New Partnership Aims to Build Literacy Skills in the Little Rock School District
Only 35% of Arkansas third-graders met the reading readiness benchmark, according to the 2021-2022 ACT Aspire results. A collaborative effort from the City of Little Rock, the Little Rock School District (LRSD), Rotary Club 99 and other community partners hopes to get...
The Pandemic’s Long-Standing Effect on the Child Care Industry
While some pre-elementary children of working parents spend their days under the care of grandparents or other relatives, more than half are cared for in licensed child care facilities. So when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses and closed schools, many...
Breaking Down Brain Development – Part 2
Dr. Nikki Edge is a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. She researches factors that influence child social and emotional outcomes and evaluates interventions for high-risk children and...
Increasing Quality Child Care in Conway County
When American Rescue Plan Funds arrived, Debbie Mize, director of Child Care Aware of Northcentral Arkansas, knew the best way to invest it in Conway County would be to increase the number of quality child care options. The Conway County E8 Community spearheaded a...
Marking Mental Health Action Day
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another. We have been tested as a nation, as communities, as a workforce and as parents. A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association (APA) looked at the mental and physical health of Americans one...
Seeking Early Childhood Education Campaign Director
Excel by Eight (E8) envisions a state where all children have access to quality health care and education that maximizes their full potential, regardless of gender, income, race/ethnicity, disability, or geography. We are committed to increasing children’s health and...
Child Care Challenges in Rural Arkansas
Children begin learning before they are even born. The brain development that takes place during the early part of a child’s life is the foundation of learning, behavior, and health. Quality educational settings and early child care are key to maximizing brain...
Breaking Down Brain Development
Dr. Nikki Edge A child's brain undergoes an impressive amount of change between birth and age three. In fact, by age three, the brain has reached 80 percent of its adult volume. Because a child's developing brain is most flexible during the earliest months and years...
State of Child Care in Arkansas
It is every parent's dream for their children to be happy and healthy. But many Arkansas parents are forced to choose between working to ensure their families’ financial stability or providing quality child care. Unfortunately, without access to quality child care,...
Healthier Smiles = Healthier Children
Oral health is a key indicator of children’s success. When kids experience cavities, it affects their abilities to eat, speak, play, and learn. Left untreated, tooth decay can lead to chronic absences, lower grades, and scores of adverse health and education outcomes....