Arkansas has cracked the Top 10 in access to pre-K education, a national report has found.
The State of Preschool 2011: State Preschool Yearbook, released by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University, shows that 10 years ago, Arkansas ranked 24th for access and 30th for resources. Now, the state ranks 12th for resources.
The report found that 44 percent of 4-year-olds are enrolled in the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success (ABC) pre-K program.
“Through their continued commitment to the ABC program, Arkansas’s leaders have shown that they value early learning,” said Tonya Russell, director of the Department of Human Services’ Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. “This program will make a huge impact in the lives of children and will set the stage for a lifetime love of learning.”
Nationally, the trend has been a decline in per-child spending and real spending. Arkansas increased enrollment, but was able to keep level funding for 2010-2011.
“The latest rankings for Arkansas further confirm what we know about the importance of pre-kindergarten for our students,” Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell said. “Research has consistently shown that students exposed to high-quality early education are better prepared for elementary school and perform at a higher level. We're pleased our continued dedication to pre-K in Arkansas is recognized nationally.”
The ABC program was established in 1991 and was expanded in early 2000.
Ninety-eight percent of Arkansas school districts either offer the state pre-K program on their campuses or partner with local non-profit organizations, education cooperatives or privately-owned child care centers. More than 254,000 children are enrolled statewide.