LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For AR Kids, a coalition determined to amend the education clause of the Arkansas Constitution, failed to get enough signatures to add the Educational Rights Amendment to the November ballot.
The group said it had raised only 69,968 of the 90,704 required signatures when Friday's deadline to get a proposed amendment on this fall's ballot closed.
Despite For AR Kids falling 20,736 signatures short, they said they're remaining "optimistic and grateful" and hope to get the Educational Right Amendment on a future ballot.
Arkansans for Students and Educators released a statement regarding For AR Kids' failed attempt, saying Arkansans are "demanding bold change" for the education system.
"Once again, Arkansans have rejected the status quo of the education establishment that has kept us at the bottom for decades," Arkansans for Students and Educators said.
The group continued, stating that their efforts show that Arkansans are eager for "bold change" when it comes to the state's education system.
"After an overwhelming victory by Governor Sanders in 2022, the sweeping passage of the LEARNS Act, the failure of CAPES, and now the failure of For AR Kids, the message being sent is crystal clear: Arkansans are demanding bold change for our education system - one that empowers parents, puts students first, and starts to pay teachers what they deserve."
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Arkansas will continue to lead with the "boldest education reforms in the country."
"Opponents of education reform suffered yet another defeat today failing to make the ballot," Sanders said. "The people stand with us on the side of Arkansas parents, students, and teachers, not unions and the failed status quo. Arkansas will continue to lead with the boldest education reforms in the country."
The Educational Rights Amendment sought to hold any school that gets public funding to the same standards as public schools and establish specific quality standards.
Additionally, it would have guaranteed what For AR Kids' called "voluntary universal access" for special education, after-school and summer programs, services for kids within a percentage of the federal poverty line and Pre-K for three and four-year-old children.
One broad goal of the Educational Rights Amendment was to expand the number of Pre-K programs in the state.
For a full breakdown of how each proposed initiative performed ahead of the deadline in Arkansas, you can click here.