Arkansas Students Need Help in Math and Reading Proficiency

Note: This blog is second in a series of posts covering the findings in the Annie E. Casey Foundation 2019 KIDS COUNT® Data Book. To read the first blog post on economic […]

Legitimate Concerns Over Poverty Measure, But Proposed Changes Miss the Mark

There are efforts taking place in Washington that would change the way the federal poverty level is calculated, and the result would be to reduce or take away necessary assistance […]

You Can Help Move Arkansas from Adequacy to Excellence in Education

If you care about public education, you have to get involved in what’s known as “the adequacy process.” The Arkansas Constitution requires the state to provide an adequate and equitable […]

New Report Finds Medicaid Expansion Leads to Healthier Mothers and Babies

A new report shows Arkansas saw one of the sharpest declines in the uninsured rate for women of childbearing age following the state’s decision to expand Medicaid. Between 2013 and […]

2018 State of Preschool report ranks Arkansas 5th in access for 3-year-olds

Study shows all states need faster expansion and greater investment in early childhood education In The State of Preschool 2018 annual report, the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University […]

New proposal gives needed boost to Arkansas’s working families

Half a million Arkansas children stand to benefit United States Senators Sherrod Brown, Michael Bennet, Dick Durbin and Ron Wyden today introduced the Working Families Tax Relief Act, legislation that […]

Helping Our Littlest Learners by Supporting the Early Childhood Workforce

Boost Wages with a Refundable Tax Credit Linked to Increased Credentials Early childhood educators play one of the most important roles in our education system and economy. Research shows that […]

Arkansas should focus taxpayer dollars on improving public schools

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families opposes SB620, a bill to create a pilot K-12 education voucher program in Pulaski County. AACF believes that every child deserves a high-quality education. […]

Arkansas Advocates 2019 Legislative Session Recap, Vol. 10

Despite being a three-day week at the Capitol, it was jam-packed! Several bills worked on by AACF staff cleared important hurdles, and we are gearing up for the sprint that […]

Reducing smoking in Arkansas: part of the solution lies in the tax code

Arkansas has the chance to reduce the use of tobacco and tobacco-related products, while also reducing the financial burden placed on the state’s non-smokers, who help pay the health care […]