In Arkansas: Six Organizations Selected for Third Local Leads Cohort to Improve Early Childhood Education 

By Kimberly Mundell

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announced the six organizations selected for the third early childhood local leads cohort. With this third cohort, all 75 counties are now represented by 26 organizations focused on creating a comprehensive, localized plan to ensure children and families can access high-quality early childhood education programs in their communities. 

In addition to creating a localized plan, the local leads are aligning the local plans to the state’s vision for early childhood education, as defined by the LEARNS Act. The LEARNS Act transferred the Office of Early Childhood to ADE in an effort to improve access to quality early childhood education programs and expand and improve the education system to include birth to post- secondary education.  

“This third cohort completes efforts to connect all 75 counties with early childhood advocates who are focused on ensuring all students have access to high-quality early learning programs,” ADE Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “Children deserve access to the best programs that create a firm foundation of learning from an early age, and we are excited to now have organizations statewide to help that occur.”  

The organizations listed below were selected following a competitive application process. ADE invited school districts, education service cooperatives, higher education institutions, public agencies, and nonprofits or businesses with a social services mission to apply to participate in the program.  

Throughout the last year, ADE received more than 50 applications across three application cycles. The last six programs selected to participate will each serve a different geographic area, as defined in their application. 

 Read the full release on ADE’s website.

Tags: early childhood education, state policy

Kimberly Mundell