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For AR Kids takes another shot on Educational Rights Amendment

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For AR Kids takes another shot on Educational Rights Amendment


A group hoping to put its Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 on the Nov. 5 ballot sent a new draft to state Attorney General Tim Griffin Thursday. 

This was the fourth submission for the group For AR Kids. 

“Our legal team addressed the concerns raised by the attorney general in the previous rejection, and met once again with the Attorney General’s staff to discuss their concerns and our goal,” Public Policy Panel Executive Director Bill Kopsky said.

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The changes made to the measure were narrowly tailored to the specific concerns that have been raised, Kopsky said. 

The initiative aims to amend the state constitution to require any private schools that accept public funding in the form of vouchers to meet the same standards required of traditional public schools. It would also establish minimum quality standards for schools and would guarantee free access to pre-K, after-school and summer programs; quality special education; and wrap-around services for children within 200% of the federal poverty line. 

The group’s first attempt was rejected. Griffin said the amendment’s language lacked specificity. Griffin also said it would violate parochial schools’ First Amendment right to freedom of religion if they were required to meet state standards when accepting vouchers.

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Arkansas LEARNS, the K-12 education law passed last spring, created a voucher program that will eventually be open to all students in the state.

On Thursday, the group asked for an expedited review to ensure their volunteers have enough time to collect the more than 90,000 signatures required to put their proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.  

“We met with the staff of the attorney general’s office to understand their concerns and to seek their input on how to achieve our goal of providing every Arkansas student with an excellent opportunity to learn and excel,”  April Reisma, president of Arkansas Education Association, said. “We look forward to putting this measure before voters.”

Steve Grappe, executive director of CAPES, said the group had more than 450 volunteers ready to collect signatures. 

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“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,” Grappe said. “We are just getting going to build toward our goal of over 2,500 people helping collect signatures for the measure.”

The For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee is a coalition that includes the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Arkansas Conference of the NAACP, the Arkansas Education Association, the Citizens First Congress, and CAPES.



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Arkansas

Law enforcement searching for missing Arkansas man in Franklin County

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Law enforcement searching for missing Arkansas man in Franklin County


FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) – Law enforcement officials are searching for a missing Arkansas man on the east side of Franklin County, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Daniel Harold Wenger, 26, was with his friends in Bay County, and they reported him missing on Sunday to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. He was added to the missing persons database on Monday, according to FCSO.

Wenger’s truck was found abandoned on Tuesday in Franklin County at Leonard’s Landing, and authorities also located his discarded jacket.

Law enforcement is searching the wooded areas near his car across from Leonard’s Landing and Bay North.

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Those with information about Wnger’s whereabouts are encouraged to call FCSO at 850-670-8500.

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Arkansas football gets commitment of Tulane transfer Jahiem “Joker” Johnson | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas football gets commitment of Tulane transfer Jahiem “Joker” Johnson | Whole Hog Sports





Arkansas football gets commitment of Tulane transfer Jahiem “Joker” Johnson | Whole Hog Sports







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Arkansas football: More Razorbacks, including Starzyk, hit transfer portal | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Arkansas football: More Razorbacks, including Starzyk, hit transfer portal | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


FAYETTEVILLE — The signing of two kickers out of the NCAA transfer portal by the University of Arkansas on Sunday came into clearer focus late that night when highly touted freshman Scott Starzyk announced via social media he was entering the portal.

Starzyk was joined on Monday by defensive tackle Kevin Oatis as the considerable exodus continued for first-year Coach Ryan Silverfield.

The Razorbacks have as many as 30 scholarship players in the portal, and a small handful have already announced their destinations.

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The portal period opened on Friday and it will stay open through Jan. 16. The most recent announcements came from receivers Kam Shanks and Krosse Johnson and defensive back Quentavius Scandrett on Saturday, then long snapper Ashton Ngo, defensive back Ahkhari Johnson and Starzyk on Sunday.

“I’m officially in the NCAA transfer portal,” Starzyk posted to X late Sunday. “Thank you to all the fans at Arkansas for a great year. And thank you to the staff who have supported me during my time at the university.”

Arkansas landed Tennessee transfer Max Gilbert out of the portal on Sunday as well as Braeden McAlister, a kickoff specialist, from Georgia State.

Gilbert, a rising junior from Memphis, made 14 of 19 field goals (73.7%) this season, with a long of 53 yards. He has made 34 of 45 (75.6%) through two years as a starter.

Starzyk, the No. 1 kicker of the 2025 class by Kohl’s Kicking, had a strong freshman season while leading Arkansas with 89 points. The 5-10, 172-pounder from The Woodlands, Texas, made 14 of 18 field goals (77.8%) and converted all 47 of his extra-point tries. He was 2 of 3 from 50-plus yards, including a make from 53 yards on his first career field goal in the opener against Alabama A&M.

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With senior punter Devin Bale out of eligibility, the Razorbacks will lose a large chunk of their key special teams performers. Bale and Blake Ford, who is also in the portal, shared kickoff duties. Starzyk did all the place kicking and Ngo all the snapping, while Shanks was the Hogs’ top punt returner and running back Rodney Hill the lead kickoff returner.

Razorback transfers with known commitments are offensive line starter E’Marion Harris, a former standout at Joe T. Robinson who is expected to sign with Oklahoma, defensive end Justus Boone (Wisconsin), defensive tackle Ian Geffrard (Texas) and linebacker Tavion Wallace (Kentucky).



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