$15M helps expand preschool programs
Arkansas is one of 18 states that is continuing to receive a federal Preschool Development Grant to expand and improve early childhood education programs for children from low- to moderate-income families.
The state's share of the $247.4 million awarded nationally is $14,993,000 this year. The state anticipates receiving nearly $60 million over the four years of the grant.
The grant to the states was first announced in December 2014 by the U.S. departments of Education and Health and Human Services. The latest round of funding was announced last week.
"We are serving 1,371 more 4-year-olds than we would have otherwise," Tonya Williams, director of Arkansas' Child Care and Early Childhood Education Division, said last week.
This is the second school year in which an expanded enrollment is possible because of the grant.
"It also allows us to provide funding to some currently state-funded programs to improve their slots," Williams said.
Those grant-funded improvements for about 1,400 children include the addition of a family service worker who coordinates parent engagement activities and teachers with bachelor degrees in every classroom.
The Arkansas Better Chance program, which is the state-funded early childhood education program, differs from federally funded programs in that the state allows a multiclassroom center to employ one lead teacher with a bachelor's degree and staff other classrooms with teachers who have, at a minimum, associate degrees.
In 2015-16, 19,334 Arkansas children ages 3 and 4 were provided early childhood education programs with state and federal funding.
Charter high school plans sign-up days
The North Little Rock School District next month will host two days of information and enrollment sessions about the Center of Excellence, a new charter school based at North Little Rock High School.
Enrollment opportunities will be available from 8-10 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Jan. 10 and Jan. 27 in the North Little Rock School District's central office board room, 2700 Poplar St.
The center, which will open in August, will focus on personalized learning and career preparation. Students and families will have the opportunity to choose from traditional, blended or digital courses. The career pathways to be featured include medical professions, engineering, computer science, advanced manufacturing, and transportation, distribution and logistics.
Center of Excellence representatives will provide information about the career pathways and course scheduling options at the sessions.
Additional dates for information and enrollment will be announced later.
More information is available by contacting Christie Toland at nlrhscenterofexcellence.org.
Girls coding session set at Acxiom Friday
The Women's Foundation of Arkansas is sponsoring a Girls of Promise Coding Summit from 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the Acxiom Corp. campus, 601 E. Third St. in Little Rock.
The event -- in which 150 sixth- through 12th-grade girls from around the state will participate in one hour of computer coding -- is being held in celebration of Computer Science Education week.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson and other guests will talk about the importance of pursuing education and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
The Women's Foundation's mission is to promote women and girls in Arkansas so they can realize and achieve their full potential.
Metro on 12/06/2016