One Bad Homeschool Measure Fails at Capitol

Home School, ,

On Wednesday, one of the bad homeschool measures at the Arkansas Capitol failed in committee.

Lawmakers created the Educational Freedom Account (EFA) program in 2023 making it possible for Arkansas students to use public funds to pay for an education at a public or private school or at home. Thousands of students have taken advantage of school choice in Arkansas under this program.

But this year, lawmakers filed H.R. 1008 and S.R. 16 reducing EFA funding for homeschoolers and imposing new restrictions under the EFA program.

These proposed laws are homeschool control measures dressed up as accountability measures. They turn educational freedom into a state compliance program.

On Wednesday, H.R. 1008 failed in the House Rules Committee. After testimony from the measure’s sponsor and questions and answers from the lawmakers, the proposal failed to receive a “Do Pass” motion from the committee members.

This is good news, but S.R. 16 is still in play at the Capitol.

Lawmakers also will review new rules from the Department of Education governing EFA accounts at some point in the near future.

The rules would prohibit Educational Freedom Account spending on team sports that require tryouts or that limit participation based on ability. That means that a homeschool student who wants to play basketball for a local school could not pay for athletic expenses with EFA money even though public schools pay for team sports with state money.

Arkansas law clearly caps extracurricular spending at 25% of a student’s total EFA funding, which means no more than one-fourth of a student’s EFA money can go toward team sports and extracurricular activities. The new rules go farther by prohibiting all spending on team sports that require tryouts.

Family Council and the Education Alliance are still urging homeschoolers to contact their lawmakers and ask them to oppose S.R. 16 and the new EFA rules from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Study Links Marijuana to Lung Cancer Risk

Marijuana

A recent study shows heavy marijuana may be linked to lung cancers.

Across the U.S., many states have legalized marijuana either for “medical” or “recreational” use, but a growing body of scientific research reveals marijuana is actually much more dangerous that many people realize.

A study by researchers from Keck Medicine of USC in Southern California shows heavy marijuana use may increase a person’s risk of developing different lung cancers.

The study’s findings underscore what the American Lung Association has said for years: Marijuana smoke clearly damages the lung, and it contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in tobacco.

In 2024, researchers from Keck Medicine also found daily marijuana use is linked to a higher risk of deadly head and neck cancers.

Besides cancer, marijuana has also been tied to a number of deadly heart problems — including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

Experts now say marijuana use raises a person’s risk of stroke by 20%, and it doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

Research also links marijuana to a 400% increased risk for developing diabetes.

In Arkansas, marijuana industry insiders worked unsuccessfully to expand marijuana via the state’s ballot initiative process in 2022 and 2024. Fortunately, neither of those bad measures passed.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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