Arkansas schools routinely fail to spend millions of dollars meant to help their poorest students catch up to their peers, according to an analysis of education spending data by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Many school districts are...
To build an educated workforce, reduce crime, or just make sure our kids have a chance, the best time to invest in education is early. Too many working and middle class parents wonder how well their kids are being...
One in 34 Americans earned not a single dollar in 2009, according to new Social Security Administration data. At the same time, salaries at the very top of the spectrum grew by more than “fivefold,” according to a report...
The Achievement Gap report published by AACF in 2008 addresses many solutions to the achievement gap. However, there are a few proven strategies that can Arkansas schools can use to ensure the improved and continued success of children that...
It has been said many times that a child is hungry or sick will struggle to learn and succeed in school. This is true for children who fall into the achievement gap as well. Low-income and minority students are...
The family and community environment of a child have a great impact on their educational success and opportunities. A few family and community factors that contribute to the achievement gap are: 1. Parental involvement in both the home and...
The factors that have caused the achievement gap are varied but can be broken down into three categories: schools, family and community, and health. Schools are critical when it comes to a student’s educational achievement and opportunities. Because of...
(First in a five-part series) As we watch both the national and Arkansas economies struggle out of the recession, many of us wonder what we can do to protect our communities and working families from a future crisis of...
Any doubt that vulnerable children and families are worse off during the recession will be quashed after reading today’s Wall Street Journal article, “Middle Class Slams Brakes on Spending.” The poorest fifth of Americans had to spend more on...
Arkansas is a Low Tax State, But Not for Families Living in Poverty Recently released data from the Census Bureau confirms that overall, Arkansas could be considered a “low tax state.” However, families living near or below the poverty...