Governor Beebe Applauds Continues Success of Arkansas Pre-K Programs

Governor Beebe Applauds Continues Success Of Arkansas Pre-K Programs

Governor Mike Beebe is lauding study results that show the continued success and development of the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program for pre-kindergarten education. The report, conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research, is part of a five-year longitudinal study examining the impact of the Pre-K program.

"Seeing this kind of success reinforces why Pre-K is such a high priority for my administration," Beebe said. "This study provides more evidence that high-quality Pre-K programs better prepare our children for success, both as students, and later, as members of a 21st-century workforce."

Released today by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, the study shows that children who have completed Pre-K programs start kindergarten with higher aptitudes in language, math and literacy and are able to proceed at a faster rate in kindergarten. These results from the second year of the study show that the education achieved by children enrolled in ABC sustain their positive and lasting achievements from Pre-K through the first grade.

In the 2007 legislative session, Beebe worked with legislators to invest an additional $40 million in Pre-K education. The program's expansion ensured that all Arkansas at-risk children would have access to ABC. This is the latest step in making high-quality Pre-K available to all Arkansas families with three- and four-year-olds who want to participate.

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