rural education

Smiling teacher teaches children about the solar system

Distance, finances will affect choices as Arkansas Educational Freedom Account rolls out

BY: - April 26, 2023

Arkansas’ new Children’s Educational Freedom Account program aims to expand education options for K-12 students, but questions remain about accessibility, especially for families in rural areas.  A provision of the LEARNS Act, the program will be phased in over three years and allow up to 90% of annual per-student public school funding for permissible education […]

Arkansas Democratic Rural Caucus chairman Steve Grappe and Democratic supporters

New Democratic caucus aims to connect with rural voters

BY: - February 20, 2023

As a former teacher and graduate of a rural Arkansas school district, Jess Piper is concerned rural schools will lose funding and close under the governor’s proposed voucher program. “Rural schools will fold, communities will suffer,” Piper said. “They’ll lose their epicenter where people got their paycheck, where kids got their hot meals, where people […]