Full Breakdown
Arkansas Governor Claims Education Overhaul Yields Record Gains
6/19/2026, 11:24:28 PM
Arkansas’s LEARNS Act Shows Reported Gains
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that Arkansas public-school students achieved the highest statewide proficiency rates on the 2026 ATLAS exam, third year of 2023 education overhaul known as the LEARNS Act. State officials reported proficiency rose from 35 % in 2024 to 42 % in 2026, a rise of about 20 percentage points.
Legislative Background and Policy Changes
The LEARNS Act raised the minimum teacher salary to $50,000, created the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund for performance bonuses, deployed over 120 literacy coaches to low-performing schools, mandated universal free breakfast and career-technical pathways, banned instruction on critical race theory and related topics, and introduced the Bell-to-Bell No-Cell Act.
Proficiency Gains and Statistical Overview
Overall proficiency rose from 35 % in 2024 to 42 % in 2026; mathematics, science, English language arts and third-grade reading each rose roughly eight points; the share of lowest-performing students fell from 27.9 % to 23.1 %, and K-2 proficiency exceeded 50 % in most subjects.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Sanders said the gains reflect a “comprehensive, aligned approach” that combines higher teacher pay, literacy support and a focus on student needs, and Arkansas Department of Education said the data confirm that listening to teachers, administrators and parents is essential. Officials said districts will review ATLAS data with the department and that growth scores will be released in fall 2026.
Criticism & Opposition
Democrats and unions have criticized red-state reforms, arguing that bans on certain curricula and reliance on test-based accountability may restrict instructional freedom. Fox News cites former Vice President Kamala Harris among those targeting Arkansas-style policies, though no counter-data were offered.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Fox News reports a 7 % increase in proficiency since 2024, while KY3 describes a 20 % rise; Fox cites 42.2 % proficiency in 2026 versus KY3’s 42 %. Neither source provides national comparison data.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The thing we're most excited about is the fact that so many Arkansas students are doing better now than they would have been doing pre-LEARNS legislation,” — Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas
- “Realizing that every single kid can learn when given the right environment, when given the right tools, and letting failure not be an option.” — Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas
- “The LEARNS Act was a bold, innovative, and comprehensive approach to improve education,” — Jacob Oliva, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education
- “These scores prove that listening to teachers, administrators, and parents wasn’t just valuable but also essential.” — Jacob Oliva, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education
What’s Next
The Arkansas Department of Education will release district-level ATLAS results in fall 2026, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
