Issue Spotlight: What Democrats running for Arkansas governor say about education

Sen. Fred Love and Supha Xayprasith-Mays are seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the March 3 primary. | Photos courtesy of the Arkansas Secretary of State

By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA | Arkansas Advocate

The rising cost of Arkansas’ school voucher program has prompted concerns from Democrats and some rural Republican legislators who say it will be devastating to public schools.

Whoever wins the March 3 Democratic primary for governor will face Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Republican who signed the law creating the voucher program. 

Sen. Fred Love and Supha Xayprasith-Mays, who are seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, are both critical of the voucher program and want to better invest in public schools. 

Here’s what the candidates say about education:

Love: End voucher program, invest in literacy efforts

Love said he would eliminate Arkansas’ voucher program and support public schools by investing in reading specialists and reinforcing literacy programs. The term-limited lawmaker from Mabelvale would also expand adult literacy programs to assist working families. 

Expanding mental health and teletherapy services, providing free lunch to all students and increasing funding to the state’s early childhood education program are additional priorities of Love’s.

Supporting teachers with fair pay, resources and respect are also important, he said. To address rural district’s recruitment issues, Love said he would like to put additional money in the school funding formula that these districts could use to pay teachers more. 

Xayprasith-Mays: Increase teacher pay and modernize curriculum

Xayprasith-Mays said she would review the voucher program because taxpayer money should not go to private schools but stopped short of calling outright for its elimination. The state should work on improving public schools, perhaps by using successful districts as models for those that are struggling, she said. 

The Bentonville business woman said she wants to provide high-speed internet access to underserved regions. Xayprasith-Mays also said she wants school curricula to include and stay current in subjects such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Additionally, Xayprasith-Mays advocated for increasing teacher pay, improving professional development programs and ensuring all students receive a free lunch.