Quality Pre-K educational opportunities should be available and accessible for every child. Investment in early education provides a foundation for improving educational outcomes for all children. Arkansas Advocates actively supports research, policy and legislation to increase the availability of quality Pre-K programs for all children in the state.

News release (March 2, 2010): Southern States’ Budget Cutting Endangers Pre-K Gains

Publications

Education in the Post-Lake View Era: What is Arkansas Doing to Close the Achievement Gap? (February 2008)

This examination of what Arkansas has done in recent years to improve its education system and how that has affected the education achievement gap among students finds that while many improvements have been made, the state still has a long way to go. Several suggestions are offered in the report for taking our education system in this direction; however, it proposes that a concerted effort will be needed on behalf of policymakers, parents and citizens to make these changes happen.

Among the findings: Arkansas needs a major public communications effort to promote participation in early childhood education. If all the families of 3- and 4-year-olds who are eligible for free preschool put them in quality pre-K programs, it would dramatically reduce the achievement gap.

Full Report

Executive Summary

Full Report: Spanish version

Executive Summary: Spanish version