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pre[k] now
Votes Count: Arkansas
Arkansas 2

Governor: Democrat
Control of Legislature: Democrat
(during FY08 budget process)

Percentage Change Change to Budget,
FY07 to FY08 1		 Policy/Notes
+ 56% Increases funding for the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program from $71.2 million to $111 million per year for both years of the biennium. The legislature’s Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations rejected a proposal by the board of education, to require all pre-k teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree. The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education is currently examining options. The current rule of one BA/BS degree-holding teacher for every three classrooms will remain in effect.

ABC is no longer funded by the state’s beer tax and is now financed from the general fund.

Action in Neighboring States
State Percentage Change
Louisiana +34%
Mississippi No state-funded pre-k program or state investment in Head Start.
Missouri 0%
Oklahoma Anticipated increase (pre-k offered through school funding formula; FY08 figures not yet available)
Tennessee +45%
Texas Anticipated increase (pre-k offered through school funding formula; FY08 figures not yet available)

 

1 Information on pre-k funding in biennial budgets reflects changes in those budgets over two years. All other changes are from FY07 to FY08.
2 State has a biennial budget. FY08 is the first year of the biennium.
3 State has a biennial budget. FY08 is the second year of the biennium.

 
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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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Our collection of original reports and links to other studies will give you a deeper view into pre-k policy.
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