Pulaski County
Excel by Eight in Pulaski County
The E8 coalition in Pulaski County is led by the City of Little Rock, with Dr. Jay Barth, Chief Education Officer, serving as chairperson. E8 is one of four committees on Mayor Frank Scott’s Lifelong Learning Cabinet, the city’s broader effort to support children and youth from birth to career.
In Pulaski County, E8 is narrower in scope, focusing mostly on the capital city. The effort launched in March 2020 by implementing the Early Development Instrument (EDI) in the Little Rock School District. The EDI is a population measure of how children are developing based on the five domains of early childhood development: physical health and wellbeing; social competence; emotional maturity; language and cognitive skills; and communication skills and general knowledge. The steering committee is currently involved in the research phase, which is a critical first step in identifying needs and priorities that reflect local context.
Snapshot
Home to state government
Major industries are healthcare, aerospace, and banking and finance
Little Rock Central High was one of the first sites of integration following the Brown v. Board of Education ruling
Steering Committee
Sarah Argue, Pulaski County Imagination Library
Natalie Baber, Our House
Patty Barker, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
Dr. Jay Barth, City of Little Rock
Larry Clark, Life Skills for Youth
Ryan Davis, Children International
Lisa Donovan, Central Arkansas Library System
Kathy French, AR Kids Read
Sandra Galvan, Mexican Consulate
Tyra Greenwood, Arkansas Home Visiting Network
Arisbeth Johnson, Alas/Wings
Esther Jones, Little Rock School District – Early Childhood Education
David Kuchinski, Centers for Youth and Families
Tiffany Lepard, Foster Parent
Desirae McBride, Our House
Jacqueline McEuen, Little Rock School District – School Health
Mike Ramirez, Hope Credit Union
Al Richardson, Life Skills for Youth
Rhonda Sanders, Arkansas Foodbank
Ray Scott, Health Information Technology
Anna Strong, Arkansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Wendy Ward, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
LeCole White, SafeCare
Read more about E8 Communities
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...
Tackling Food Insecurity, Improving Outcomes
Patty Barker, Arkansas No Kid Hungry Campaign Director Access to healthy food isn’t a luxury for Arkansas families. It’s a necessity for children’s long-term success. Studies show students who struggle with persistent hunger report lower math scores as well as higher...
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,...