Public policy in Arkansas

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The Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all the Arkansas public policy articles on Ballotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on the map below.

For a list of all public policy articles on Ballotpedia see here.

Budget Policy

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Budget and finances

In Arkansas, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between fiscal years 2015 and 2016, total government spending in Arkansas increased by approximately $36.0 million—from $23.8 billion in fiscal year 2015 to an estimated $23.8 billion in 2016. This represents a 0.2-percent increase.[1]
  • In Arkansas in fiscal year 2015, 48.6 percent of total tax revenues came from sales taxes and gross receipts. Income taxes accounted for 34.2 percent of total state tax collections.
  • Education accounted for 29.6 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 25.5 percent went to Medicaid.

    • Taxes

    Arkansas generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying a personal income tax and a sales tax. The state derives its constitutional authority to tax from Article 16 of the state constitution.[2][3]

    Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.[4]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the United States Census Bureau, Arkansas collected $9.45 billion in tax revenue in 2016. The state's tax revenue per capita was $3,163.

    • Civil Liberties Policy

    Civil Liberties Policy Logo.png

    Affirmative action

    Affirmative action in Arkansas refers to the steps taken by employers and universities in Arkansas to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such as strict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978 United States Supreme Court case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.[5]

    On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

    As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.[6][7]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In Arkansas, no public universities reported considering race in admissions as of March 2015. Additionally, at that time there were two state laws regarding affirmative action requirements for employers.

    • The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

    Campaign finance

    Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.

    This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in Arkansas, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Arkansas with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in Arkansas.

    The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[8]

    As of July 2025:
  • Individuals could contribute $3,500 per election to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates.
  • State parties could contribute $3,500 per election to gubernatorial candidates, $3,500 per election to state senate candidates, and $3,500 per election to state house candidates.
  • Political committees could contribute $3,500 per election to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates.
  • Corporations and unions could not contribute directly to candidates for office or party committees, but these groups could make unlimited contributions to ballot measure campaigns.


    • Nonprofit regulation

    Nonprofit regulation in Arkansas involves a complex set of rules that govern nonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

    • contribution limits,
    • donor disclosure, and
    • the redefinition of issue advocacy.


    Arkansas is one of 39 states that require charitable organizations, and those intending to solicit on their behalf, to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are an Arkansas organization or based out-of-state. In Arkansas a number of groups and organizations are exempt from registration. Exempt groups, however, must apply for their exemption by filing the Exempt Organization Verification form.[9]

    Arkansas is one of 32 states that allows registrants to use either the Unified Registration Statement (URS) or the state registration form.[10] Only seven states requiring registration do not accept the URS.

    According to Guidestar, an organization that reports on nonprofit companies, regulation of nonprofit activity protects donors and organizations from potential fraud and helps "to maintain trust in the [nonprofit] sector." According to the London School of Economics, nonprofit disclosure requirements can create privacy concerns among potential donors, thereby having an unintended negative impact on donor participation.[11][12]

    Education Policy

    Charter schools  •  Higher education  •  Public education  •  School choice 

    Education Policy Logo.png

    K-12 Public education

    The Arkansas public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Arkansas had 474,826 students enrolled in a total of 989 schools in 233 school districts. There were 36,900 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 13 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Arkansas spent on average $10,345 per pupil.[13] The state's graduation rate was 88 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[14]


    General information

    See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

    The following chart shows how Arkansas compares to the national level for the most recent years for which data is available.

    Public education in Arkansas
    State Schools Districts Students Teachers Teacher to pupil ratio Per pupil spending*
    Arkansas 989 233 474,826 36,900 1:12.8 $10,345
    United States 90,323 13,194 47,755,383 2,783,705 1:16 $13,494
    *Per pupil spending data reflects information reported for fiscal year 2020.
    Sources:

    Education statistics in the United States
    U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020"
    National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates"

    Academic performance

    BP-Initials-UPDATED.png The sections below do not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

    Education terms
    Education Policy Logo on Ballotpedia.png
    For more information on education policy terms, see this article.
    Public Policy Logo-one line.png
    School board elections portal
    Glossary of education terms
    School choice on the ballot
    Education on the ballot

    NAEP scores

    See also: NAEP scores by state

    The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The chart below presents the percentage of fourth- and eighth-grade students who scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri), students in Arkansas generally scored above those in Louisiana and Mississippi, and below those in Missouri. The state's highest scores were earned by fourth-grade students in math, which tied with Missouri.[15]

    Percent of students scoring at or above proficient, 2012-2013
    Math - Grade 4 Math - Grade 8 Reading - Grade 4 Reading - Grade 8
    Arkansas 39% 28% 32% 30%
    Louisiana 26% 21% 23% 24%
    Mississippi 26% 21% 21% 20%
    Missouri 39% 33% 35% 36%
    U.S. averages 41% 34% 34% 34%
    Source: United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables"

    Graduation, ACT and SAT scores

    See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

    The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Arkansas and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.[15][16][17]

    In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.[18]

    Arkansas schools reported a graduation rate of 84.9 percent, second highest among its neighboring states.

    In Arkansas, more students took the ACT than the SAT, earning an average ACT score of 20.2.

    Comparison table for graduation rates and test scores, 2012-2013
    State Graduation rate, 2013 Average ACT composite, 2013 Average SAT composite, 2013
    Percent Quintile ranking** Score Participation rate Score Participation rate
    Arkansas 84.9% Second 20.2 90% 1,697 4%
    Louisiana 73.5% Fifth 19.5 100% 1,655 5%
    Mississippi 75.5% Fifth 18.9 95% 1,673 3%
    Missouri 85.7% Second 21.6 74% 1,773 4%
    United States 81.4% 20.9 54% 1498 50%
    **Graduation rates for states in the first quintile ranked in the top 20 percent nationally. Similarly, graduation rates for states in the fifth quintile ranked in the bottom 20 percent nationally.
    Sources: United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express"
    ACT.org, "2013 ACT National and State Scores"
    The Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT scores by state, 2013"

    Dropout rate

    See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

    The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both SY 2010–11 and SY 2011–12. The event dropout rate for Arkansas was higher than the national average at 3.5 percent in the 2010-2011 school year. The dropout rate was lower than the national average at 3.2 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.[19]

    Educational choice options

    See also: School choice in Arkansas

    School choice options in Arkansas included charter schools, online learning programs and inter-district and intra-district open enrollment policies as of June 2015. In addition, about 5.41 percent of school-age children in the state attended private schools in the 2011-12 academic year, and 2.67 percent were homeschooled in 2012-13.

    Developments

    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)

    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
    Seal of SCOTUS.png
    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
    Media coverage and commentary
    U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
    Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
    Blaine amendments in state constitutions
    School choice on the ballot
    Education on the ballot
    See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

    On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.[20]

    In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.[21]

    The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

    Arkansas is not one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.


    Education funding and expenditures

    See also: Arkansas state budget and finances
    Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
    Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

    According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.[22][23]

    Arkansas spent approximately 15.6 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. The state school systems' revenue came primarily from state funds. Arkansas received over 75 percent of its public education revenue from state funds. This was a greater percentage than any of its neighbors received from state funding during fiscal year 2013.

    Comparison of financial figures for school systems, fiscal year 2013
    State Percentage of budget Per pupil spending Revenue sources
    Percent federal funds Percent state funds Percent local funds
    Arkansas 15.6% $9,394 11.3% 76.2% 12.5%
    Louisiana 19.3% $10,490 15.2% 41.7% 43.1%
    Mississippi 16.4% $8,130 16% 49.9% 34.1%
    Missouri 22.8% $9,597 8.9% 42.2% 48.9%
    United States 19.8% $10,700 9.1% 45.6% 45.3%
    Sources: NASBO, "State Expenditure Report" (Table 8).
    U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 5 and Table 8).

    Revenue breakdowns

    See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

    According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.[23]

    In Arkansas, the primary source of school system revenue came from state funding, at $3.8 billion. Even though Louisiana reported greater total school system revenue than Arkansas, the latter reported more revenue from state sources during fiscal year 2013.

    Revenues by source, fiscal year 2013 (amounts in thousands)
    State Federal revenue State revenue Local revenue Total revenue
    Arkansas $572,096 $3,847,045 $631,643 $5,050,784
    Louisiana $1,229,248 $3,370,399 $3,484,625 $8,084,272
    Mississippi $707,522 $2,213,501 $1,511,995 $4,433,018
    Missouri $894,168 $4,235,564 $4,900,767 $10,030,499
    U.S. totals $54,367,305 $272,916,892 $270,645,402 $597,929,599
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 1)

    Expenditure breakdowns

    See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.[24]

    Public education expenditures in Arkansas totaled approximately $5.4 billion in fiscal year 2012. Arkansas reported the second-lowest total expenditures when compared to its neighboring states.

    Expenditures by type, fiscal year 2012 (amounts in thousands)
    State General expenditures Capital outlay Other Total expenditures
    Arkansas $4,606,995 $625,078 $161,257 $5,393,330
    Louisiana $7,544,782 $744,610 $168,301 $8,457,692
    Mississippi $3,972,787 $402,465 $97,791 $4,341,018
    Missouri $8,719,925 $894,459 $559,071 $10,173,456
    United States $527,096,473 $48,773,386 $25,897,123 $601,766,981
    Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)" (Table 5)

    Personnel salaries

    See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States
    Note: Salaries given are averages for the state. Salaries may vary between a state's urban, suburban, and rural districts and should be adjusted for cost of living. For example, a MacIver Institute study of average teacher salaries in 60 metropolitan areas found that salaries in New York City were the third-highest in absolute figures but 59th-highest when adjusted for the cost of living.[25]

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in Arkansas, the average salary increased by 2.2 percent.[26]

    Estimated average salaries for teachers (in constant dollars**)
    1999-2000 2009-2010 2011-2012 2012-2013 Percent difference
    Arkansas $45,625 $49,850 $47,085 $46,632 2.2%
    Louisiana $45,246 $52,201 $51,014 $51,381 13.6%
    Mississippi $43,535 $48,722 $42,339 $41,994 -3.5%
    Missouri $48,727 $48,373 $47,178 $47,517 -2.5%
    United States $57,133 $58,925 $56,340 $56,383 -1.3%
    **"Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. The CPI does not account for differences in inflation rates from state to state."

    Organizations

    State agencies

    See also: Arkansas Department of Education

    The Arkansas Department of Education is charged with the following responsibilities:[27]

    “
    • implementing state and federal education laws
    • disbursing state and federal funds
    • holding schools and districts accountable for performance
    • licensing all educators and providing public transparency[28]
    		 ”

    The mission statement of the Arkansas Department of Education reads as follows:[29]

    “ The Arkansas Department of Education strives to ensure that all children in the state have access to a quality education by providing educators, administrators and staff with leadership, resources and training.[28] ”

    The Arkansas Commissioner of Education is the chief executive of the Arkansas Department of Education. The commissioner is appointed by the Arkansas State Board of Education and approved by the governor.[27]

    The state board is composed of nine members appointed by the governor to seven-year terms. Two members come from each of the state's four congressional districts. One member is selected at large.[29]

    Unions

    In 2012 the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Arkansas ranked 48th overall for union power and influence, or "weakest," which was in the fifth of five tiers.[30]

    The main union related to the Arkansas school system is the Arkansas Education Association (AEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). For the 2004 tax period, AEA had $3.85 million in total revenue, $4.03 million in total expenses, and $1.07 million in total assets.[31]

    List of local Arkansas school unions:[32]

    • Arkansas Education Association
    • Pulaski Association Of Classroom Teachers

    Government sector lobbying

    See also: Arkansas government sector lobbying

    The main education government sector lobbying organization is the Arkansas School Boards Association.

    Studies and reports

    State Budget Solutions education study

    See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

    State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

    Quality Counts 2014

    See also: Education Week survey

    Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 used six different categories:

    1. Chance for success
    2. K-12 achievement
    3. Standards, assessments and accountability
    4. The teaching profession
    5. School finance
    6. Transitions and alignment

    Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

    Arkansas received a score of 71.8, or a C- average in the "chance for success" category. This was below the national average. The state's highest score was in transitions and alignment at 96.4, or an A average. The lowest score was in K-12 achievement at 66.7, or a D average. Arkansas received relatively high scores for three of the six categories, but received a C- for its chance of success. This may be attributed to the low K-12 achievement score. The chart below displays the scores of Arkansas and its surrounding states.[33]

    Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

    Public education report cards, 2014
    State Chance for success K-12 achievement Standards, assessments and accountability The teaching profession School finance Transitions and alignment
    Arkansas 71.8 (C-) 66.7 (D+) 94.4 (A) 88.0 (B+) 74.1 (C) 96.4 (A)
    Louisiana 69.9 (C-) 59.8 (D-) 97.2 (A) 79.6 (B-) 74.9 (C) 92.9 (A)
    Mississippi 68.9 (D+) 57.1 (F) 92.8 (A) 66.5 (D) 64.9 (D) 75.0 (C)
    Missouri 77.3 (C+) 66.0 (D) 78.9 (C+) 69.3 (D+) 70.5 (C-) 75.0 (C)
    United States 77.3 (C+) 70.2 (C-) 85.3 (B) 72.5 (C) 75.5 (C) 81.1 (B-)
    Source: Education Week, "Quality Counts 2014"
    A full discussion of how these numbers were generated can be found here.

    School districts

    See also: School board elections portal

    District types

    Arkansas has only one type of school district. A state act in 1947 reorganized all school districts in the state to have the same structure. Thus, all Arkansas school districts are governed by a board of directors, and each district may levy taxes and issue bonds.[34]

    School board composition

    School board members in Arkansas serve terms between three and five years in length. Within a school board, all members have the same term length. The expiration of terms for a specific board must be staggered so that as near as possible to an equal number of members are up for election each election year.[35] If a school board has a vacancy, it must be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the school board.[36] School boards have the authority to choose if they would like to be elected at large, by zone or a combination of the two. To change their current structure, they must adopt a majority resolution describing the procedure of the switch for the next four years.[37] School boards can have five, seven or nine members, depending on the population of the school district.[38]

    Term limits

    The state does not impose term limits on school board members.[39]

    Elections

    See also: Arkansas school board elections, 2025

    No Arkansas school districts within Ballotpedia's coverage scope are holding school board elections in 2025.

    Our coverage scope for local elections continues to grow, and you can use Ballotpedia's sample ballot tool to see what school board elections we are covering in your area.


    Path to the ballot

    To qualify for the ballot as a school board candidate in Arkansas, an individual must:[40]

    • Be a registered voter and resident in the school district he or she wishes to represent, as well as within the electoral zone in which he or she will be elected, if candidates are elected by zone.
    • Be an Arkansas resident and U.S. citizen.
    • Not be employed by the school district to be served.
    • Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction.
    • Never have been convicted of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery or any other related crime.

    Candidates must file with and be certified by the county clerk of the county in which the school district resides.[40]

    Campaign finance

    School board candidates are required to file the following campaign finance reports with their county elections department:[41]

    • A pre-election report no later than seven days prior to any election in which the candidate's name will appear on the ballot.
    • A final report no later than 30 days after any election in which the candidate's name appeared on the ballot.
    • Supplemental reports for all contributions received and expenditures made after the final report, within 30 days after the receipt of the contribution or the making of an expenditure.

    Recent legislation

    The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Arkansas state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.


    Education ballot measures

    See also: Education on the ballot and List of Arkansas ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

    1. Arkansas Initiated Act 2, Criteria for Public School Student Assignment Initiative (1956)
    2. Arkansas School Tax Limitation, Proposed Amendment 43 (1956)
    3. Arkansas Amendment 47, Direct State Legislature to Oppose Federal Desegregation Rulings Initiative (1956)
    4. Arkansas Act 78, Appointed State Board of Education (1934)
    5. Arkansas Equal Educational Opportunity, Initiated Act 1 (1980)
    6. Arkansas College Savings Bonds, Proposed Question Act 683 (1990)
    7. Arkansas School District Reorganization, Initiated Act 1 (1966)
    8. Arkansas Community College and Technical School Districts, Proposed Amendment 57 (1964)
    9. Arkansas Free Education for All Children, Proposed Amendment 52 (1960)
    10. Arkansas Public Education Age Restriction, Proposed Amendment 53 (1968)
    11. Arkansas Free Textbooks, Act 4 (September 1912)
    12. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)
    13. Arkansas Appropriation of School Funds, Amendment 2 (1932)
    14. Arkansas Establish a State Board of Education, Proposed Amendment 30 (1938)
    15. Arkansas Junior College Districts, Proposed Amendment 32 (1942)
    16. Arkansas Public School Finance, Proposed Amendment 41 (1950)
    17. Arkansas School District Reorganization, Initiated Act No. 1 (1948)
    18. Arkansas School District Reorganization, Initiated Act No. 1 (1946)
    19. Arkansas State School and School District Taxes Amendment (1906)
    20. Arkansas Public School Fund, Initiated Act 1 (1962)
    21. Arkansas Uniform Property Tax for Schools, Proposed Amendment 1 (1996)
    22. Arkansas School Property Tax Increase, Referred Question 1 (2004)
    23. Arkansas Higher Education Bonds, Referred Question 2 (December 2005)
    24. Arkansas Higher Education Technology and Facility Bonds, Referred Question 1 (2006)
    25. Arkansas State Lottery, Proposed Amendment 3 (2008)
    26. Arkansas Issue 1, Lottery Proceed Funding for Vocational-Technical School Scholarships and Grants Amendment (2024)
    27. Arkansas Establish Educational Standards for Schools Receiving Public Funding Initiative (2026)

    In the news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Arkansas education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Public policy in Arkansas - Google News

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017
    2. ↑ Constitution of the State of Arkansas of 1874, "Article 16," accessed October 17, 2014
    3. ↑ Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Shares by Type 2000-2013," June 20, 2014
    4. ↑ Brunori, D. (2011). State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press
    5. ↑ Oyez, "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke," accessed February 11, 2015
    6. ↑ Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
    7. ↑ Business and Legal Resources, "Affirmative Action," accessed March 31, 2015
    8. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
    9. ↑ Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012). Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
    10. ↑ "Multistate Filing Form," accessed December 17, 2014
    11. ↑ Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
    12. ↑ London School of Economics, "Campaign finance laws that make small donations public may lead to fewer people contributing and to smaller donations," January 7, 2015
    13. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020," May 18, 2022
    14. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates," accessed September 28, 2022
    15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables," accessed May 13, 2014
    16. ↑ ACT, "2012 ACT National and State Scores," accessed May 13, 2014
    17. ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT Scores by State 2013," October 10, 2013
    18. ↑ StudyPoints, "What's a good SAT score or ACT score?" accessed June 7, 2015
    19. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Dropout and Graduation Rate Data File, School Year 2010-11, Provision Version 1a and School Year 2011-12, Preliminary Version 1a," accessed May 13, 2014
    20. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: "Petition for a writ of certiorari," accessed July 3, 2019
    21. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decided June 30, 2020
    22. ↑ NASBO, "State Expenditure Report," accessed July 2, 2015
    23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports," accessed July 2, 2015
    24. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)," accessed July 2, 2015
    25. ↑ Maciver Institute, "REPORT: How much are teachers really paid?" accessed October 29, 2014
    26. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 211.60. Estimated average annual salary of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, 1969-70 through 2012-13," accessed May 13, 2014
    27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Arkansas Department of Education, "About ADE," accessed May 14, 2014
    28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Arkansas Department of Education, "State Board of Education," accessed May 14, 2014
    30. ↑ Thomas E Fordham Institute, " How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison," October 29, 2012
    31. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "Arkansas Education Association," accessed March 13, 2010
    32. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "Arkansas teachers unions," accessed March 13, 2010 (dead link)
    33. ↑ Education Week "Quality Counts 2014," accessed February 19, 2015
    34. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Arkansas," accessed July 8, 2014
    35. ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 6, Chapter 13, Section 608," accessed July 8, 2014
    36. ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 6, Chapter 13, Section 611," accessed July 8, 2014
    37. ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 6, Chapter 13, Section 630," accessed July 8, 2014
    38. ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 6, Chapter 13, Section 634," accessed July 8, 2014
    39. ↑ National Association of Counties, "History of County Term Limits," accessed July 8, 2014
    40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Arkansas School Board Association, "Board Candidates," accessed July 8, 2014
    41. ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Rules on Campaign Finance and Disclosure," accessed July 8, 2014
    Flag of Arkansas
    v • e
    State of Arkansas
    Little Rock (capital)
    Elections

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    Higher education

    Arkansas' higher education system is composed of 51 colleges and universities. Of these, 33 are public institutions, 14 are nonprofit private schools, and four are for-profit private institutions.[1]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In Arkansas, students who graduated from public schools during the 2013-2014 had more debt on average than those who graduated from private schools.
  • At public four-year colleges in Arkansas, 39.7 percent of students graduated within six years, the lowest rate among its neighboring states.
  • Between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years, the total number of public college faculty in Arkansas more than doubled, from 3,674 to 8,036.

    • School choice

    School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[2][3]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 50 total charter schools in Arkansas in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 23,700 students.
  • In Arkansas, there were 30,340 students enrolled in 190 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 5.87 percent of the state's total school-age population.
  • Arkansas sponsors a school voucher program. Under this program, students with disabilities who have Individual Education Plans are eligible to receive public funding to attend private schools.

    • Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

    Charter schools

    Charter schools in Arkansas are public schools operated independently of public school systems, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 50 total charter schools in Arkansas in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 23,700 students.
  • Overall, charter school students accounted for 4.92 percent of total public school enrollment in Arkansas in 2015.
  • The Arkansas State Legislature approved the state's charter school law in 1995.

    • Election Policy

    Election Policy Logo.png

    Ballot access requirements

    In order to get on the ballot in Arkansas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

    There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

    1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
    2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
    3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

    This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Arkansas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

    Redistricting

    Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Arkansas' four United States Representatives and 135 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[4][5][6][7]

    Arkansas was apportioned four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Arkansas after the 2020 census.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Following the 2020 United States Census, Arkansas was apportioned four congressional seats, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.
  • Arkansas' House of Representatives is made up of 100 districts; Arkansas' State Senate is made up of 35 districts.
  • The Arkansas General Assembly is responsible for drawing congressional district lines. Arkansas' state legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission, the Arkansas Board of Apportionment.

    • Voting

    What's on your ballot?
    Find out using Ballotpedia’s Sample Ballot Tool


    Election Policy VNT Logo.png
    Election Information
    2025 election and voting dates
    Voter registration
    Early voting
    Absentee/mail-in voting
    All-mail voting
    Voter ID laws
    State poll opening and closing times
    Time off work for voting
    Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
    Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

    The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

    This article includes the following information about voting policies in Arkansas:

    Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

    For information on elections happening this year, click here.

    Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

    Energy Policy

    Energy Policy-Logo.png

    Energy information

    Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

    Fracking

    Read about Arkansas' state energy profile »

    As of May 2017, hydraulic fracturing in Arkansas occurred primarily in the Fayetteville Shale, a geological formation that spans northern Arkansas. As of May 2017, there were 46,973 oil and gas wells in Arkansas according to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission. Of that total, 6,335 wells— 13.5 percent—were hydraulically fractured. This figure included active wells (wells in active operation in accordance with their permits) and producing wells (wells that release oil and/or gas in economically producible quantities).[8][9][10]

    The map below shows the Fayetteville Shale formation where hydraulic fracturing occurs in Arkansas.

    Fayetteville Shale formation (click to enlarge)

    The map below shows all oil and gas wells in Arkansas as of May 2017. An interactive version of the map can be accessed here.

    Oil and gas wells in Arkansas (as of May 2017)

    Environmental Policy

    Environmental Policy Logo.png

    Environmental information

    Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy in Arkansas.

    Endangered species

    Endangered species policy in Arkansas involves the identification and protection of endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of July 2016, Arkansas had 34 species—25 endangered species and nine plant species—listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
  • Of these, 29 were animal species and five were plant species.

    • Finance Policy

    Policypedia Finance Final.png

    Financial regulation information

    The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to the Federal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.[11]

    Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.[12][13]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In 2015, there were a total of 103 distinct commercial banks in Arkansas, with total deposits of $56.50 billion.
  • In Arkansas, the State Bank Department serves as the regulator for banks, and the Arkansas Securities Department for the securities industry.
  • In 2015, a total of 11,843 financial crimes were reported in Arkansas according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), an agency of the United States Department of Treasury.

    • Some, such as the Brookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as the Cato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.[14][15]

    Healthcare Policy

    Healthcare Policy Logo.png

    Healthcare information

    Healthcare policy in Arkansas involves the creation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such as insurance, pharmaceuticals and health information technology.

    According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.[16]

    Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is the rising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as on state budgets.

    Other issues in healthcare policy include state Medicaid expansions, health information technology and privacy, uninsured and underinsured portions of the population, a shortage of primary care physicians, and mental healthcare access and coverage.

    Medicaid spending

    Arkansas' Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

    Effect of the Affordable Care Act

    The impact of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has been debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama (D). The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system of health insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain health insurance.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between 2013 and 2016, the number of uninsured individuals in Arkansas declined by 50.1%.
  • About 59,500 individuals in Arkansas were enrolled in health plans offered through the health insurance exchange in 2017. Enrollment in Medicaid amounted to about 921,000 in May 2017.
  • The Kaiser Family Foundation found that between 2016 and 2017, average monthly premiums for benchmark plans on Arkansas' exchange increased by an average of 1% in the Little Rock market, from $310 to $314.


    • Immigration Policy

    Policypedia Imigration Final.png

    Immigration information

    Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

    Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

    Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known as sanctuary jurisdictions.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of October 2016, Arkansas did not allow lawfully residing immigrants to access public healthcare programs and did not provide driver's licenses to individuals residing in the country without legal permission.
  • In 2014, the population of Arkansas amounted to over 2.9 million. About 95.4 percent of Arkansas residents were native-born citizens; 1.4 percent were naturalized citizens and 3.2 percent were non-citizens.
  • Arkansas' poverty rate during 2014 was 14.3 percent. Among native-born citizens, 13.7 percent lived below the poverty line, compared to 32.1 percent of non-citizens.

    • Pension Policy

    Pension Policy Logo.png

    Public pensions

    Arkansas public pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Arkansas receive retirement benefits.

    There were 136 public pension systems in Arkansas as of 2020. Of these, six were state-level programs while the remaining 130 were administered at the local level. Membership in Arkansas' various pension systems totaled 276,299, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 134,121 were active members.[17]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Total contributions of $1.2 billion were made to Arkansas' state and local pension systems, in fiscal year 2020. Of this amount, $254.2 million came from employees.
  • Arkansas' state and local pension systems made payments totaling $2.2 billion, in fiscal year 2020.
  • Arkansas' state and local pension systems held $31.3 billion in total cash and investment holdings, as of fiscal year 2020.


    • Public policy in other states

    Click your state for an overview of policy information in your state.
    http://ballotpedia.org/Public policy in STATE


    Footnotes

    1. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - Arkansas," accessed July 12, 2016
    2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
    3. ↑ Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
    4. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
    5. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
    6. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
    7. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
    8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named welldata
    9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named completion
    10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named shale
    11. ↑ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Government Performance and Results Act Annual Performance Report 2011," July 10, 2012
    12. ↑ The National Bureau of Economic Research, "A Brief History of Regulations Regarding Financial Markets in the United States: 1789 to 2009," September 2011
    13. ↑ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "The U.S. Federal Financial Regulatory System: Restructuring Federal Bank Regulation," January 19, 2006
    14. ↑ Brookings, "The Origins of the Financial Crisis," November 24, 2008
    15. ↑ The Cato Institute, "Did Deregulation Cause the Financial Crisis?" July 2009
    16. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Health," accessed July 8, 2015
    17. ↑ United States Census Bureau, 2020 Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State & Local Tables accessed February 23, 2022
    Flag of Arkansas
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