Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families firmly believes that all children deserve a quality education, regardless of income, geography, or disability. It is our state’s constitutional obligation to give every child access to the advantages and opportunities of a...
At a press conference yesterday, Garland County Schools announced big news in their efforts to expand access to quality pre-K in their area. “The Dawson Education Cooperative in Arkadelphia has partnered with the Hot Springs, Cutter Morning Star, Lakeside, Fountain...
Many of you probably remember the book All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, which, when I read it, took me back to a time in life when my main jobs were to master tying my shoes...
For the first time in six years, the number of Arkansas children living in poverty decreased, according to the 2016 Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT® Data Book. Last year the state ranked 48th, with 202,000 children living in poverty;...
Many poor, often minority Arkansas students start school already behind. They face diminishing opportunities when they stay behind. Recognizing this, the Arkansas state legislature put in place a funding stream to ensure that all of our children have the...
Today, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released their annual Yearbook that rates and ranks state’s pre-K programs. There is some good news: enrollment was up by 3,400 children in 2014-2015*, including 3,300 3-year-olds, while maintaining high...
The Clinton School Center on Community Philanthropy (in partnership with the Good 2 Great initiative) will host Dr. W. Steven Barnett as the 2016 Clinton School Center on Community Philanthropy Scholar-in-Residence. Dr. Barnett is the director of the National...
Quality early education is so important to the development of our youngest Arkansans that more people are speaking up for pre-K programs. We are excited to release the second video of our #preKstories series. You may remember the first...
The following is a statement from Rich Huddleston, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, on the decision by state officials not to renew the contract of Little Rock School District Superintendent Baker Kurrus: Arkansas Advocates for Children...
Would you like Arkansas to become a national leader in children’s education and health? What if we reversed the recent $1 million cuts to libraries? Would you like for Arkansas to improve its highways and roads without under-funding other critical...