Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is pointing to new student test results as evidence that her state’s education overhaul is working, saying Arkansas could become a model for other states looking to improve classroom performance.
According to figures released by the governor’s office, Arkansas public school students have shown gains across multiple subjects since the state implemented the 2023 LEARNS Act, a sweeping Republican-backed education law. The law raised the minimum teacher salary, created performance-based bonuses, expanded literacy support, funded school safety initiatives and added restrictions on certain classroom materials and teachings.
The governor’s office said overall student proficiency has increased across grades and subjects in recent years. In 2026, 42.2% of students met proficiency standards, up from 36.9% in 2025. Mathematics proficiency rose from 36.4% in 2024 to 44.2% in 2026, while science proficiency increased from 35.6% to 44.0%. English language arts proficiency also climbed, rising from 33.8% to 39.5%.
Third-grade reading scores also improved, with proficiency rising from 36% in 2024 to 43% in 2026. The governor’s office said students performing at the lowest levels declined across subjects, falling from an average of 27.3% in 2025 to 23.1% in 2026.
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Sanders said the results show that Arkansas students are moving in the right direction and that the state’s education changes are beginning to produce measurable progress. She argued that the reforms work because they combine higher expectations, teacher support, stronger literacy instruction and a focus on student achievement.
The LEARNS Act has been one of Sanders’ signature policy achievements. Supporters say it gives schools more tools, rewards strong teachers and focuses the system more directly on student outcomes. They also point to the teacher salary increase, which raised the minimum from $36,000 to $50,000, as a major step toward improving recruitment and retention.
Critics of similar red-state education reforms have argued that restrictions on classroom content, voucher-style policies or culture-war provisions can politicize schools. Sanders, however, said the results should not be viewed only through a partisan lens. She argued that student success should matter in both Republican and Democratic states.
Arkansas education officials also praised the results. Jacob Oliva, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education, said the LEARNS Act was built around research, urgency and input from teachers, administrators and parents. He said the latest scores show the plan is working.
Sanders said she hopes other states will look at Arkansas, along with states such as Mississippi, as examples of how to raise academic performance. She said the goal is not simply to win a political argument, but to improve outcomes for children.
The new results are likely to become part of a broader national debate over education policy. Republicans may point to Arkansas as proof that conservative reforms can improve achievement. Democrats and education unions may continue to question whether test-score gains are enough to justify the full policy package.
For now, the Arkansas data gives Sanders a political and policy win as she promotes the LEARNS Act as a possible blueprint for education reform beyond her state.
Why It Matters
The Arkansas results matter because education has become one of the biggest policy fights between red and blue states. Test-score gains give Sanders and her allies a stronger argument that their reforms are producing measurable improvements.
The results also matter for teachers, parents and students because improvements in reading, math and science can shape long-term academic success.
What Comes Next
Arkansas will likely continue tracking whether the gains hold over time. Other states may also study the LEARNS Act as they consider teacher pay, literacy programs, school safety and classroom policy changes.
The debate will likely continue over whether Arkansas’ progress is mainly the result of academic reforms, increased resources, testing changes or broader policy shifts.
Arkansas officials promoted the state’s education gains after the LEARNS Act reforms took effect.
When I took office, many Arkansas schools were in crisis.
Here’s how we transformed our education system and are helping every student succeed: pic.twitter.com/e7TQK699pS
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) June 18, 2026
