In May 2001, Judge Collins Kilgore issued a historic ruling in the Lake View School District v. Huckabee et al– the state’s current school funding formula is unfair to poorer school districts and provides inadequate funding for education. The case is expected to have major implications on education funding, other programs serving children and families, […]

n May 2001, Judge Collins Kilgore issued a historic ruling in the Lake View School District v. Huckabee et al – the state’s current school funding formula is unfair to poorer school districts and provides inadequate funding for education. The case is expected to have major implications on education funding, other programs serving children and […]

Arkansas voters overwhelmingly support making quality early childhood education available for the state’s preschool population. According to a recent poll of registered Arkansas voters, 75 percent think public schools or state-supported programs should make early childhood education available for all 3- and 4-year-olds. The poll was commissioned by Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (AACF) […]

Although dental disease is preventable, dental decay is still the most common and costly preventable oral health problem in all age groups. Poor oral health conditions originate in childhood and can worsen without proper care and treatment. Oral health in Arkansas is in a dire state. Arkansas was recently graded “D,” along with nine other […]

This brief draws on information collected from focus group interviews with representatives of 14 programs that are involving youth in their evaluation and research efforts. It examines the elements of successful youth involved research projects and offers short profiles of the 14 organizations included in the study.

In March, the U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2000 Census. The Census reported the number of people over age 18 and the total population by race and Hispanic origin. The most significant change in the recent Census is the change of minimum racial categories from four to five, with 57 additional racial combinations. […]

In May, Pulaski County Chancellor Collins Kilgore issued a long-anticipated decision in the Lake View school-funding case (Lake View School District v. Huckabee). In his decision, Judge Kilgore ruled that the state’s current school-funding formula is unfair to poorer school districts and provides inadequate funding for the education of the state’s children. If upheld by […]

Welfare reform is now 4 years old in Arkansas. In April 1997, the Arkansas General Assembly passed legislation establishing the Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program, the state’s version of welfare reform. The TEA program was passed in response to 1996 federal legislation that created the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program and […]

In May, Pulaski County Chancellor Collins Kilgore issued a long-anticipated decision in the Lake View School funding case. As expected, Judge Kilgore’s decision held that the state’s current school funding formula is unfair to poorer school districts and provides inadequate funding for the education of the state’s children. The case will not only shape the […]

Included in this newsletter: Access to quality child care must be part of the continuum of lifelong learning opportunities available to Arkansans of all ages. The cost of child care comprises 18%-24% of the basic daily living needs facing Arkansas families. In some cases, the cost of child care equals over half of a working […]