Arkansas has dramatically increased education funding in recent years in order to meet the state Supreme Court’s mandate to provide adequate and equitable education for all students. However, overall academic achievement still lags behind that of other states and nations, and vast gaps in achievement among students of different income levels and races persist across […]
Recently President Obama released his detailed budget that outlines funding for key programs that support low-income children and their families in Arkansas. On the same day that the President released his budget, Sen. Blanche Lincoln filed two bills to in crease funding for child care and child care facilities. Pressure continues to build in the […]
The House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on the federal budget, so now it is time to turn our focus to long-term federal efforts to craft policies that support a balanced tax system and ensure that revenues are used to protect programs that lift low-income families out of poverty. This update includes current […]
AACF’s tax and budget team would like to be the first (and, perhaps, only one) to wish you a Happy Tax Day! Sometimes we all forget how important our tax dollars are to the health and well-being of our families and communities. Without them, we could not drive safely down paved roads; drink clean water […]
Arkansas has dramatically increased education funding in recent years in order to meet the state Supreme Court’s mandate to provide adequate and equitable education for all students. However, overall academic achievement still lags behind that of other states and nations, and vast gaps in achievement among students of different income levels and races persist across […]
This overview offers tips to advocates on the best way to learn more about Arkansas’s share of the ARRA. It also charts the larger funding streams impacting children and families that flow to states and local communities. It does not begin to capture the full range of funds and programs under the ARRA, but provides […]
The clock is ticking in both state and federal legislative bodies on many bills that would affect children and families in Arkansas—and our legislators need to hear from you. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ tax and budget team has highlighted a few of these important bills below. Please contact us if you have any […]
AACF worked with our federal delegation on elements of the stimulus package, which now moves to state implementation. AACF will now work to keep track of stimulus priorities and decisions at the state level and also provide continued feedback to state and federal officials about its impact. Now AACF’s federal work turns to the federal […]
The burden of paying for statewide programs and services falls disproportionately upon low- and middle-income families – as well as small businesses that operate only in Arkansas. Meanwhile, many large corporations that take full advantage of Arkansas highways, school s, economic development incentives, and other services are no t paying their fair share. Because of […]
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families saw a year of growth in 2008 as we launched two milestone projects. First was the formation of the Arkansas Finish Line Coalition, an initiative to get health insurance for every Arkansas child. We also opened our first office outside of Little Rock in Northwest Arkansas, where we’re building […]