Arkansas is making the wrong investments
sion by the Arkansas Legislature to approve a more than half-a-billion income tax cut that will disproportionately benefit the wealthy and profitable corporations.
Education Progress is Stalling, Leaving an Uncertain Future for Kids and Our State
Note: This blog is third in a series of posts covering the findings in the 2018 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. To read the introductory blog post, click here. Read the second, on economic security, here. Every year,...
Arkansas Child Poverty Rate Sees Improvement; Investments Needed to Maintain Gains
Note: This blog is second in a series of posts covering the findings in the 2018 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. To read the first blog post, click here. The economy is still moving along following...
Clearing Barriers to Success by Redirecting Poverty Funding
It’s no secret that the quality of public-school education is not equal across Arkansas. Similarly, all students do not experience the same types of challenges. This is especially true for students living in poverty. They often face more obstacles...
Grow Bright Futures: Using State Poverty Dollars to Strengthen Student Success (infographic)
Arkansas needs to focus its state poverty (NSL) funding where it belongs: in education programs that are proven to remove barriers for kids living in low-income families. The way to do this is by investing in the “Golden Three:”...
New Poll Finds Arkansans Strongly Support State-Level EITC, Investing in Children’s Programs
An overwhelming majority of Arkansans support a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit and greater state investment in afterschool and summer programs, according to a new poll released today by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF). The poll found...
How School Discipline Policies Affect Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absences add up—and school discipline practices can make the problem better, or worse. Chronic absenteeism is defined as students missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason, excused or unexcused, including suspensions. That means...
The Governor’s State of the State Address: What Was Left Unsaid?
Governor Asa Hutchinson kicked off the 2018 fiscal session of the Arkansas General Assembly today with a review of his administration’s major accomplishments while outlining his priorities for the upcoming session. While there was good news to be found...
AACF Testimony: Providing an Adequate and Equitable Education
Under the Arkansas Constitution, it is the state’s responsibility to provide an adequate and equitable education for all students in its public school system. The Lake View Supreme Court decision mandates the state to conduct a biennial study of...
Make Every Day Count: Strategies to Reduce Chronic Absence in Arkansas Schools
Chronic absenteeism – defined as students missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason – is a big problem in Arkansas. Time lost in the classroom has a direct impact on students’ academic progress, especially...