Education Reform
CFC Priorities for the 2009 Legislative Session
Improve schools for every child by implementing some proven solutions to close the achievement gap. Support better teachers, get more kids into pre-school, provide students with after-school and summer programs, lower class size and get parents more involved.
Give every student who graduates from an Arkansas high-school the opportunity to pay in-state college tuition if they have the grades and desire to improve their education regardless of their immigration status.
Update! - April 2
Update! - March 6
Accomplishments of the CFC in the 2007 Arkansas General Assembly
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.
Accomplishments of the CFC in the 2005 Arkansas General Assembly
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.
