Arkansas education reform results show soaring test scores after LEARNS Act

I have been writing about the decline of public education in the United States for years. The political power of teachers unions has led to bloated budgets as schools pursue ideological agendas regarding educational improvements. Despite huge budgets, the number of students in major cities continued to fall or remained at the same dismal levels.

Now Arkansas has shown what’s possible when officials put education first. Scores in the state have skyrocketed following the implementation of reforms that many of us have been advocating for years. It also shows that state governments, not the federal government, are critical to reversing the decline in educational performance as the administration moves toward eliminating the Department of Education.

Arkansas has implemented a new program and testing protocol called the “Arkansas Teaching, Learning, and Assessment System,” or ATLAS, which includes a mix of higher pay for teachers, performance-based bonuses, and a voucher system for families.

As a result, proficiency scores increased in every major area between 2024 and 2026; math increased from 36.4% to 44.2%, science increased from 35.6% to 44%, and English language arts increased from 33.8% to 39.5%. Overall qualification increased from 36.9% last year to 42.2% in 2026

LNDA MCMAHON: PARENTS TOLD ME THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION REQUIRES LESS BUREAUCRACY AND PROVIDES STRONGER RESULTS

Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders heralded the success of the LEARNS Act of 2023, which makes sweeping changes to the state’s education system.

Teacher unions strongly oppose the use of the voucher system. The decline in our education standards caused me to change my perspective on vouchers.

Because of my commitment to public education, I have long been skeptical of voucher systems. Decades ago, my family helped found an organization that would prevent the exodus of families from public schools and strengthen academic standards in the Chicago Public School system. They persuaded more families to stay in the system because they (like me) believed that public schools could play a critical role in shaping citizens through diverse, shared experiences.

MAJOR CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LOSING STUDENTS AS PARENTS SEEK BETTER OPTIONS

When I saw that the decrease in points continued, my views on coupons changed. In my view, teachers unions and administrators are destroying public education in America. They view families as captive audiences while filling education with social and political agendas.

This view was echoed in this comment by Iowa school board member Rachel Wall: “The purpose of public education is not to teach children what parents want. It is to teach them what society wants them to know. The customer is not the parent, but the community.”

Wisconsin Democratic State Rep. Lee Snodgrass tweeted: “If parents want to have ‘a say’ in their child’s education, they should homeschool or pay private school tuition out of family budgets.”

PARENTS IN LOUDOUN DISTRICT ‘Not Happy’ With School Officials Testifying About TRANSGENDER POLICIES

This is exactly what families want to do through voucher systems.

Meanwhile, education activists continue to outmaneuver Democratic leaders. In late May, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (who had remained a moderate) continued her shift to the radical left when she appointed an LGBTQ activist who opposed efforts to move biological males from the girls’ bathroom to the state advisory board.

Teacher unions strongly oppose the use of the voucher system. The decline in our education standards caused me to change my perspective on vouchers.

Meanwhile, state boards continued to undermine gifted and talented programs and other educational advancements despite poor test scores.

In my opinion, the only way to break this decades-long cycle of failure is to offer families alternatives by allowing them to send their children to schools with basic educational priorities (rather than advocacy).

Arkansas shows what can be done by focusing on creating options and incentives for educational excellence.

Meanwhile, teachers unions continue to spend wildly to support Democratic politicians, who in turn meet every demand for pension increases and other issues. Unions have become the piggy bank for Democratic candidates, spending nearly $1 billion on such campaigns in the last 10 years. In cities like Chicago, teachers have successfully demanded paid leave and bus rides to protests against President Donald Trump and ICE, declaring that “civic action requires more than textbooks.”

CLICK FOR OTHER OPINIONS OF FOX NEWS

If you want to understand the unions’ priorities, watch one of NEA president Becky Pringle’s rambling speeches:

The union’s declarations that it would “win everything” did not explicitly include educational improvements for students.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

In a previous article, I was particularly struck by the frustration of a mother in Baltimore. who complained She said her son was in the top half of his class despite failing all but three subjects. Graduating students who are not proficient in English or math is the worst possible way for these students, schools, and society.

Despite such records, voters in big blue cities continue to re-elect the same politicians and repeat the same failed policies. Unless we change the economic and political equation of education policies, including breaking the control of unions like the NEA, we will continue to condemn inner city children to living in poverty for generations. They “win” in Arkansas, but it’s the students, not the politicians, who get the reward.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM JONATHAN TURLEY