CCANA Chosen as Local Lead Organization

In spring 2023, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders officially signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act into law, marking a significant milestone for the state's educational framework. The LEARNS Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that introduces a wide array of transformative changes designed to affect and enhance the education system throughout Arkansas.

One of the key requirements established within the LEARNS Act is the imperative to improve the experience of families and providers by creating localized early childhood lead organizations dedicated to this mission.

These organizations are entrusted with several important responsibilities, including:

• supporting access to early childhood programs

• identifying gaps in existing services

• fostering meaningful local partnerships

• promoting alignment among public and private providers and agencies within the community

• establishing a comprehensive, regionally supported plan to provide early childhood programs and services effectively.

The second cohort of local early childhood leads has been selected. The Office of Early Childhood, in collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Education, has carefully chosen 13 organizations to represent an additional 36 counties throughout the state. Together with cohort 1, local leads now provide coverage for 65 of the 75 counties in Arkansas.

These organizations will play a pivotal role in formulating a comprehensive, localized strategy to ensure that children and families have access to high-quality early childhood education in their respective communities.

Child Care Aware of Northcentral Arkansas has been selected to be the local lead organization for White, Cleburne, and Conway counties. A final cohort will be chosen by this coming fall, which means every county will have a local lead firmly in place by October 2024.

For more information: OEC Local Leads