On Monday a group filed paperwork with the state to place the LEARNS Act on the ballot in Arkansas via the initiative and referendum process.
Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students submitted a statement of organization with the Arkansas Ethics Commission. The statement indicates their ballot question committee will seek to repeal the LEARNS Act that Gov. Sanders recently signed into law.
Act 237 of 2023 — originally S.B. 294 — is a 144-page omnibus education law by Sen. Breanne Davis (R – Russellville) and Rep. Keith Brooks (R – Little Rock) titled “The LEARNS Act.”
The law deals with issues such as critical race theory, teacher salaries, public school employment, early childhood care, and protecting elementary school children from inappropriate sexual material at school.
The law also provides a blueprint for implementing a voluntary school choice program that would make it possible for students to receive a publicly-funded education at a public or private school or at home.
As we have said before, the LEARNS Act is a good law that could provide students in Arkansas with unprecedented access to education.
Many families feel like public education has deteriorated over the years, and they don’t like the direction it’s heading. For those families, school choice legislation like the LEARNS Act could empower them with real alternatives that will help their children succeed.
Article 5 of the Arkansas Constitution lets citizens initiate a referendum against recently passed legislation.
If Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students can gather enough petition signatures from registered voters, they can place the LEARNS Act on the ballot for a vote. Currently, placing a referendum on the ballot requires at least 54,422 valid petition signatures.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
