AFP Connects with Rural Communities in Arkansas to Defend Education Freedom

Jan 29, 2025 by AFP

Nine-year-old Jonah Bunch struggled with classroom learning for as long as he can remember. His learning style prevented him from progressing in his public-school classes, squashing his confidence and hindering his ability to keep up with his peers.  

However, that all changed in 2023 when his home state of Arkansas passed the LEARNs Act, an education savings account program that enabled Jonah to attend a private school with a specialized learning environment that accommodated his unique needs. Jonah was happy and thriving. 

Just one year later, activist groups proposed the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment (AERA), which would have forced all schools receiving any amount of state funds to adhere to the same academic and accreditation requirements as public schools. This would have effectively ended customized learning and set Arkansas back to the one-size-fits-all approach that didn’t work for Jonah and thousands of students across the state.  

Here is how Americans for Prosperity (AFP), equipped with dedicated volunteers and tried and true grassroots strategies, mobilized to defeat the AERA by amplifying the experiences of students and parents.  

The Positive Impact of the LEARNS Act for Arkansas’ Students 

For parents like Chris and Laura Bunch, the LEARNs Act unlocked new possibilities for their son Jonah. The funds from the education freedom program allowed them access to a private school that had the resources, flexibility, and staff to help students like Jonah who had unique needs. Chris and Laura almost immediately witnessed Jonah thrive in the new environment that better accommodated his needs.  

His sister Hannah, a principal at his new school, saw the impact of the education freedom program firsthand when an influx of students enrolled in the school with the help of an education savings account. Unfortunately, there was a serious threat to education freedom on the horizon. 

Americans for Prosperity Victoriously Defends Education Freedom in Arkansas 

In 2024, a coalition of teachers unions and anti-school choice advocates began pushing the AERA Amendment which would have forced private schools accepting any state funding to conform to the standards set for public schools. Even schools receiving a tiny fraction of government funds would have to standardize, dismantling the choice and access to new educational pathways granted by the LEARNs Act. Jonah and thousands of other students would be forced back into the one-size-fits-all approach which could hinder them from reaching their fullest potential.   

The amendment not only jeopardized flexibility and choice for Arkansas’ students and parents, it’s incalculable costs could have resulted in tax hikes and put teacher pay raises at risk in the midst of an affordability crisis.  

However, AFP had a record of securing and advancing education freedom initiatives in states all across the country and was involved in passing the LEARNs Act. This was their fight to win. Their team immediately jumped on a “Decline to Sign” campaign in an effort to block the proposed amendment from reaching the ballot. For weeks, volunteers and activists leveraged AFP’s communication networks to engage with over 56,000 voters.  

Despite the geographic challenges of Arkansas’ rural counties where scattered populations typically make grassroots operations challenging, AFP’s dedicated volunteers spanned across 25 rural counties, knocking doors and engaging with communities typically overlooked. AFP’s activists tirelessly connected with residents and amplified the experiences of educators and families, like the Bunchs, who provided firsthand testimony of the benefits of increased access to flexible education options. 

AFP’s efforts made it so the AER Amendment failed to receive enough signatures to make it on the ballot for a vote, marking a win for education freedom in the state. The victory even caught the attention of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who reached out to show her appreciation to AFP for its commitment to defending freedoms for Arkansas families.  

Use your voice to defend your child’s education from government overreach. Team up with AFP today! 

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