Arkansas GOP removes pre-K from platform

ROGERS, Ark.—The Arkansas Republican Party has removed any mention of prekindergarten education from its platform.

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the state party made the platform change on Saturday. The platform had said parents who want pre-K education for the children should have access to it, and the state should make sure parents have the necessary resources to enroll their child in a pre-K program.

Some in favor of the issue’s removal say prekindergarten could become mandatory in the state, rather than voluntary. Jacquelin Brownell of Benton County was the only delegate to speak against removing pre-K education from the party platform.

“If we remove this, what will our response be to people in poverty?” Brownell asked.

The state Supreme Court imposed a Jan. 1, 2004 deadline for reform after a court ruling found that education spending was unconstitutionally inadequate. The Arkansas Legislature then approved state-supported prekindergarten programs at public schools on a trial basis in 2003.

The state pre-K program only covers children within 200 percent of federal poverty level income. Current state budgets cover less than half of those children.

Advocates for pre-K says it helps students be on equal footing as they begin schooling, and it is more cost-efficient than trying to rectify deficiencies later on.

State Democratic treasurer Tyler Clark said concerns that pre-K could turn into a requirement is a false fear.0

“This is just another excuse to discriminate against the poor,” Clark said.

Democratic Rep. Joyce Elliot said she was surprised by the platform change because she had heard consistent support for the principle of pre-K education, and the only opposition to education expansion was due to costs.