Another Day, Not Enough Java
Education down the drain, More Tax Revenues for Arkansas, Children who cannot read, write or add
A federal lawsuit has been filed in Arkansas challenging the constitutionality of the state's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program. Here are the key points:
Core Allegations
- **Violation of the U.S. Constitution**: Plaintiffs argue the EFA program breaches the First Amendment by favoring religious institutions and the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause by creating unequal access based on race, income, and geography.
- **Conflict with Arkansas Constitution**: The program allegedly violates Article 2, Section 24, which bars state preference for religious establishments.
Plaintiffs & Defendants
- Filed by four Arkansans from Franklin, Drew, and Pulaski counties.
- Defendants include Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, state education and finance officials, and the Board of Education, represented by Attorney General Tim Griffin.
Concerns Raised
- The program is accused of fostering a “separate and unequal” dual school system.
- Plaintiffs say it disadvantages rural families and children with fewer educational options, exacerbating existing inequities.
Background
- Created under the 2023 LEARNS Act, the EFA offers state-funded accounts (over $6,800 per student) for private school, homeschooling, and other educational expenses.
- More than 64,000 applications were submitted for the 2023–24 school year.
State’s Response
- Governor Sanders’ office dismissed the lawsuit as politically motivated.
- Attorney General Griffin defended the program as a source of educational progress and pledged to fight the legal challenge.
Well, of course they are going to say that the lawsuit is politically motivated. They do not want to loose all that money. They will just go into court and make some stupid remarks to the judge that it’s all a witch hunt and that the left is just making noises. I seriously doubt that any child from lower income families will ever see the halls of a private school.
If children stop getting educated, they will eventually quit school and go to work in the State of Arkansas to increase the tax revenue.
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