State Looking Into Legislators’ Religious-based Schools

State Sen. Johnny Key (R-Mountain Home) and Rep. Justin Harris (R-West Fork) are being examined by Arkansas Department of Human Services regulators for their faith-based pre-schools which receive funding from the state.

A recent lawsuit brought by Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State asked for an investigation of Harris’ pre-school, Growing God’s Kingdom.

Subsequently, Key’s school, Open Arms Learning Center, is also being reviewed.

Harris’ school received more than $500,000 in funding from the state last year through the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program, which is administered by DHS. Key’s learning center benefited from $97,000 in ABC funds.

Harris and Key both claim that Bible instruction and Christian-based principles are taught at their schools, but they both contend they are in compliance with ABC program guidelines.

Americans United has filed a number of lawsuits in recent years to curtail religious influence in public schools. Several of its current lawsuits center on limiting public financing to religious-based institutions, but a similar case to its Arkansas litigation is not listed on the group’s web site.

For additional reading on the topic, visit the Arkansas Times, which broke the story and includes a copy of the letter sent from Americans United to DHS officials, or the Arkansas News Bureau.