WASHINGTON—Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders today is expected to sign into law the Arkansas LEARNS Act, which among other things would create education saving accounts for low-income families that would expand to all K-12 students in the next three years.

Lindsey Burke, director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, made the following statement:

“After enduring several tumultuous years of teachers’ unions-induced school closures and awakening to the radical content taught in too many schools, parents have had enough. State leaders like Gov. Sanders, and others this year like Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, have recognized parent frustration and fought to make sure all families have high-quality learning options that align with their values.

“2023 may be the year education choice becomes a reality for a majority of students and states finally put government-assigned schooling in the rear-view mirror. Arkansas should be applauded for hastening the education freedom revolution.”

Jason Bedrick, a research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, added:

“Education choice is winning in 2023, and it’s even on track to outpace the unprecedented school choice progress in 2021. Gov. Huckabee Sanders made empowering families with education choice a top priority and her efforts have paid off. We now have 11 states that empower families with K-12 education savings accounts, which offer the most flexibility and choice in education learning options.

“America’s new divide is increasingly between states where students have few options besides geographically assigned district schools—unless parents can afford to send their children to private schools or homeschool—and states that trust parents to make the best decisions for their children’s education.

“If states want to be competitive, they should give parents as many options as possible in choosing the school or learning environment that aligns with their values and best suits their children’s learning needs. Gov. Huckabee Sanders has given other state policymakers a roadmap to follow.”