School choice: What does future hold for Arkansas?

By Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Schools

The number of states offering some form of voucher program for school choice has gained momentum in many states over the past 20 years.

The school choice movement was begun by Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. Milton Freidman. Friedman believed that all children have a right to high-quality education, no matter their ZIP code, and that in many cases, the government monopoly in K-12 education was failing to provide the education opportunities for many children. Twenty years ago he and his wife Rose established the Freidman Foundation and charged it with advancing educational freedom for all children. Over the years this foundation has provided research, information and guidance to policymakers on school choice.

In the 2016 publication of “The ABCs of School Choice,” published by the Freidman Foundation there is comprehensive information and guidance on school choice and what is happening state by state to provide private school choice.

Currently there are 29 states that have some form of private school choice programs with some states having multiple programs. The school choice programs are impacting 399,280 students.

To find out more information on school choice, visit edchoice.com where the publication can be downloaded.

Arkansas has enacted its first voucher program beginning with the 2016-2017 school year. In 2015 the legislators approved the Succeed Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. This is the first step for vouchers for private school choice but is also restrictive. Not all students are eligible and not all private schools can meet the requirements for approved schools.

STUDENTS

A parent or legal guardian of a public school student with a disability may apply for a Succeed Scholarship to enroll his or her child in a private school if the student is currently enrolled in a public school district and has attended public school for at least the one full school year immediately prior to the school year for which the scholarship payments would be disbursed.

SCHOOLS

The private school must meet the accreditation requirements set by the State Board of Education; the Arkansas Non-Public Accrediting Association or its successor; or another accrediting association recognized by the State Board of Education.

To view the complete policy and guidelines, go to http://ark sped.k12.ar.us.

As of Aug. 12, four Catholic schools, St. John School in Hot Springs, St. Edward School in Little Rock and Trinity Junior High School and Immaculate Conception School in Fort Smith, have been approved by Arkansas Department of Education to accept students on the Succeed Scholarship.

Hopefully this is just the beginning for providing affordable education for parents who wish to send their children to private schools. The success of this program will depend how well informed parents are about the program, on the numbers of schools that can be approved and the number of students who actually enroll.

Private school choice does not happen overnight. According to an article in the summer 2016 edition of the NCEA Momentum, Indiana’s successful choice program has depended on coalitions, champions and community support. 

If you are one of these stakeholders and are interested in pursuing private school choice, you might begin by reading research on the school choice movement at state levels, talking with your local business and civic leaders and forming coalition groups to be at the table while legislation is being drafted.

---

Please read our Comments Policy before posting.

Article comments powered by Disqus