Fiscal and Special Sessions Education Recap

The Arkansas General Assembly wrapped up its fiscal and special sessions in March with little to no new funding for priority education needs for children in Arkansas, especially for low-income children […]

Jonesboro Pre-K’s First Class is All Grown Up

Fourteen years ago, in August 2004, the Jonesboro, Arkansas, School District launched its first pre-K program. The Jonesboro Pre-K Center was licensed for 186 early learners and was housed in […]

Part II: Positive Early Learning Experiences Help Infants and Toddlers Become School-Ready

Before age 3, 85 percent of a child’s core brain structure is formed. This “wiring” shapes infants and toddlers’ ability to learn to read and think critically. Early learning experiences […]

Part I: Good Health is Essential for Infants and Toddlers to Become School-Ready

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 […]

2018 Voters’ Guide

This November, Arkansas voters will elect candidates to important public offices, including seats in the U.S. Congress and the Arkansas General Assembly. The winners of these elections will be in a unique […]

Back to School Means More than Just the End of Summer to Many Arkansas Kids

As most Arkansas kids went back to school this week for a new year, we should remember that not all kids had summers that they are eager to “show-and-tell” about. […]

Quality Pre-K Still Needs State Investment to Thrive

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 […]

ACTION ALERT: Stop major cuts to pre-K, other critical services

The fate of our pre-K program, the foster care system, libraries, and other services hang in the balance based on the decision to fund Arkansas Works (the state’s expanded health […]