The National Education Association (NEA) — the country’s largest teachers union — has entered Arkansas’ political fray, after making a $68,000 donation to the Educational Rights Amendment campaign.
The proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution calls for requiring private schools that accept state funds to follow the same regulations as public schools. The amendment would also require the state to provide universal pre-kindergarten education to all students.
The $68,000 contribution from NEA was reported as part of For AR Kids’ latest financial disclosure with the Arkansas Ethics Commission. For AR Kids is the sponsor of the Educational Rights Amendment. The donation from NEA makes up the bulk of the $78,000 the group has raised so far.
“The National Education Association chose to invest in this effort because Arkansas educators and students deserve a constitutional commitment to our education system,” said April Reisma, a member of For AR Kids and president of the Arkansas Education Association, a state affiliate of the NEA. “This amendment is about making sure every child — no matter where they live — has access to the resources, support, and quality education they need to succeed.”
This is For AR Kids’ second attempt to get its amendment passed, after failing to collect enough signatures for its effort in 2024.
The amendment in 2024 came as partial reaction to the LEARNS Act, an expansive overhaul of education in Arkansas championed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Among the law’s key features was the creation of a universal school choice program, allowing students to use state funds to help pay for the costs of attending a private or home school.
As a response, For AR Kids, through its amendment, proposed that if private schools want to accept state dollars, they ought to follow the same academic and accreditation standards as public schools.
If passed, the amendment would also require the state to provide universal after-school, summertime and special education programs, and wrap-around services for students within 200% of the federal poverty line. Additionally, the amendment would set a new standard for what type of education the state is required to provide to students.
To make the ballot, the campaign for the amendment needs to collect at least 90,704 signatures turned into the secretary of state’s office by July 3.
For AR Kids is a coalition comprised of the Arkansas Education Association, the Arkansas State Conference NAACP, the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association, the Citizens First Congress, the Arkansas AFL-CIO and the Prince Hall Community Action Committee.
