In the News
Person of the Month: Leigh Keener
501 Life
July 31, 2024 at 8:37 PM
“Watching a student delight in discovery is the greatest reward for every teacher,” Leigh Keener said. “I’ve always found early childhood to be a joyous learning time, full of magical ‘aha!’ moments.”
Arkansas education department reduces work requirement for child care assistance program
Arkansas Advocate | By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA
JULY 15, 2024 5:47 PM
“These changes to the CCDF grant program serve as another opportunity for more Arkansas families to achieve the necessary early learning supports for their children while they work to support their families.”
Expanding Access to Quality Early Childhood Education in Arkansas
State Education Standard | By Leigh Keener
May 2024 — Volume 24, No. 2
The state’s LEARNS Act creates the roadmap for a unified system, and the state board has a key role to play.
The Work Wife: A Working Mom’s Guide to Selecting Child Care
Little Rock Soiree | By Leigh Keener
March 29, 2024
Studies consistently show high-quality early childhood programs, like NAEYC-accredited ones, deliver positive outcomes for children, including greater kindergarten readiness and enhanced academic achievement. By selecting a school or center with the above characteristics, working parents can feel more confident that their kids are receiving brain-building experiences for long-term success.
Early childhood education: The case for quantity and quality
Talk Business & Politics | By Leigh Keener
March 16, 2024
Solving Arkansas’ child care crisis won’t happen overnight. But through steady efforts focused on quantity and quality, we can strengthen our early childhood education system to build a brighter future for our kids—and our economy.
Child Care: The Missing Piece in Workforce Development?
Arkansas Money & Politics | By Leigh Keener
March 14, 2024
Arkansas has hit its stride in recruiting new industries and opportunities to the state. As a result of rigorous workforce development efforts, there is a pipeline of workers who are prepared and ready to thrive. However, individuals cannot enter or stay in the workforce without access to affordable, quality child care.
Organization working to improve quality of early childhood programs in Arkansas
THV11 | by Jurnee Taylor
January 29, 2024 7:01 pm
High-quality early learning has been proven to better prepare students for kindergarten. And it has a lasting impact on their reading levels in third grade, their graduation rates, and even career readiness and earning potential later down the road.
Workforce Development Starts with School Readiness
Arkansas Business | By Leigh Keener
Published January 23, 2024. 1:38 PM CDT
How can we equip the next generation for career success? … We can amplify our workforce development efforts by starting them earlier — before our children even enter school.
Gov. Sanders announces new Board of Education member
KUAR | By Josie Lenora, Maggie Ryan
Published August 4, 2023 at 5:18 PM CDT
Kindergarten readiness is about so much more than being able to walk in a line or sit for a lesson. It means language acquisition, vocabulary development and a deep understanding of the world around us.
Women in STEAM – Leigh Keener
Inviting Arkansas - March 1, 2021
In STEAM, we see the great benefits of supposed failure and how it informs our next move.