The pre-K clock is ticking
The last funding increase for pre-K in Arkansas kicked in on the first day of fiscal year 2008, which would have been July 1, 2007. For a program that’s proven to be such a powerful tool, that’s way too...
AACF statement on elections and moving forward
A statement from AACF Executive Director Rich Huddleston on last night’s elections in Arkansas: Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families would like to congratulate all of the Arkansas candidates on their victories last night. Now that the elections are...
Pre-K gives Arkansas kids a strong start
Here in Arkansas, many parents, educators, and business leaders agree that pre-K is a valuable and effective strategy for preparing children for the future. Students who participated in the Arkansas Better Chance program scored 11 percentage points higher in Math...
Misuse of poverty funding hurts poorer kids
Last week, the joint legislative education committee met to make spending recommendations in education. The committee made a few recommendations that involved more spending. They suggested putting more money towards technology, substitute teachers, and English language learners (ELL). Alternative...
Mandatory retention policies could do more harm than good for Arkansas students
Mandatory retention policies without significant resourcing are often ineffective, financially draining, and damaging to student’s emotional health. Since 2002, 15 states have implemented grade level retention policies as a means to combat “social promotion.” States typically focus retention efforts...
Education news as kids head back to school
As students head back to school, we thought this was a perfect time to update you on education news in Arkansas. The Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (AR-GLR) is launching an initiative to promote school attendance this month...
Common Core in Arkansas, illustrated
A group of minority, middle- and low-income parents met in Star City early in June. The subject was Common Core. Most of the parents knew very little about it. Schools throughout the state have done a poor job...
Support free meals for Arkansas students
This is a special post from Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance The federal government is offering to pay for breakfast and lunch for all students in qualifying school districts starting this fall. All...
What would it take 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. Arkansas made gains in health coverage and education over the last year, but the child poverty rate went up...
Investments in health, education paying off for Arkansas kids
Arkansas made gains in health coverage and education over the last year, but the child poverty rate went up to 29 percent. Those ups and downs are consistent with national trends, according to the 25th edition KIDS COUNT Data...