Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on December 1, 2023, for an event hosted by Arkansas PBS, focusing on education reform and the concept of education freedom. The governors emphasized their commitment to transforming their states' education systems, highlighting recent legislative changes aimed at improving educational opportunities for families.

Governor Sanders discussed her initiative, "Arkansas Learns," which she described as the most significant overhaul of the state's education system in recent history. She noted that the program has elevated Arkansas from 13th to 4th in the nation for education freedom, allowing families to choose schools that best meet their children's needs, whether public, private, or homeschool. This initiative includes increased teacher pay and the deployment of literacy coaches across the state.

Both governors expressed a shared vision for education, advocating for individual learning approaches tailored to each student's needs. Sanders pointed out the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on student learning and criticized the current education establishment for prioritizing political correctness over fundamental skills like reading and math. She asserted that the time has come to end the status quo, ensuring that every child, regardless of their zip code, has access to quality education.

The event underscored a growing movement among conservative leaders to promote education freedom as a means to enhance student outcomes. As Arkansas and Tennessee lead this charge, the governors aim to inspire similar reforms across the nation, emphasizing that education should be a right accessible to all families.