Conway County
Excel by Eight in Conway County
Child Care Aware of Northcentral Arkansas actively supported Conway County’s facilities to take advantage of this opportunity to elevate and expand care in their community. Successes include five facilities increasing their Arkansas Better Beginnings quality rating from Level 1 to Level 2, which allows them to continue accepting vouchers from families in 2023 and receive a higher reimbursement rate. One facility moved from Better Beginnings Level 2 to Level 3, the highest quality rating available at that time.
Additionally, one provider was awarded funding to open a new center, which will bring 89 new child care slots, including infant and toddler care, to Morrilton and the surrounding area.
In 2023, the Conway County steering committee will focus on increasing parent access to early development resources as well as engaging families directly in local community planning efforts about young children.
Snapshot
Located in the Arkansas River Valley
Major industries are manufacturing and transportation
Home to Petit Jean State Park, the first Arkansas State Park
Steering Committee
E8 Core Team
John Gibson, Chair, Conway County Community Foundation
Amber Holland, Community Service, Inc.
Princess Johnson, Parent
Kara Jones, Conway County Center for Exceptional Children
Dr. Susan Okroglic, Community Service, Inc.
Committee Members
Robbie Belew, Curricula Concepts
Shandee Gordon, Wonderview School District
Shawn Halbrook, South Conway County School District
Lora Hendrix, South Conway County School District
Aida Kuettle, South Conway County School District
Stephanie Lipsmeyer, Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce
Michelle Mallett, Conway County Juvenile Probation and Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile JusticeKaila Parker, Parent
Jenifer Riley, Community Service, Inc.
Jamie Stacks, Wonderview School District
Karey Tapley, South Conway County School District
Candace Williams, Rural Community Alliance
Logan Williams, Nemo Vista School District
Sharon Wilson, South Conway County School District
Read more about E8 Communities
Horatio School District, public libraries partnering to provide free summer meals to children in southwest Arkansas
Excel by Eight’s Sevier County Steering Committee and the Horatio School District are partnering with No Kid Hungry to offer free summer meals to children under the age of 18.
Excel by Eight hosts Spring 2023 Learning Community
Excel by Eight hosted its semiannual Learning Community at the end of April, bringing together more than 50 people from its six communities to share network connections, celebrate accomplishments, and discuss resources that can move their local community development plans forward and help children thrive.
Independence County: Building Brains in Preschoolers One Conversation at a Time
Preschools in Independence County have adopted innovative technology to support early brain development. LENA – short for Language ENvironment Analysis – is a professional development opportunity for early childhood educators that uses cloud-based software and a small, wearable device – often referred to as a “talk pedometer” – to measure and increase conversational turns that happen between a child and an adult caregiver.