Arkansas Senate Leader Vows No Caps on Student Accounts

State values all education options, says top lawmaker

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:29am

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Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, a Republican from Cave Springs, Arkansas, has vowed that he will never agree to capping student accounts under the state's LEARNS Act education reform law. Hester says the state values providing all educational options for students.

Why it matters

The LEARNS Act is a major education policy initiative in Arkansas that aims to expand school choice and personalized learning accounts for students. Hester's stance against any caps on these accounts signals the state's commitment to fully implementing the law and empowering families with education flexibility.

The details

Hester, the top-ranking state senator, said he will not support any efforts to limit the amount of money that can be deposited into the personalized learning accounts created by the LEARNS Act. The accounts allow families to use state education funding for a variety of approved expenses beyond just traditional public school tuition.

  • The LEARNS Act was signed into law in 2025.

The players

Bart Hester

A Republican and the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas State Senate.

LEARNS Act

An education reform law passed in Arkansas in 2025 that created personalized learning accounts for students.

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What they’re saying

“We value all education options for students in Arkansas, and I will never agree to capping the accounts created by the LEARNS Act.”

— Bart Hester, Senate President Pro Tempore

What’s next

The Arkansas legislature will continue debating implementation details of the LEARNS Act in the coming months.

The takeaway

Arkansas is firmly committed to expanding school choice and personalized learning through the LEARNS Act, with the state's top senator vowing to protect the flexibility and funding of student accounts under the new law.