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Kristin Higgins
Public Policy Center
Phone: 501-671-2160
Email: khiggins@uada.edu
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S. University Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72204
In the Weeds: The Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2026
Go into the weeds with us on "The Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2026," a proposed 2026 ballot issue. Find links and more information about the proposal.
We will publish a voter guide on all 2026 Arkansas ballot issues in September. In the meantime, this blog post shares information about this proposed citizen initiative.
Ballot Information
The popular name may be called the title by some people:
The Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2026
Sometimes called a ballot summary, this is the information that appears on voter petitions and would appear on the ballot if the issue qualifies:
An amendment to Article 14 (Education) of the Arkansas constitution requiring identical
academic standards and identical standards for accreditation, including assessments
of students and schools based on such standards, for any school that receives State
or local funds; defining “receives, or in receipt of, any State or local funds” to
mean: (i) receipt by the school of any State or local funds, property, or tax credits
to cover or defray, in whole or in part, the costs of any student attending the school;
(ii) receipt by the student attending the school, or the student’s parents or guardians,
of any State or local funds, property, or tax credits to cover or defray, in whole
or in part, the costs of the student attending the school; or (iii) receipt by a school,
a student attending the school, or the student’s parents or guardians, of financial
assistance for the cost of the student attending the school that is funded, in whole
or in part, by monetary contributions that qualify for a State tax credit under Arkansas
law; denying State or local funds to any non-public school that fails to meet the
same academic standards, standards for accreditation, or assessment requirements as
public schools; expanding the State’s obligation to ever maintain a general, suitable,
and efficient system of free public schools to include: (1) universal access to voluntary,
early childhood education for students three (3) years old until they qualify for
Kindergarten; (2) universal access to voluntary afterschool and summer programs necessary
for the achievement of an adequate education; (3) assistance to children who are within
200% of the federal poverty line so that the qualifying children can achieve an adequate
education and overcome the negative impact of poverty on education; and (4) services
that fully meet the individualized needs of students with disabilities to allow them
meaningful access to integrated education; defining an adequate education as, without
limitation, all children developing sufficient: (1) oral and written communication
skills to enable
students to function in a complex and rapidly changing civilization; (2) knowledge
of economic, social, and political systems to enable students to make informed choices;
(3) understanding of governmental processes to enable students to understand the issues
that affect their community, state, and nation; (4) selfknowledge and knowledge of
their mental and physical wellness; (5) grounding in the arts to enable students to
appreciate their cultural and historical heritage; (6) training or preparation for
advanced training in either academic or vocational fields, so as to enable children
to choose and pursue life work intelligently; and (7) academic or vocational skills
to enable public school students to compete favorably with their counterparts in surrounding
states, in academics or in the job market; requiring the General Assembly to enact
legislation to implement this amendment, including allocating funding necessary to
fully implement this amendment; forbidding the General Assembly from amending, altering,
or repealing this amendment absent a vote of the people; and providing that this amendment’s
provisions are severable.
Voters see the popular name and ballot title on Election Day. The full text of proposed amendments do not appear on the ballot.
The Arkansas Attorney General is responsible for certifying that popular names and ballot titles are free from misleading information. Only after this certification can sponsors start collecting voter signatures.
Date Certified: Feb. 26, 2025. This proposal is identical to a ballot title also approved Sept. 19, 2024.
Sponsors must collect signatures from at least 90,704 Arkansas voters, with a certain percentage coming from at least 15 counties. A judge ruled that a state law requiring signatures from 50 counties was unconstitutional. The state has appealed this decision to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The deadline to submit signatures is July 3, 2026.
Ethics Commission Information
Supporters and opponents of a proposed ballot issue are required to file paperwork with the Arkansas Ethics Commission upon raising or spending $500.
For AR Kids - Ballot Question Committee Statement of Organization
Arkansas Public Policy Panel - Ballot Question Committee Statement of Organization
For AR People - Ballot Question Committee Statement of Organization
To see the financial statements filed by Arkansas Citizens for Transparency, go to https://www.arkansasethics.com/ and click on "LO-BQC, BQC, AND LQC FILINGS"
Use the drop down menu to find the group's name. Doing this will reveal their filings with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
As of May 26, 2026, there are no opponents registered with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
Websites
Websites for supporters and opponents will be added as they are known.