Education Reform

CFC Priorities for the 2011 Legislative Session

• Improve schools for every child by implementing proven solutions to close opportunity to learn gaps.  

• Make sure all graduates of Arkansas high schools have the opportunity to pay in-state tuition at state colleges by passing the DREAM Act. 

• Hold school districts more accountable for their graduates who require remediation in college.
• Limit school districts’ ability to carry over large sums of state poverty funding dedicated to help increase opportunities for low-income students.
• Improve state coordination of afterschool and summer programs.
• Expand access to early childhood education, including programs for infants and toddlers.

Past Accomplishments

2009

2007

Major progress was made by this legislature on making quality pre-school available to every child who needs it.  Research shows that one of the best strategies to narrow the achievement gap is to give every at risk 3- and 4- year old child access to a quality pre-school education program.  The Legislature and the Governor addressed this by enacting $111 million in preschool funding so that every child whose family is within 200% of the Federal Poverty Line will have access to free, quality pre-school. 

We supported bills that passed into law ensuring the preservation of historical artifacts of public school districts and giving the Arkansas Commission on Closing the Achievement Gap a more diverse membership, among other changes. 

We opposed a bill which significantly cut the time for physical activity in schools until it was improved significantly with amendments.

2005

Passed a bill to protect the historic archives of consolidated schools. This bill originated with activists from Lakeview, but picked up broad support from across our network.

Passed a bill to allow the transfer of closed school facilities from school districts to community groups. This bill originated with activists from Lakeview and Gould, but picked up broad support from across our network.

Expanded pre-school programs for low-income kids by $20 million - leaving the program with $60 million in total funding. $40 million more is needed to reach every child in Arkansas who would qualify for free pre-school. High quality pre-school is the single most effective reform at closing the achievement gap. Advocates for Children and Families was the lead group on the issue.

A bill to allow school children who attend Arkansas schools for 3 years to receive in-state tuition without question about their federal immigration status was defeated in the Senate after stunningly passing the House and picking up the Governor’s endorsement. We supported the bill, but there was not a major coordinated campaign to push it. A coalition of Latino activists fought for this bill, but were not strong enough to overcome opposition.