LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Friday filing in federal court in Little Rock asks for the Little Rock School District to be added to a lawsuit opposing Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sander’s signature LEARNS Act.
The LEARNS Act was signed into law in March 2023, raising teacher pay, establishing literacy requirements and introducing a voucher program. A suit was filed against the act in June 2025, specifically calling out the voucher program, Educational Freedom Accounts, for federal and state constitutional violations, as well as violations of freedom of religion and equal protection.
New lawsuit claims Arkansas LEARNS Act vouchers violate state constitution
Plaintiffs in the original filing were from Franklin, Drew and Pulaski counties.
The Little Rock School District (LRSD) asks to be added, as public funds are being diverted to support a separate system of private sectarian schools and this impacts its students and educators, the suit states. It continues that each student who leaves LRSD for private or home school takes resources away from LRSD…