Chad Puryear For Arkansas

09/04/2026

08/28/2026

08/14/2026

Across Arkansas, school buses are back on the roads, classrooms are filling up, and students are settling into the routines of a new school year.
We want to welcome Arkansas students, teachers, administrators, and school staff back and wish them a successful year ahead.

They begin this year with encouraging signs of academic progress across our state. Since the 2024 baseline, overall student proficiency has increased from 35% to 42%. Math proficiency has risen from 36.4% to 44.2%, while science proficiency has increased from 35.6% to 44%. English language arts proficiency has grown from 33.8% to 39.5%.

We are especially encouraged by the progress of our youngest learners. Third-grade reading proficiency has increased from 35% to 43%, and proficiency among students in kindergarten through second grade now exceeds 50% in nearly every subject and grade level measured.

Those numbers represent more than percentages on a report. They represent students mastering new skills, teachers finding ways to help a child understand a difficult concept, and families supporting learning at home. There is still work ahead, but Arkansas students and educators have given us good reason to be optimistic.

As students return to the classroom, members of the House and Senate Education Committees are continuing their work on the state’s biennial educational adequacy study. This comprehensive review helps determine what resources our public schools need to provide every Arkansas student with an adequate and equitable education. The committees will use that work to develop funding recommendations for consideration during the 2027 Regular Session.

As another school year begins, we thank Arkansas educators and school employees for the important work they do every day. Most importantly, we wish every Arkansas student a safe, successful and rewarding school year.

08/09/2026

The Mulberry Senior Center fundraiser was a success with over $5,300.00 raised!

08/01/2026

Back-to-school shopping is expected to reach record levels this year, with families of students in elementary through high school planning to spend an average of $864. Nationwide, total back-to-school spending is projected to reach $43.3 billion, making it one of the largest annual shopping seasons for American families.

Fortunately, Arkansas families have an opportunity to keep more of that money in their pockets during the state's annual Sales Tax Holiday, which takes place Saturday, August 1, through Sunday, August 2, 2026. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and ending at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, shoppers can purchase many back-to-school essentials free of state and local sales tax.

Established by Act 757 of 2011, the Sales Tax Holiday is held each year on the first weekend of August. Arkansas is one of 19 states that provide a sales tax holiday, giving families a break as they prepare students for the new school year.

Eligible tax-free purchases include clothing and footwear priced under $100 per item, clothing accessories priced under $50 per item, school supplies, school art supplies, school instructional materials, and electronic devices commonly used by students for academic purposes.

The exemption applies to purchases made both in stores and online, as long as the order is placed during the tax-free weekend. All retailers are required to participate by exempting qualifying items from both state and local sales tax. It's important to remember that the price limits apply to each individual item—not the total purchase. If a single item exceeds the price threshold, the entire purchase price of that item is taxable.

As families check items off their back-to-school shopping lists, this weekend provides a simple way to save on the supplies students need for a successful school year. For a complete list of eligible items and additional information, visit arkansashouse.org or the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.