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State Profiles
Arkansas
Arkansas’ pre-k program, the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program, is provided in either center-based classrooms or through the Home Instruction Program for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPPY). Program resources come from public school dollars, an excise tax on beer, and child care and development funding. ABC provides services for children from low-income families from birth to age five. In recent years, state funding for pre-k has increased steadily, resulting in greater access to the program. ABC also provides financial resources to its programs for teacher professional development, including college degrees.
Key Milestones
1991
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The Arkansas Legislature establishes the Arkansas Better Chance quality pre-k program. The original intent of the program is to provide assistance to educationally disadvantaged young children from birth through age five.
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| 2001 |
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The Legislature approves a three percent retail excise tax on beer dedicated to early childhood education. This excise tax is set to sunset in June 2005.
A district court rules that the Arkansas public education system violates the constitution and states that “the State must forthwith provide programs for those children of preschool age that will allow them to compete academically with their peers." |
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2002
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The Arkansas Supreme Court rules that the current public school system is unconstitutional and that the legislature is responsible for deciding what an “adequate and equitable” public education system contains.
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| 2003 |
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The Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program receives a $40 million appropriation. The program provides quality pre-k to three and four year olds with family incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Priority funding is given to children living in school districts where more than 75 percent of students score below proficiency on the state’s benchmark exam. This expanded program meets the same high quality standards as the original ABC program but targets a narrower group of children. Act 49 includes a provision that would fully implement this program over five years (2003-2008). The program serves 7,266 additional children in 329 new classrooms. This leaves approximately 15,000 eligible three and four year olds without a quality pre-k program. |
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| 2005 |
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The Arkansas legislature appropriates an additional $20 million per year for the Arkansas Better Chance program. This new $20 million annual appropriation combines a $7.5 million transfer of TANF funds and $12.5 million in new state revenues. The total annual appropriation for quality pre-k rises to just over $71 million. This includes a $60 million increase in new funds for the expansion of the Arkansas Better Chance program since July 2004.The Arkansas legislature also re-approves the three percent excise tax on beer, which was set to sunset in 2005. The tax, which amounts to about 18 cents per six-pack, is expected to generate about $9 million annually for the Arkansas Better Chance. In 2007 the tax will sunset once again. However, provisions are made in the new legislation for the annual revenue from the tax to be replaced by that same amount in the annual budget of the Arkansas Department of Education starting in 2007. |
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| 2006 |
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Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and Pre-K Now release  "An Economic Analysis of Pre-K in Arkansas," which shows that each dollar invested to date in the ABC pre-k program will yield $2.32 in future savings to the state. |
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| 2007 |
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The ABC program receives an increase of $39.8 million for a total FY08 budget of $111 million. This increase will allow the program to serve all 3 and 4 year olds in families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold, which accounts for nearly 50 percent of all children in this age range in the state. |
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| 2008 |
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A change in ABC program regulations extends pre-k eligibility to all three and four year olds with active duty military parents (serving at home or overseas), regardless of family income level. Children in the following categories are also exempt from the income requirement for pre-k eligibility in Arkansas: foster children, children living in the custody of a family member other than a mother or father, and children with an immediate family member arrested for drug-related offenses. |
Next Steps for Arkansas
Arkansas advocates will work to expand access of pre-k to all three and four year olds and to require all pre-k teachers to hold a bachelor's degree.
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"Beyond the School Yard" Webinar
Did you miss our Webinar, "Beyond the School Yard: Pre-K Collaborations with Community Based Partners?" Access the full report and our PowerPoint presentation from the October 8 call here.
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House Passes $8 Billion in Early Learning Funds
Have you heard? The U.S. House has passed legislation that contains an Early Learning Challenge Fund--an $8 billion, 8-year investment in early learning programs. Pre-K Now applauds the decision, which would fulfill one of President Obama's key pledges.
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Recovery Round-up
You've got questions? We've got answers -- and when it comes to pre-k and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we've got lots of them. Courtesy of Pre-K Now's federal team, here is our great collection of resources to help you navigate and apply ARRA funding.
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Meeting the Challenge of Rural Pre-K
Families everywhere struggle to find high-quality pre-k programs for their children, but the problem is even more acute in rural areas. Pre-K Now has come out with recommendations for federal policymakers to help states meet the unique challenges of rural pre-k.
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Find High-Quality Pre-K
With Our Checklist
Quality is key to unlocking pre-k's many benefits. Learn what to ask about and look for when choosing a pre-k program for your child.
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Tour a Pre-K Classroom
Through our virtual classroom tour and our short video following real children through their pre-k year, we will help you recognize high quality, understand why it makes a difference, and show you how children benefit.
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Arkansas Wise to Buy Pre-K With Its Dollars
A new economic analysis shows that Arkansas will reap $2.32 in future savings for each $1 invested to date in high-quality pre-k for at-risk children. Allowing all three and four year olds to voluntarily participate would save millions of dollars.
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Recovery Round-Up
