The Arkansas House of Representatives approved a piece of legislation on Thursday that would create a universal school choice program by the 2025-2026 school year.
In a 78-21 vote, the majority-Republican state House passed Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act, which would create a school choice program that expands each year to make more students eligible, giving vouchers of $7,413 to students outside of the public school system. The bill, which would also prohibit lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through fifth grade, passed the state Senate 25-7-1 in February.
“This is the beginning of our commitment as a state to put students first, and to look everyone in the eye and say Arkansas will continue to lead in terms of education,” Republican Rep. Keith Brooks, the bill’s House sponsor, told the Associated Press.