Hillbilly wisdom: public funds for private schools will increase the cost of private schools (basic supply and demand). Application fees to private schools are nonrefundable. Withdrawal fees apply if your child does not complete the year. The 2025-26 school year allows all children to apply equally to any school in Arkansas -both public and private. Cost vary among schools, according to location, availability and past performances. An additional 90 million has been added to the budget to match the numbers that are currently applying to nonpublic schools. Forgoing the cost of educating the elite’s children with public funds, how will the reduced numbers in public schools affect the budget for public schools? Will it become necessary for the public schools to reduce it’s staff due to fewer students or eat the increased cost per student? Arkansas has increased the starting pay to recruit and retain quality teachers but as the (best) students leave the public school system can our present system survive?

The state is now being sued because of Act 573 of 2025 Ten Commandents will be posted in each classroom. Surprise! Not! Just another useless expenditure for the state. Did our representatives really believe that 573 would go unchallenged? Oh by the way, it was not the poor districts which brought challenges to the law. The poor districts can not afford to challenge anything. Keep your shoulder to the job and don’t look up. Sounds like 21^st century slavery.

Two part question: 1) How many children of representatives attend Public School? Assuming a large percentage, 2) Why do they support taking money from the school districts instead of improving said schools?