LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A group of Arkansas organizations has teamed up to introduce a ballot initiative for next year's election.
That group, For AR Kids, hopes to introduce an amendment to Article 14 of the Arkansas Constitution.
"This is the time for Arkansans to make a real difference for our children," Arkansas Education Association President April Reisma said. "For our state and our future."
The Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 was filed with the Arkansas Attorney General's Office on Thursday.
"We all want a quality education for our children," Arkansas NAACP President Barry Jefferson said. "We want to be on an even playing field."
If the proposal makes it to the ballot, they want a few main points addressed.
"LEARNS does not address pre-k; it does not address after school and summer," Arkansas Public Policy Panel Executive Director Bill Kopsky said. "It does not address students in poverty, and it does not address special education."
The group said their initiative does.
The proposal includes requiring any school receiving public funds to follow the same standards as traditional public schools, establishing minimum quality standards, guaranteeing universal access to pre-k for three and four-year-olds and addressing special education.
"These things are going to change the future of Arkansas," CAPES member Steve Grappe said. "What we do now with three-year-olds will make a difference in eighth grade, graduation and when they go to college."
As for what's next, Kopsky admitted that it's early. However, if Attorney General Tim Griffin approves their proposal, signatures are up first.
"Arkansas law requires just shy of 91,000 signatures turned in by June 30 to qualify for the ballot," Kopsky said. "That's going to be our goal."
We contacted Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' office for a comment on this new proposal and received a statement from Spokesperson Alexa Henning:
“The status quo had been failing Arkansans for way too long. The Governor is proud to have enacted transformational reforms to give every kid in Arkansas access to a quality education and a lifetime of opportunity. It’s sad that there are some who do not want to give our kids every opportunity to succeed.”
To read more about For AR Kids, click here.