An Arkansas coalition attempting to amend the state Constitution’s education clause submitted its fourth proposal to the attorney general Thursday.
The goal of the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 is to require the same academic and accreditation standards for public and private schools that receive state funding.
The most significant change to For AR Kids’ proposed ballot language is defining receipt of state or local funds as the school, a student attending the school or the student’s parents or guardians receiving “any State or local funds, property, or tax credits to cover or defray, in whole or part, the costs of any student attending the school.”
Arkansas attorney general again rejects public education group’s ballot initiative
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The revised measure would also apply to schools whose students or parents or guardians receive financial assistance for the cost of the student attending a school that’s “funded, in whole or in part, by monetary contributions that qualify for a state tax credit under Arkansas law.”
The clarification is a response to Attorney General Tim Griffin’s opinion last week in which he cited ambiguous terms for his inability to certify the proposed ballot title and language.
For AR Kids again met with Griffin’s staff this week prior to submitting a revised proposal Thursday.
According to a press release, the group made narrowly tailored changes to address Griffin’s specific concerns and asked for an expedited review to ensure volunteers have enough time to collect the required signatures for the November ballot.
“We have over 450 volunteers already and we are just starting our outreach efforts to train people on how to collect signatures and share details about how the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment will improve the educational opportunities of ALL Arkansas students,” For AR Kids Secretary Steve Grappe said in a statement. “We are just getting going to build toward our goal of over 2,500 people helping collect signatures for the measure.”
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Griffin has until March 1 to issue an opinion on the updated proposal. If he certifies the ballot language, For AR Kids has until July 5 to collect 90,704 signatures from at least 50 counties to qualify the measure for the 2024 ballot.
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For AR Kids’ member organizations include the Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas Conference of the NAACP, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Citizens First Congress and Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES).
The coalition drafted its proposed measure in response to a new voucher program that provides nearly $6,700 per student in state funding for allowable educational expenses, including private school tuition.
Critics say the Educational Freedom Account program, a provision of the LEARNS Act, is unfair because private schools receiving state funding don’t have to follow the same requirements as their public counterparts, such as admitting all students, providing transportation and administering certain standardized tests.
The LEARNS Act does require private schools to administer approved annual exams for EFA students.
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In addition to equal standards, the proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee voluntary universal access to pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, after-school and summer programming, quality special education and assistance for children in families within 200% of the Federal Poverty Line ($62,400 for a family of four).
The measure would also establish the minimum quality standards ordered in the Lake View School District No. 25 v. Huckabee court decision. That case, which lasted 15 years, established a process for Arkansas public schools to be adequately funded.
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Griffin rejected For AR Kids’ first submission on Jan. 9. The group resubmitted a second version on Jan. 18, but withdrew and replaced it with a third submission Jan. 25 after meeting with the attorney general’s staff.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Razorbacks -24.5; over/under is 148
BOTTOM LINE: Pacific faces No. 18 Arkansas after Elias Ralph scored 23 points in Pacific’s 60-57 loss to the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.
Arkansas finished 16-17 overall with an 11-6 record at home during the 2023-24 season. The Razorbacks averaged 77.8 points per game while shooting 45.3% from the field and 31.8% from behind the arc last season.
The Tigers are 0-1 on the road. Pacific ranks fourth in the WCC with 16.8 assists per game led by Lamar Washington averaging 8.2.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Growing pains are part of life, especially in football where everything is nitpicked to death. The Razorbacks were desperately trying to stay in the game and moved the ball well in the second half on a stout Texas defense.
For true freshman wide receiver C.J. Brown, he was inserted into one of the biggest moments of his young career to keep the Razorbacks in a close one with rival Texas. When he caught the short pass and quickly gained yards toward the first down marker, big defensive lineman Alfred Collins swatted Brown’s arm to cause a fumble likely saving the Longhorns from embarrassment at Razorback Stadium.
“We believe in CJ. [Brown],” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said after the game. “If they’re out there, we believe in him. We knew the ball was specifically going to go to him. We’ve ran it in practice and we believe in him. Just unfortunately it happened. And unfortunately the ball went to the hash and stayed inbounds, where their ball went out of bounds. But no, we believe in him. If he’s out there, we certainly believe in him. Just unfortunate he fumbled.”
One fumble or bad play should define a young man’s career for something that could’ve been avoided. Brown hadn’t seen game action since playing against Auburn two months ago and why he was inserted in that moment likely will never be told but luckily a moment like that can be forgotten.
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Green told reporters after the game that Brown will be encouraged by him and teammates after his unfortunate fourth quarter fumble.
“Just encourage him,” Green said. “He has a bright future ahead. He’s a true freshman. Being thrown out there and we all make mistakes. It’s just how you respond to it. Try not to keep your head down. There’s brighter days ahead.”
The 2015 season saw couple of games where quarterback Brandon Allen missed a few throws against Toledo and Texas Tech which resulted in unfortunate losses. He rebounded to have one of the best senior seasons by any Razorbacks passer.
The Alex Collins fumble against Missouri in 2014, Ryan Mallett’s interception against Ohio State and Steve Atwater’s missed interception against Miami in 1988 are just some of many moments where one play didn’t define a career.
In 2004, Arkansas icon Matt Jones had a chance to defeat Texas for a second straight year as he led the Razorbacks’ offense down the field methodically. On fourth down with just over two minutes to go, the Longhorns punched the ball out and recovered to preserve an early season road victory.
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That play didn’t define Jones’ legacy at Arkansas since most remember him for his heroics against Texas at Austin in 2003, seven overtime efforts against Ole Miss (2001) and Kentucky (2003) and Auburn (2001). Luckily, the Bentonville product has plenty of time to recover from his turnover as ball security has been the offensive unit’s biggest issue this season.
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WATCH: Cedric Golden on how Texas football left Arkansas with a win
The No. 3 Longhorns took a 20-10 win in Fayetteville.
Texas football remained steady in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 3 for the second consecutive week.
The Longhorns defeated Arkansas 20-10 in a rivalry game on Saturday, claiming their third consecutive win and beating the Razorbacks for the first time since 2008.
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Texas also sits third in both the AP Poll and the College Football Playoff rankings. The new AP Top 25 is set for release later this afternoon, while the new CFP rankings come out on Tuesday night.
BEEFING ABOUT BEVO: From the Archives: Beefing about Bevo: Longhorns and Aggies football teams revive rivalry
Texas (9-1, 6-1) SEC will host Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC) in its penultimate regular-season game.
Here’s a full look at the rankings as college football enters Week 13.
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ARKANSAS RECAP: Texas football vs Arkansas: Defense dominates, Horns stay on track for SEC title
College football rankings: Week 13
US LBM Coaches Poll
Oregon
Ohio State
Texas
Penn State
Indiana
Notre Dame
Alabama
Georgia
Ole Miss
Miami
Tennessee
SMU
Boise State
Texas A&M
BYU
Clemson
Army
Colorado
South Carolina
Tulane
Iowa State
Arizona State
UNLV
Memphis
Kansas State
AP Top 25
Check back for the updated AP Poll.
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