For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee Faces Setback as Attorney General Denies Approval for Education Initiative
LITTLE ROCK – Today the Attorney General has denied approval for the Education Ballot Initiative submitted by the For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee. This decision was fully expected as the Attorney General has rejected every ballot measure submitted to him for initial review. Our legal team is reviewing the opinion and we will resubmit a revised proposal in the coming days.
Bill Kopsky, spokesperson for the For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee and Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, said, "This is exactly how we expected the process to work, it doesn't diminish our commitment to enhancing education for all Arkansans. We are not giving up on truly transforming educational opportunities for ALL Arkansas students .Our legal team will assess the Attorney General’s concerns and file a revision in the coming days."
Barry Jefferson, President of the Arkansas State Chapter of the NAACP and President of the For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee, echoed this sentiment, saying, "Although we face a temporary setback, our belief in the potential of this initiative remains steadfast. We will explore alternative avenues to ensure equal opportunities for every Arkansan.”
How We Can Overcome:
Despite this obstacle, the For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee remains resilient and invites individuals from all walks of life to stay engaged. Visit our website, forarkids.org, for ongoing updates and to learn how you can contribute to our mission.
About For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee:
The For AR Kids Ballot Question Committee is a coalition comprising the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Arkansas Conference of the NAACP, the Arkansas Education Association, the Citizens First Congress, and CAPES. Our dedication to improving education standards and opportunities for every Arkansan persists, despite the temporary setback.
Our ballot initiative on the 2024 ballot that will still work to amend the education article of the Arkansas Constitution to:
Require any school receiving any amount of public funds to follow the same standards that traditional public schools are required to follow;
Establish the minimum quality standards ordered by the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2002 in its Lakeview decision; and
Guarantee voluntary universal access to pre-K for 3-4 year olds, afterschool & summertime programming, quality special education, and wrap-around services for children within 200% of the Federal Poverty Line.
