Little Rock School District asks to join federal lawsuit against the LEARNS Act

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.

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.

The LEARNS Act hampers LRSD from meeting the Arkansas Constitution’s requirement of a “general, suitable and efficient system of free public schools,” the suit continues.

An exhibit attached to the LRSD suit shows that low-income families are affected more than wealthy families, who can afford to pay for private education beyond the voucher amount.

The exhibit continues that “the LEARNS Act will drain valuable and necessary resources from the public school system and create a separate and unequal dual school system that discriminates between children based on economic, racial and physical characteristics and capabilities.”

A spokesperson for Attorney General Tim Griffin said the office opposes LRSD joining the suit. 

“We will oppose LRSD’s attempt to intervene and will continue proudly defending the LEARNS Act,” spokesperson Jeff LeMaster said.

The governor’s office released a statement in reaction to the court filing: “51,000 Arkansas students now count on the LEARNS Act to get an education that best fits their needs, and Governor Sanders will work to defend those kids’ futures just as she fought to raise public school teacher pay from $36,000 to $50,000, invest in public school student literacy with 120 new literacy coaches, expand public school safety through new grant programs, and deliver many other needed investments to Arkansas’ public school system through the LEARNS Act.”