Arkansas needs to focus its state poverty (NSL) funding where it belongs: in education programs that are proven to remove barriers for kids living in low-income families. The way to do this is by investing in the “Golden Three:”...
Every year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation releases the Kids Count Data Book, a comprehensive, 50-state look at child welfare. This year, Arkansas made gains in economic well-being, but we lost ground in health, becoming one of the bottom five...
Working family tax credits pump millions of dollars into the Arkansas economy. But millions more are left on the table every year when eligible Arkansans don’t claim their credits. Arkansas needs a coordinated, statewide effort to get more families...
2014 was a year of progress that led to renewed efforts to inform lawmakers, engage parents, and connect with communities and their leaders about education in Arkansas. As always, AACF worked hard to improve access to high-quality education for all...
A group of minority, middle- and low-income parents met in Star City early in June. The subject was Common Core. Most of the parents knew very little about it. Schools throughout the state have done a poor job...
Poverty guidelines play two important roles, they are a scorecard for how we are doing as a state, and they help determine eligibility for dozens of programs that low-income Arkansans rely on. Because the current guidelines are outdated, they...