BY: ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA-DECEMBER 1, 2025 4:00 AM
Arkansans can provide feedback on rules for the state’s school voucher program and an adult diploma program during two public meetings on Tuesday in Little Rock.
The Arkansas State Board of Education released both sets of proposed rules for public comment in November. The public meetings are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Arkansas Department of Education’s auditorium, which is located at 4 Capitol Mall.
The Educational Freedom Account program, which was created through the LEARNS Act in 2023, allows state funds to be used for allowable education expenses, such as private school tuition, extracurricular activities and technological devices. The program was phased in over three years with increasing eligibility. It opened to all students for the first time this fall.
EFA students receive up to 90% of the annual per-student public school funding rate. For the 2025-2026 school year, EFA participants may each be allotted up to $6,864 in state funding.
Revisions to the EFA program rules include defining universal eligibility, establishing a fixed application window, revising payment schedules and administrative fees, and clarifying qualifying expenses.
Changes to the rules incorporate provisions of Act 920 of 2025, which prohibits EFA participants from using more than 25% of their allocated funds for extracurricular activities, physical education activities or educational field trips within the state of Arkansas.
Extracurricular activities don’t include “team sports or club sports,” according to the revised rules, which also explicitly exclude EFA funds from being used for equipment, recreational fees, travel costs and dues.
State education board members expressed concern at November’s meeting that the rules would prohibit students from using EFA funds for school-sponsored sports teams. Education department staff said they anticipated the rules would generate a lot of public comment, which led to the department scheduling two public meetings.
At both meetings, Arkansans can also share their thoughts on rules for the Arkansas Adult Diploma program, which is for adults who don’t have a high school diploma, but are not seeking a GED. Changes to these rules include amending the definition of milestones and clarifying the payment associated with each milestone.
The public comment period lasts 30 days, and if there are “substantive changes,” the rules will be revised and sent out again for another public comment period. Once the public comment process has concluded, a final draft of the rules will be presented to the education board for approval. The rules will then advance to the Arkansas Legislative Council for final approval.
The current public comment period closes on Dec. 16. Those who cannot attend Tuesday’s meetings may submit comments to the education department by emailing ADE.RulesComments@ade.arkansas.gov.
Drafts of the pending rules and details about the public comment period are available on the education department’s website.
