National School Choice Week
It’s National School Choice Week, however, here in Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proclaimed the week, Parental Choice Week. She said “schools do not choose, parents do.”
Governor Sanders declared January 21 through January 27 as Arkansas Parental Choice Week.
This week, encourages parents to choose the K-12 educational options that best fit their children. Sanders said she wants all children in Arkansas to have access to the highest-quality education as possible.
Under Sander’s LEARNS Act, every student has access to Education Freedom Accounts, which are designed to empower parents with a variety of educational options, from traditional public schools, to public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies and homeschooling.
School choice or Parental Choice in Arkansas ensures that each student can find a learning environment that allows them to be inspired, successful and happy.
The filing period for Arkansas School Choice applications is now open and districts will accept school choice applications through May 1st for the 2024-2025 school year. This open enrollment period allows parents to enroll their child in any public school, regardless of where the district is located.
There may be some limitations on open enrollment, like seat capacity, but the LEARNS Act that was passed in 2023, eliminated a cap on the number of students allowed to transfer, making open enrollment more accessible to families statewide.
