A strong start means education and health outcomes are not determined by barriers related to age, disability, gender, income, race/ethnicity, geography, or community resources.
Our vision is that Arkansas is a state where all children have a strong start to reach their full potential.
Our mission is to improve health and education outcomes for Arkansas children from prenatal to age 8. To accomplish this, we partner with and invest in local communities, impact public policy at the state level, and build public support around the importance of the earliest years of a child’s life.
Excel by Eight is a network of hundreds of individuals and organizations focused on increasing Arkansas children’s health and education outcomes. We are committed to strengthening resource grids statewide by building local models for change, identifying and resolving policy barriers, and enhancing public understanding of early childhood development.
The E8 Foundations leadership team was formed in late 2022 to oversee Excel by Eight's yearlong planning process. Creating a leadership team made up of family advisors and key collaborative members has been critical in moving toward a process that is led by collaborative members rather than staff.
Family Advisor
Arkansas Children's Care Network
Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce
Family Advisor
University of Arkansas Early Care and Education Projects
Excel by Eight
We partner with communities across Arkansas to build local models for change.
