public, private, and homeschool settings. With enrollment surging since the program opened to all students last year, the Education Department waited until they had clearer enrollment projections before requesting the boost. A major report from the University of Arkansas is expected soon, offering deeper insight into student outcomes—and whether this ballooning investment is truly paying off. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/sep/15/legislators-endorse-70-million-in-reserves-for/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/903c724ba393f083 Report issues to [email protected].