Childhood Screenings: Improving Access to Early Identification, Referrals, and Linkages to Services
The health care system has improved dramatically over the past 20 years in Arkansas. Today, 95 percent of children have health coverage, and we’ve lessened the coverage gap resulting from […]
Getting the Best Teachers Where They Are Needed Most
Policymakers, parents, and school administrators all want to ensure that students are taught by the best possible teachers, and for good reason. Research has shown that teacher quality is one […]
Kids at the Capitol 2017
Each legislative session brings its own bag of mixed goods, and the Regular Session of the 91st General Assembly was no different. While we were concerned about the constant push […]
Talk, Read, Sing: Helping our Littlest Learners Become School-Ready
In partnership with the Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, today we’re releasing a new policy brief on the importance of talking, reading, and singing with children from […]
AR Child Poverty: Policy to Change Lives, Build Stronger Communities
With the Regular Session of the 91st General Assembly coming up in just weeks, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the critical issue of child poverty in Arkansas and what […]
From Good to Great in Arkansas: Marvell-Elaine and Prescott
In 2013, southern Arkansas communities Marvell-Elaine and Prescott began working to improve educational outcomes for their children. Both communities were already good places for kids, but they wanted to be great […]
Helping Your Child Succeed in School: A Guide for Parents
All Arkansas students have the right to high-quality learning opportunities. But not all students in our state enjoy the same learning experiences. Some young people have access to high-quality education, while others […]
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 […]
Special Education in Arkansas: where we are, where we need to be, how we can improve
Arkansas serves nearly 56,000 students through special education programs. The state constitution guarantees every child access to the advantages and opportunities of free, public education. It also charges the legislature with adopting all suitable […]
What would it take for Arkansas to be number one?
Every year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation releases the Kids Count Data Book, a comprehensive, 50-state look at child welfare. This year, Arkansas made gains in economic well-being, but we lost […]