Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an education bill Wednesday that creates a new school voucher program, raises minimum teacher salaries and places restrictions on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Over three years, the plan will phase in an “education freedom account” to pay for private- and home-schooling costs equal to 90% of the state’s per-student funding for public schools, which is currently $7,413. “How will school districts be able to set forth policies for the upcoming school year when we still don’t have the guidance and rules in place from the state Department of Education?” Fleming said. The legislation also prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation before fifth grade, similar to a Florida prohibition that critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

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History of this topic

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders urges lawmakers to pass budget as session kicks off
8 months, 1 week ago

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders urges lawmakers to pass budget as session kicks off

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday urged lawmakers to pass her $6.3 billion budget proposal that boosts spending on a new school voucher program. “That’s because as revenues climb and costs slow, we’ll have room to cut taxes.” Sanders has not proposed tax cuts during this session, and legislative leaders have said they don’t expect to look at any reductions until …

Things to know when the Arkansas Legislature convenes to take up a budget and other issues
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Things to know when the Arkansas Legislature convenes to take up a budget and other issues

Associated Press  

— Arkansas lawmakers are convening at the Capitol and their top agenda item is taking up Gov. “As Governor, I’ve promised to Arkansans to limit the size and growth of government while still investing in areas of greatest need like education and public safety,” Sanders said in a statement. “My proposed budget accomplishes this with only a 1.76% increase over …

Arkansas governor proposes $6.3B budget as lawmakers prepare for session
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Arkansas governor proposes $6.3B budget as lawmakers prepare for session

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday proposed a $6.3 billion budget for the coming year, with most of the increase in spending going toward a school voucher program. Sanders’ budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 increases state spending by 1.76% over the previous year, with nearly all of the $109 million increase going toward education. “I am …

School voucher ideas expose deep GOP divisions in Tennessee Legislature
9 months, 3 weeks ago

School voucher ideas expose deep GOP divisions in Tennessee Legislature

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With a supermajority grip over the Tennessee Statehouse, there are very few things Republicans can’t push through even with the harshest of criticism and public opposition. Yet, after weeks of working behind closed doors on a sweeping school voucher plan that would give coveted public dollars to many more families to spend on private schools, deep divisions …

Tennessee governor pitches school voucher expansion as state revenues stagnate
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Tennessee governor pitches school voucher expansion as state revenues stagnate

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nearly five years after narrowly convincing lawmakers to allow a select number of families to use tax dollars for private schooling, Tennessee Gov. Lee maintains that the state still has enough money to spread around more school vouchers to families, properly fund public schools, distribute pay raises to state employees and even set aside more money for …

Tennessee governor unveils push for statewide school voucher expansion, no income limitations
1 year ago

Tennessee governor unveils push for statewide school voucher expansion, no income limitations

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday backed a plan to expand beyond a three-county school voucher program for low-income kids by offering public money for private schooling statewide, regardless of family income. The current program awards eligible families around $8,100 in public tax dollars to help cover private school tuition and other preapproved expenses for up to …

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states
1 year, 1 month ago

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states

Associated Press  

In some states, higher-income families can now use taxpayer money to cover private school tuition -- and more people than projected are taking the offer, which might force scrambles to shore up state budgets. It’s especially an issue in states like Arizona and Iowa, where at least some families whose children were already in private school can now take advantage …

Opponents of Nebraska plan to use public money for private school tuition seek ballot initiative
1 year, 3 months ago

Opponents of Nebraska plan to use public money for private school tuition seek ballot initiative

Associated Press  

Organizers of an effort to have Nebraska voters weigh in on whether to use taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition scholarships said Wednesday they have more than enough signatures to put that question on the November 2024 ballot. “This wildly successful petition effort has shown that Nebraskans agree.” The effort was launched even before Nebraska lawmakers passed a …

Oklahoma leaders reach education deal on voucher-style tax credits, teacher pay hikes
1 year, 7 months ago

Oklahoma leaders reach education deal on voucher-style tax credits, teacher pay hikes

Associated Press  

Oklahoma City — Public school teachers across Oklahoma will receive pay raises of up to $6,000 annually under a deal announced by Republican leaders on Monday that also clears the way for a voucher-style tax credit program for families who homeschool their children or send them to private schools. The agreement paves the way for “school choice” plan that already …

Tenn. nears voucher growth, teacher dues limit with pay bump
1 year, 8 months ago

Tenn. nears voucher growth, teacher dues limit with pay bump

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee on Wednesday put themselves a step away from expanding a school voucher program from two counties to four and raising the minimum teacher salary in a bill that also bans educators from deducting dues for professional organizations from their paychecks. Republican Rep. Gary Hicks, from Rogersville, said the current system ensures local control …

DeSantis signs bill expanding school voucher program
1 year, 8 months ago

DeSantis signs bill expanding school voucher program

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. “There will be a preference for low and middle income families but at the end of the day we fundamentally believe that the money should follow the student and it should be directed based on what the parent thinks is the most appropriate education program for their child,” DeSantis said at a bill signing ceremony …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an …

Sanders’ school voucher plan gets Arkansas lawmakers’ OK
1 year, 9 months ago

Sanders’ school voucher plan gets Arkansas lawmakers’ OK

Associated Press  

— Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday approved a education overhaul that creates a new school voucher program, handing a major policy win to Republican Gov. “I’m ready to sign it into law tomorrow and end the failed status quo that has governed our education system for far too long,” Sanders said in a statement. “Every kid should have access to a …

Arkansas House approves Sanders’ education overhaul proposal
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas House approves Sanders’ education overhaul proposal

Associated Press  

— Some parents in Arkansas could get access to school vouchers that would help pay for private school tuition and home schooling as soon as this fall under a bill the state House approved Thursday as part of a massive education overhaul, The majority-Republican House voted 78-21 to approve the measure, which also would raise minimum teacher salaries and place …

Arkansas House panel endorses Sanders’ education overhaul
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas House panel endorses Sanders’ education overhaul

Associated Press  

— An Arkansas House panel on Wednesday endorsed Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ plan to overhaul the state’s education system and create a voucher program directing public money toward private schooling. “This is the beginning of our commitment as a state to put students first, and to look everyone in the eye and say Arkansas will continue to lead in …

Arkansas Senate OKs bill on teacher raises, school vouchers
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Senate OKs bill on teacher raises, school vouchers

Associated Press  

— The Arkansas Senate approved an education overhaul Thursday that raises teachers’ starting pay and creates a new voucher program, despite complaints from Democrats and some Republicans about the bill being pushed through the Legislature too quickly. “We’ve never taken and put this many important topics into one piece of legislation and voted on it with one vote,” Democratic Sen. …

Arkansas Senate committee endorses massive education bill
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Senate committee endorses massive education bill

Associated Press  

— An Arkansas Senate panel endorsed on Wednesday a massive education bill that pairs a raise in starting teacher pay with several conservative-backed changes, including a voucher program directing public money to private schools. The bill includes other measures opposed by Democrats and teachers’ advocacy groups, including an “education freedom account” for private and home schooling that will be phased …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders proposes raises, vouchers in bill
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders proposes raises, vouchers in bill

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed on Wednesday an overhaul of the state’s schools that will pair a 39% raise in starting teacher pay with a new voucher program that will direct public money to pay for private and home schooling. Sanders also said the bill, which she’s called her priority in this year’s legislative session, will include limits on how race …

Tax money for students for private school on SC Senate floor
1 year, 11 months ago

Tax money for students for private school on SC Senate floor

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senators said a bill that would give some less well off parents and guardians up to $6,000 a year for private school tuition will be the first thing they debate in the 2023 session. Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told members the bill will come up for debate Tuesday on the Senate floor. The …

Arizona governor touts school voucher plan, slams opponents
2 years, 4 months ago

Arizona governor touts school voucher plan, slams opponents

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and backers of universal school vouchers took a victory lap Tuesday over legislation the Republican-controlled Legislature enacted in June giving the state the nation’s most expansive voucher system, and he also used the time to attack backers of public schools who are trying to block the measure at the ballot. “There’s no one-size …

Democratic hopeful backs pay raises for Arkansas teachers
2 years, 5 months ago

Democratic hopeful backs pay raises for Arkansas teachers

Associated Press  

— Gubernatorial hopeful Chris Jones on Tuesday called for increasing Arkansas teacher salaries, following a push by fellow Democrats to put teacher pay raises on the agenda for a legislative session next month. Republican legislative leaders have said the special session isn’t the right time to take up the issue, since the Legislature hasn’t completed its annual review of education …

Tennessee gov: School voucher program to start immediately
2 years, 5 months ago

Tennessee gov: School voucher program to start immediately

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Just hours prior to Lee’s announcement the voucher program would be implemented this year, the state’s attorneys told a panel of judges that “decisions haven’t been made.” Stephanie Bergmeyer of the attorney general’s office said that some of the deadlines would be based on the participating schools and when they would require a student to …

Republicans want input from education voucher bill opponents
2 years, 10 months ago

Republicans want input from education voucher bill opponents

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The leader of Republicans in the South Carolina Senate said one of his main goals this session is to pass a bill that would allow some parents to get public money to spend on private schools. Economists who estimate how much bills could cost issued a fiscal impact statement saying if every eligible student participates, the program …

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