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The “Elements” of Quality Pre-K

Quality pre-K matters. It matters most to the children who start off with their backpacks full of knowledge — they are familiar with school routines, they understand the importance of using words rather than fists when there is conflict over crayons, and they are beginning to recognize numbers and sound out words. They are Kindergarten-ready. Quality pre-K also matters to […]

A Tax and Budget Blueprint for a Better Arkansas

What if Arkansas were a national leader in children’s education and health? What if we had one of the lowest rates of child poverty in the nation instead of one of the highest? What if our abused and neglected children received the attention they deserved from caseworkers who weren’t overloaded? It’s not impossible. We can […]

The State of Early Childhood Education

Our pre-K paint-by-numbers picture is closer to completion after this past year and a half. Let’s take the next year and a half and fill it in completely. This is within our reach. All we have to do is: provide ongoing revenue to ensure that our ABC program maintains the high quality that kids need […]

Wealth, Education, and The Opportunity Gap

Education has been called “the great equalizer,” because it is a key tool in lifting the working poor out of poverty, decreasing crime, and improving health. Arkansas has made education a priority since statehood. The state’s constitution says the intelligence and virtue gained from education are “the safeguards of liberty and the bulwark of a […]

Parents’ Guide to Pre-K Advocacy

Parents and Guardians: you are the most important person in your young child’s life. You are already doing great things to help your child succeed. You are your child’s most valuable asset when it comes to making sure their needs are met. We want to help you find the resources you need to prepare your […]

What do #ARKidsNeed from birth to age eight?

#ARKidsNeed Download the Print Version Consistent health insurance coverage. Expanded access to health care. Moms who have quality prenatal care. Full immunization screenings. Proper dental care. Regular check-ups to catch health issues early. Mental health care from certified providers. Quality pre-K and early childhood education. Parents who teach early literacy by reading and talking. After […]

What Schools Need to Succeed: A look at three schools

Poverty has a negative and lasting impact on a student’s education. Research tells us that poverty can physically impact a child’s developing brain and his future ability to learn. Interventions can reverse that harm. But schools are limited in the tools to address these needs. Models such as Community Schools, Harlem Children’s Zone, and Whole Child, Whole […]

The Business Case for Pre-K

Pre-K is a great investment for Arkansas’s future workforce and a critical resource for working families. Justin Eaton, Owner, IDK? Café, Bentonville, AR 4 Things You Need to Know About Pre-K Right Now Download the Print Version The importance of pre-K rises as the number of children living in poverty goes up. In Arkansas that is 29 percent […]

The AACF Guide to School Funding

Where does it come from? Where does it go? This guide tells you: • Why school funding matters • Where the money comes from • How school funds can be used to help low-income students • How parents can get involved