Arkansas pre-K program needs an investment of $20 million to maintain quality, avoid cuts
Pre-K works! Research has shown that children who attend quality pre-kindergarten programs are better prepared for K-12 education and are more likely to read at grade level by the third grade. Kids who attend pre-K are more likely to graduate from high school, and less likely to be incarcerated. And those are just a few of the benefits.
But pre-K isn’t just great for kids – it’s great for Arkansas’s economy, too. ABC employs more than 3,500 educators across the state. It allows working families to keep working. An investment in quality pre-K also reduces government costs, prepares today’s kids for tomorrow’s jobs, and gives communities a nearly seven-fold return on their investment.
But ABC hasn’t had a permanent cost of living increase since 2008, and after years of flat funding, if funding for pre-K isn’t increased, services will have to be cut. ABC needs an investment of $20 million to maintain high standards of quality and avoid cuts.
It’s time for us to speak up for Arkansas’s littlest learners! Tweet your legislators TODAY and tell them to #ShowPreKSomeLove – by supporting increased investment in the Arkansas Better Chance program.
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