Arkansas Board of Education OKs rules for school safety, Educational Freedom Account voucher payments

The Arkansas Board of Education on Friday approved a final set of rules for school safety, clearing the way for school systems to be reimbursed by the state for their school safety-related expenses.

At the same meeting, the Education Board:

Approved emergency rules -- good for 120 days -- on a process for distributing more than $30 million in state aid this school year for student tuition and related costs at private schools.

Accepted the recommendation of the Charter Authorizing Panel to establish two new open-enrollment charter schools to open in the 2024-25 school year.

The board's newly approved rules for school safety and Educational Freedom Account voucher payments won't be final until they are reviewed by the Arkansas Legislative Council.

Education Board member Kathy Rollins of Springdale asked whether it was necessary for the board to immediately approve the rules because board members had only received public comments on the rules earlier Friday and had no time to review the comments.

Jason