💸 “Limits on Education Freedom?” — Arkansas Bill Seeks to Cap Spending from Education Freedom Accounts

Monday, April 15 — Arkansas House Committee on Education

The House Education Committee advanced a bill placing restrictions on how much families can use from their Education Freedom Accounts for extracurricular activities and travel under the LEARNS Act. The bill, aimed at increasing oversight, has sparked significant debate over the balance between government control and educational freedom.

💸 What the Bill Would Do:
Senate Bill 625, introduced by Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville), would:

• Limit spending from Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) to 25% for:
  
  
  • Extracurricular activities
    
    
  • Physical education activities
    
    
  • Educational field trips within Arkansas
    
    
  • Travel costs associated with these activities
    
    
• Clarify that EFAs could be closed if funds are misused intentionally.
  
  
• Reasonable costs apply for co-curricular activities like fine arts, music, and STEM fields.
  
  

🧾 The House Committee Vote:

• The bill advanced through a voice vote with audible dissent.
  
  
• Some members of the committee, particularly homeschool advocates, expressed concern over the potential restrictions on their spending choices.
  
  

🔥 The Debate on the Floor:

• Sen. Breanne Davis: The bill aims to increase oversight, citing data showing that only 44% of spending by homeschool families is on education-related items.
  
  
• Paula Bean, homeschool mom: Argued that the bill undermines trust in homeschool families and changes rules midway through the LEARNS program.
  
  
• Rep. Keith Brooks (R-Ferndale): Defended the bill, emphasizing that it strengthens the Education Freedom Accounts program and promotes the idea of education freedom in Arkansas.
  
  

💵 Financial Details:

• Education Freedom Accounts: Worth 90% of state per-student funding, with participants receiving at least $6,856 in 2024-2025.
  
  
• Under the bill, families would be limited to about $1,714 for extracurriculars and transportation in the current school year — roughly $150 per month in travel costs.
  
  
• As of March, 16,386 applications have been submitted for the 2025-2026 school year, with priority given to students with specialized educational needs or from underserved environments.
  
  

🔍 What’s Next:

• The bill moves to the full House for further debate and a potential vote.
  
  
• If passed, it could impact how families utilize Education Freedom Accounts beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.