Committee debate over tightening Education Freedom Accounts stalls as sponsor withdraws motion

The Senate Education Committee debated proposed amendments to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program that would limit some allowable expenses, cap spending categories and change application windows for families. After hours of testimony from parents, advocacy groups and Department of Education staff, the sponsor withdrew a motion to pass and said she would pursue further negotiation and amendments.

What was proposed

Senator Brianne Davis, the sponsor of the package of LEARNS/EFA cleanup amendments, described changes intended to tighten program sustainability and align spending with academic outcomes. She said data from the program’s first year showed variability in how families used funds and that the sponsor wanted to ensure the “majority of funds” are used for academic materials and services.

Key amendment elements discussed by the committee included: - Limits on how much of a student’s EFA could be spent on transportation and extracurricular activities (examples cited: not to exceed 25% on transportation; not to exceed one‑sixth on extracurriculars), - A narrower enrollment window (sponsor amended the window to Feb. 1–May 1), - Stronger authority for the state to recover funds used improperly, and - Clarified ordering rules if available funds are insufficient.

Public testimony

Homeschool families provided extended testimony. Paula Bean, a homeschool parent who said her family uses an EFA, told the committee: “I’m here today for 2 reasons. 1 is I’m fighting for my children. The other 1 is I’m afraid that I have convinced a whole lot of families to trust the EFA program and that this committee is gonna make me out to be a liar.” She urged lawmakers to avoid changes that would restrict internet or technology purchases and said the program helped her child access tutoring and curriculum.

Opportunity Arkansas, speaking through Jay Robertson, urged caution and said the bill risked making participation harder: “The bill places arbitrary caps on certain types of spending that could then permanently ban children from the program if they exceed those caps,” Robertson said. He and his organization requested family‑friendly, student‑centered amendments instead of measures that could reduce access.

Department of Education and sponsor response

Senator Davis and Department staff said the changes were meant to protect long‑term program viability and to focus funds on instructionally relevant purchases. Sponsors noted that the first year saw roughly 61% of a typical participant’s allocation used, with only about 44% of expenditures tied to education‑related items; sponsors argued that clearer rules were needed to prevent future fiscal shortfalls.

Committee action

After testimony and back‑and‑forth about possible fixes, Senator Davis withdrew her motion to pass the bill and asked for more time to negotiate written amendments. She offered to reconvene the committee to consider revised language, and the committee agreed to recess and continue work later. No committee vote was recorded on the substantive EFA package at the time the meeting adjourned.

Ending

The EFA debate highlighted tensions between families newly using state funds for educational choices and lawmakers seeking safeguards for public funds and program sustainability. The sponsor signaled willingness to continue drafting and to seek a compromise that preserves family choice while adding fiscal guardrails; committee members asked for written amendments and additional time to review changes before a vote.