The Senate Education Committee this morning approved the bill to divert state tax money to private schools, a backdoor voucher bill that uses tax credits for contributions to 529 savings plans to accomplish a public subsidy of private schools. It’s expected to be easily approved in the House and Senate though it’s a historic diversion of state tax money
to general private school use.

The bill has been estimated by state finance officials to take $5.2 million a year out of state revenue and divert it to private school tuition.

Advertisement

Sen. Linda Chesterfield objected. She said she opposed the bill as a policy matter, but also noted that it would primarily benefit higher-income parents and would be of no use in poor parts of the state where private school options are virtually non-existent.

Ginny Blankenship of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families said the bill diverted badly needed public money to private schools and follows refusal by the legislature to provide money to cover shortfalls in funding for catastrophic educational needs; for pre-K education and for after-school tutoring programs.

Advertisement

The bill was approved on a voice vote, but three Democrats voted no on the eight-member committee.

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Teacher injures student with accidental gunshot Next article International attention still on Arkansas’s use of the death penalty