Arkansas Senate Leader Resists Caps on Voucher Spending

Republican lawmakers express little appetite for limiting growth of state's school choice program.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:11pm

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The Republican leader of the Arkansas Senate, Bart Hester, refused to support capping spending on the state's school voucher program, known as the Educational Freedom Account (EFA), as lawmakers prepare to take up Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' request to spend up to $379 million on the program. Hester said he would 'never agree to capping' funding for the vouchers, even if the costs continue rising. House Speaker Brian Evans also expressed support for the current level of voucher funding, saying it meets 'the current need that has been requested.'

Why it matters

The debate over school vouchers in Arkansas highlights the ongoing tensions between supporters of school choice and those concerned about the potential for abuse and the impact on public school funding. As the voucher program has grown rapidly since its creation in 2023, providing funds for more than 44,000 students to attend private or homeschool, there are questions about the long-term sustainability and oversight of the program.

The details

Gov. Sanders has requested $379 million to fund the EFA program, including $70 million from the state's surplus to account for expected growth in the 2026-2027 school year. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester said he would 'never agree to capping' funding for the vouchers, even if the costs continue rising. House Speaker Brian Evans said the current level of funding meets 'the current need' and believes Arkansas has 'hit that plateau' in terms of voucher spending. However, House Minority Leader Andrew Collins, a critic of the program, said he believes there is interest in reforms to improve oversight and transparency to prevent the program from becoming a 'runaway expense.'

  • The Arkansas legislative session begins next week.
  • The EFA program was created in 2023 and has grown to provide funds for more than 44,000 students across the state this school year.

The players

Bart Hester

The Republican leader of the Arkansas Senate, who refused to support capping spending on the state's school voucher program.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

The governor of Arkansas, who has requested $379 million to fund the state's Educational Freedom Account (EFA) school voucher program.

Brian Evans

The Republican Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, who expressed support for the current level of voucher funding.

Andrew Collins

The House Minority Leader in Arkansas, a critic of the school voucher program who believes it is 'ripe for abuse' and needs more oversight and transparency.

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What they’re saying

“We never talk about whether we spent too much for K-12. I will never talk about whether we spent too much for EFAs. It's all educating our children, it's the most important thing that we do.”

— Bart Hester, Senate President Pro Tempore

“If it goes up $100 million a year, so it does.”

— Bart Hester, Senate President Pro Tempore

“The higher we go with the spend now, and the more this becomes ingrained, I think it's really difficult, much more difficult to rein it back later.”

— Andrew Collins, House Minority Leader

What’s next

The Arkansas legislature will take up Gov. Sanders' request to fund the EFA school voucher program during the upcoming fiscal session, which begins next week.

The takeaway

The debate over school vouchers in Arkansas highlights the ongoing tensions between supporters of school choice and those concerned about the potential for abuse and the impact on public school funding. As the voucher program continues to grow rapidly, there are questions about the long-term sustainability and oversight of the program that lawmakers will need to address.