Medicaid is Critical in Arkansas Public Schools
Medicaid is the largest insurer in the United States, and in 2025, around 48% of the program’s enrollees were children. More than 409,000 children in Arkansas are enrolled in Medicaid […]
2026 Kids Count Data Book: Family and Community
Despite progress made, Arkansas remains 49th in the country for births to teens, 45th for Family and Community Domain According to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, Arkansas’s teen birth […]
2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Education
Arkansas children have the best chance to thrive when they have quality education, including during their early years. Education is one of the four KIDS COUNT Data Book domains in […]
KIDS COUNT Data Book Now Includes Scores as Well as Traditional Rankings
For more than 35 years, the KIDS COUNT Data Book has ranked states on child well-being overall and in four domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. In […]
Arkansas Ranks 43rd in 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book
New Scoring Index from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to Increase Accountability by Showing How Arkansas’s Policies and Investment Affect Children’s Daily Lives Sharp increases in the children’s uninsured rate […]
Third Grade Retention — A Policy with Purpose, Just Not the Purpose You Think
Most Arkansas students recently wrapped up their school year. Their end-of-the-year ATLAS test results mean more for some than for others. Third graders who do not meet the state’s reading standard by scoring a Level […]
Arkansas’s K-12 Voucher Program: Rising Costs, Limited Savings, Growing Fiscal Concerns
Introduction What is the fiscal impact of the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, the state’s K-12 school voucher program established by the LEARNS Act? This is one question the Department […]
Exploring Recent School Readiness Assistance Changes in Light of Federal Rules Meant to Prioritize Needs of Families
Access to safe and high-quality child care is critical for families. Recent changes to the voucher program are negatively affecting Arkansas families.
AACF Statement on ADE Changes to School Readiness Assistance Program
AACF calls on the Arkansas Department of Education to delay implementation and consider community input.
Even Public Education Not Safe from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
While we have frequently highlighted how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act slashes funding for health care and food assistance, another provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act stands […]