Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students
Arkansas LEARNS Act repeal effort fails to gather enough signatures for ‘24 ballot question
This article was updated at 3:55 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, to include comments from the Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders The public education group that spent the summer petitioning for a ballot measure to repeal the LEARNS Act failed to gather enough signatures and submit the proper […]
Arkansas LEARNS repeal group, in reversal, claims it gathered enough signatures for ballot effort
Citizens of Arkansas for Public Education and Students now believes it collected enough signatures to continue its effort to repeal the LEARNS Act through a 2024 ballot referendum. CAPES Executive Director Steve Grappe initially feared the group fell just short of the threshold following a frenetic finish at Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline. After additional analysis […]
Arkansas LEARNS repeal group submits signatures but fears it fell short
A group seeking to repeal the LEARNS Act through a ballot referendum said they fell short of the 54,422 signatures needed by Monday to put the issue to voters in 2024. Still, Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students submitted the signatures and will await an official count from Secretary of State John Thurston. The […]
Arkansas LEARNS Act repeal group adds more petition drives, intimidation hotline
The group behind a ballot referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act is organizing more petition-gathering events ahead of Monday’s signature submission deadline. Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students also on Wednesday launched a hotline where people can report if they’ve experienced intimidation for participating in the petition process. CAPES needs to collect more than […]
Arkansas AG approves LEARNS Act referendum proposal
This story was last updated at 5:42 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin approved a proposed ballot title Monday from a group pursuing a referendum to overturn the LEARNS Act, the governor’s signature education law. Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES) is leading the effort to allow voters […]
Arkansas LEARNS Act referendum submitted a third time
A group pursuing a ballot referendum to overturn the LEARNS Act hopes the third time’s the charm. Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES) resubmitted its ballot title proposal Friday following a second rejection by the attorney general’s office last week. The group’s goal is to place the issue on the 2024 ballot so […]
Lawsuit filed against Arkansas Department of Education challenging the LEARNS Act
A group of Arkansans filed a lawsuit Monday claiming that the state Board of Education took unconstitutional action when it authorized a “transformation contract” between the Marvell-Elaine School District and the Friendship Education Foundation last week. Little Rock attorney Ali Noland filed the lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court on behalf of Phillips County residents […]
Public education group resubmits referendum to repeal the Arkansas LEARNS Act
An organization seeking to overturn the LEARNS Act resubmitted a proposed referendum on Thursday, three days after Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected the initial ballot title on Monday. The Arkansas Constitution allows citizens to, by petition, order the referendum against an act, item of appropriation bill or measure passed by the General Assembly. Citizens for […]
Arkansas attorney general rejects LEARNS Act referendum title
This story was updated at 4:25 p.m. Attorney General Tim Griffin on Monday rejected the ballot title submitted by a group pursuing a petition referendum to overturn the LEARNS Act, the expansive education law signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in March. The Arkansas Constitution allows citizens to, by petition, order the referendum […]