When do children begin to learn? Believe it or not, school readiness begins in the womb. Research shows the first few years of life, including the prenatal months, are the most important for healthy brain development. Unfortunately, too many...
The year 2017 was an eventful one for AACF! We celebrated 40 years of working to improve the lives of Arkansas kids and families. AACF observed the occasion in October with our first ever gala, held at Little Rock’s...
Governor Asa Hutchinson kicked off the 2018 fiscal session of the Arkansas General Assembly today with a review of his administration’s major accomplishments while outlining his priorities for the upcoming session. While there was good news to be found...
Under the Arkansas Constitution, it is the state’s responsibility to provide an adequate and equitable education for all students in its public school system. The Lake View Supreme Court decision mandates the state to conduct a biennial study of...
Policymakers, parents, and school administrators all want to ensure that students are taught by the best possible teachers, and for good reason. Research has shown that teacher quality is one of the best indicators of student achievement (Kini and...
Note: This blog is third in a series of posts covering the findings in the 2017 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. Every year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation releases the Kids Count Data Book, featuring new numbers...
Ranking 47th in the latest national rankings in economic well-being, Arkansas continues to struggle with poverty that affects its children, according to the 2017 KIDS COUNT® Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. More than one...
Each legislative session brings its own bag of mixed goods, and the Regular Session of the 91st General Assembly was no different. While we were concerned about the constant push for legislation that punishes poor people, there were definitely...
AACF would like to thank Governor Asa Hutchinson for including $3 million in his FY 2018 budget this legislative session for our state’s Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) pre-K program—the first permanent funding increase since 2008. However, despite a major...
Arkansas pre-K program needs an investment of $20 million to maintain quality, avoid cuts Pre-K works! Research has shown that children who attend quality pre-kindergarten programs are better prepared for K-12 education and are more likely to read at grade...
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