“I believe every child growing up in Arkansas should have access to a quality education, a good-paying job, and a better life right here in our state, and I believe Arkansas LEARNS is how together we will achieve it.”
– Sarah Huckabee Sanders –
ARKANSAS’ EDUCATION REALITY
- Only 35 percent of 3rd graders in Arkansas read at grade level, according to the 2022 ACT Aspire, and a child’s inability to read sets them up for a lifetime of failure.
- Seventy percent of those incarcerated cannot read at a 4th grade level
- Arkansas does not provide enough high-quality educational opportunities for kids before kindergarten.
- With 90 percent of a child’s brain developed by age 5, it’s important for kids to be prepared for kindergarten and on track to read proficiently by 3rd grade to achieve success.
- Like many states, Arkansas is experiencing a shortage in teachers.
- A 2021 survey found that nearly one-quarter of teachers indicated a desire to leave their jobs, compared with an average national turnover rate of 16 percent pre-pandemic.
- Roughly six in ten jobs in Arkansas require skills training, though less than half of the state’s workers are trained.
- No single entity in Arkansas is responsible for ensuring young adults are prepared for high-wage, high-growth careers.
ARKANSAS LEARNS PRIORITIZES LITERACY, EMPOWERMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, READINESS, NETWORKING, AND SCHOOL SAFETY
- Literacy
- The state will improve access to quality pre-K and make reading coaches available for at-risk children.
- Empowerment
- Empower parents with more choices, so no child is ever trapped in a failing school and lifetime in poverty, and curriculum transparency through innovation and online resources.
- Accountability
- Reward good teachers with smart incentives, like higher pay.
- Create a strong pipeline by allowing soon-to-be teachers to spend their entire last year in the classroom, offer alternate certification improvements, and better leadership trainings.
- Readiness
- Create flexibility for students to pursue internships and apprenticeships while in school and align career and technical programs with jobs that are in high demand.
- Establish a workforce cabinet to execute a clear vision with better coordination.
- Launch a statewide campaign to support the work of technical and trade schools and opportunities that exist for the future workforce.
- Networking
- Expand high-speed internet to make educational and career opportunities accessible.
- Safety
- Prioritize school safety by focusing on physical security, additional resource officers, mental health, and trainings to implement best practices.