Arkansas has become the 5th state in the nation to receive a new federal education waiver designed to give state and local school leaders greater flexibility over federal education funding while reducing paperwork and administrative requirements.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joined Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Senator Tom Cotton, and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva in Hot Springs to announce approval of the Reclaiming Arkansas Education Waiver.
According to state leaders, the waiver allows Arkansas to consolidate multiple federal funding streams, simplify reporting requirements, and direct more resources into classrooms instead of paperwork. Rural school districts will also receive additional flexibility in managing federal education funds.
Governor Sanders said the waiver is about “education, not paperwork,” allowing teachers to spend more time educating students while reducing administrative burdens. She highlighted Arkansas LEARNS accomplishments, including nearly 50,000 students using Education Freedom Accounts, minimum teacher pay increasing from $36,000 to $50,000, 120 literacy coaches deployed statewide, and statewide academic proficiency increasing by more than 20% since implementation of the LEARNS Act.
Secretary McMahon praised Arkansas’ education reforms, saying the state has strengthened literacy instruction, expanded career education, and empowered parents through Education Freedom Accounts. She said the waiver gives Arkansas greater control over federal education dollars while allowing officials to focus resources on programs producing results.
State education leaders estimate the waiver could reduce administrative costs and allow more education funding to reach classrooms and students rather than compliance reporting.
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