Arkansas children have shown significant improvement in their education on the statewide exam, the Arkansas Teaching, Learning, and Assessment System (ATLAS), since the state passed the LEARNS Act in 2023, offering a blueprint for other states.
“The 2026 ATLAS exam scores confirm what we’re hearing from educators across the Natural State: Arkansas LEARNS is working and students across Arkansas are doing better because of it. We took education back to the basics to focus on what really matters, and our students’ success will power our state’s future for years to come,” boasted Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The message these scores send is clear: now is the time to double down on the successes of the LEARNS Act and continue to pursue the strategy we know is helping more students than ever before thrive.”
The proficiency numbers are fantastic. Everything has gone up since 2024:
Other stats:
The LEARNS Act eliminated critical race theory and DEI from curricula. In other words, the act returned to basics and taught skills and information critical to a child’s growth and success in life.
Universal school choice was also another point that made headlines back in 2023.
However, the LEARNS Act contains so much more that not only helps the students but also the community.
The act also raised the teacher salary to $50,000, placed over 120 literacy coaches in all schools rated D- and F- across the state, and gave tutoring grants to students who need extra help.
Every school district has to have a “high school career and technical education in one of 18 high-wage, high-growth industries.”
“The LEARNS Act was a bold, innovative, and comprehensive approach to improve education,” Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said. “It was built on research, urgency, and the desperate need for change. These scores prove that listening to teachers, administrators, and parents wasn’t just valuable but also essential. The plan is working. Arkansas students are reading, learning, and benefiting.”
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