More than 16,000 school choice applications submitted in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Arkansas Department of Education is reporting more than 16,000 Educational Freedom Account applications have been submitted in Arkansas for the upcoming school year.

ADE’s LEARNS website recently added two charts detailing how many applications have been created and which schools are seeing the most applications.

Educational Freedom Applications (EFAs), also often referred to as vouchers, are designed to allow the state to use public tax dollars to pay for kids to go to private schools in the name of school choice.

As of August 14, 16,212 applications have been created since March 4. The total is updated more than once a day.

Since the end of July, more than 4,000 applications have been submitted.

Below are screenshots of what those charts look like.

The ADE reports more than 1,800 applications are going towards homeschooling.

Here are the five schools in the state that have received the most applications:

• Little Rock Christian Academy – 603
• Shiloh Christian School – 428
• Central Arkansas Christian – 411
• Pulaski Academy – 327
• Baptist Prep – 301

The ADE says once someone submits an application its team will review the application and get back to the parent/guardian of the student within two weeks.

“For the 2024-2025 school year, 3% of total Arkansas public school student enrollment may be approved, and by the 2025-2026 school year, there will be no limit on student approvals, subject to available funding as determined by the State Board of Education,” the ADE said in an FAQ asking if there was a maximum number of accounts that would be awarded.

For more information on the LEARNS Act’s EFA applications, visit the LEARNS website.

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