School Readiness in Cedar Ridge
Photo courtesy of Cedar Ridge School District. How can we measure children’s development? We must rely on insight from those closest to them. Throughout the school year, teachers have the opportunity to witness key facets of students’ cognitive, emotional, physical,...
3 Benefits of Early Childhood Education
When does learning begin? For decades, kindergarten was viewed as the cornerstone of children’s educational and real-world success. But research now consistently shows brain development happens much earlier. In fact, it starts at birth. According to the American...
HealthySteps: Connecting families to resources
Research consistently shows the first three years of a baby’s life are a period of incredible growth and development. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants receive eight well-child visits in their first 15 months of life. These appointments...
Breaking Down the Iron Triangle of Early Care and Education
If quality child care costs more than most families can afford, why is the child care market not financially stable? When developing a budget or business plan, a child care center must consider the iron triangle: full enrollment,...
Equipping Kids with Life Skills
A long-time youth mentor, Coach Larry Clark, Sr. understands the critical need for all children and families to have access to year-round educational opportunities and supportive services. It’s why he founded Life Skills for Youth (LSY) in 2006. Under his leadership,...
Recapping the 2021 Legislative Session
During the record breaking 108-day convening of the 93rd General Assembly in Arkansas, nearly 1,000 bills went on to become law. Several of them, including the ones highlighted below, were favorable to Excel by Eight’s mission to improve Arkansas families' access to a...
Excel by Eight, Explained: Data Walks
Data walk in Conway County, September 2019 Data is at the root of every Excel by Eight (E8) Community planning process. One key component that guides our local steering committees’ work: public input from parents, educators, health professionals, and other residents....
The State of Arkansas’s Babies
How does Arkansas measure up when it comes to implementing policies and programs that help babies reach their full potential? As ZERO TO THREE’s the State of Babies Yearbook: 2021 shows, even before COVID-19, the littlest among us faced big challenges. Most alarming,...
Welcoming Union County
Located in south central Arkansas, Union County has long been hailed by residents and visitors alike for its high quality of life. Since the oil boom era, it has developed into a thriving community with diverse industries, outdoor amenities, cultural institutions, and...
FAQ: Excel by Eight Communities
Conway, Independence, Monroe, Pulaski, Sevier, and, now, Union. How did these Arkansas counties get involved with Excel by Eight (E8)? Designed to be local models for change, these E8 Communities are focused on improving children’s health and education outcomes by...