Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Feb. 15, 2025 – After a successful kickoff at which dozens of parents were able to gather information and ask questions here this week, a statewide tour focusing on all K-12 education options, including public, private and nontraditional, will arrive in Northeast Arkansas next week and east Arkansas the following week.

Stops include:

  • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Lawrence County Library in Walnut Ridge
  • Noon Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Craighead County Library in Jonesboro
  • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the House of Opportunity in Forrest City
  • Noon Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the West Memphis Public Library, West Memphis

There is no cost to attend, and food will be provided for all guests who RSVP. Guests can find the full tour schedule and RSVP for any location here.

“We want everyone to truly understand what school choice is about,” said Darrell Smith, Assistant Commissioner for School Choice and Parent Empowerment at the Arkansas Department of Education. “Every child in Arkansas should have the opportunity to be educated in an environment where they can flourish, gain confidence in their abilities, and realize their full potential. I think we can all agree on that. Families deserve to know that real options are available, along with the tools and resources to help them access those opportunities. School choice is ultimately a story of hope, possibility, and a brighter future for every child.”

Tour events are organized as town halls, where information is provided on programs such as the Public School Choice program, which allows students to move between school public districts and is accepting applications through May 1. Additionally, the tour covers applying for and using programs like the Education Freedom Account (EFA) created by the LEARNS Act and the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) scholarship, which help families access private and, in the case of the EFA, nontraditional options like homeschool or microschools.

“Many families may not realize that choice really exists across a spectrum,” said Emmy Henley, managing director of The Reform Alliance, a nonprofit partner in the tour. “Families can choose between public options: within a district at a magnet school, or across districts, or choose a tuition-free public charter school. Or they may choose from a variety of different private schools based on academic programs or serving special needs or faith-based education. Or they may even choose different ways of doing homeschool.

“Our goal is to ensure families know everything that is available in their local area so that they can choose the best educational environment for their child’s specific needs,” she said.