Local Leads
In the spring of 2023, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act into law. A comprehensive, transformative education reform law, LEARNS prioritized several components of education, including early learning. One of the requirements within the LEARNS Act is to improve the experience of families and providers by establishing local early childhood lead organizations. These organizations are tasked with the following:
- Supporting access to early childhood programs;
- Identifying gaps in services;
- Fostering local partnerships;
- Creating alignment among public and private providers and agencies within the community; and
- Establishing a comprehensive, locally supported plan for providing early childhood programs and services.
The third cohort of local early childhood leads has been selected! In partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, the Office of Early Childhood has chosen six organizations to represent the final 10 counties across the state. Together with the first two cohorts, local leads now provide complete coverage for Arkansas. These organizations will be responsible for creating localized, comprehensive plans to ensure children and families have access to high-quality early childhood education in their communities. Check below to find out which organization is serving your county!
Local Early Childhood Lead Organization | Counties Served | Contact | |
Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative | Van Buren and Yell | Julie Workman | julie.workman@archford.org |
Arkansas River Education Cooperative | Arkansas, Cleveland, Jefferson, and Lincoln | Cathi Swan | swanc@aresc.k12.ar.us |
Arkansas State University, Child Care Aware | Chicot, Desha, Woodruff, Saint Francis, and Lee | Elizabeth Coakley | ecoakley@astate.edu |
Child Care Aware of Northwest Arkansas | Benton | Destiney Baxter | dbaxter@nwachildcare.org |
City of Little Rock | Little Rock | Jennifer Glasgow | jglasgow@littlerock.gov |
Clarendon School District | Monroe, Prairie, and Phillips | Toshia Smith | smitht@lions.grsc.k12.ar.us |
Conway School District | Faulkner | Megan Duncan | duncanm@conwayschools.info |
Crowley’s Ridge Education Cooperative | Craighead, Poinsett, Crittenden, Cross, and Jackson | Wendy Green | wgreen@crmail.k12.ar.us |
Dawson Education Cooperative | Clark, Pike, Hot Spring, and Grant | Shasta Pentecost | shasta.pentecost@dawsonesc.com |
DeQueen Mena Education Service Cooperative | Montgomery, Polk, Howard, Sevier, and Little River | Karen Garner | karen.garner@dmesc.org |
Early Education & Care Connections - Child Care Aware Central & SW Arkansas | Pulaski County (excluding City of Little Rock & Jacksonville School District) | Tiffani Fletcher | tiffani.fletcher@childcareawarecswa.org |
Guy Fenter Education Cooperative | Crawford, Franklin, and Logan | Gwen Couthren | gwen.couthren@wscstarfish.com |
IMPACT Independence County Foundation's Excel by Eight Collaborative | Independence | Jamie Rayford | jamie.rayford@batesvilleareachamber.com |
Mississippi County Arkansas Economic Opportunities Commission, Inc. | Mississippi | Shirley Pulliam | shirley.pulliam@sbcglobal.net |
National Park College, Child Care Aware | Dallas, Garland, Perry, and Saline | Brandon Massey | brandon.massey@np.edu |
Northcentral Arkansas Education Cooperative | Fulton, Sharp, Izard, and Stone | Sandy Massey | sandy.massey@northcentralcoop.org |
Northeast Arkansas Education Cooperative | Lawrence, Randolph, Clay, and Greene | Chrissy Sain | csain@nea.k12.ar.us |
Ozarks Unlimited Resources Education Service Cooperative | Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Johnson, Newton, and Searcy | Anne Cowie | acowie@oursc.k12.ar.us |
Russellville School District | Pope | Jenny Barber | jenny.barber@rsdk12.net |
South Central Arkansas Education Cooperative | Calhoun, Columbia, Ouachita, and Union | Zephonia Avant | zephonia.avant@scscoop.org |
Southeast Educational Service Cooperative | Ashley, Bradley, Drew | Nathan White | nathan.white@searkcoop.com |
Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative | Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, and Lafayette | Katlin Niemeyer | katlin.niemeyer@swaec.org |
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith | Sebastian and Scott | Shelli Henehan | shelli.henehan@uafs.edu |
Washington County Collaborative | Washington | Brandy Wolfenbarger | bwolfenbarger@washcolocalleads.com |
White River Planning and Development District, Child Care Aware | Conway, Cleburne, and White | Debbie Mize | dmize@wrpdd.org |
Wilbur D. Mills Education Service Cooperative | Lonoke and Jacksonville School District | Amber Graham | agraham@wdmesc.org |
- Budget and Staffing Information
- Sample GMS Budget
- Phases of Responsibility Resource
- 2024-2025 Milestones Calendar
- Resources Landing Page
- Cohort 2 Templates:
- Cohort 1 Webinar Slides:
- Cohort 2 Webinar Slides:
- Commissioner's Memo RFA Local Leads Cohort 3
- August 29, 2024 at 10:00 am Informational webinar for interested applicants
- Cohort 3 Local Leads Application
- Cohort 3 Local Leads RFA Release Informational (PDF) (Video)
For more information, please contact:
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of Early Childhood
700 Main Street, Slot 140
Little Rock, AR 72203
Phone: 501-712-6398
Email: Jennifer.Douglas@ade.arkansas.gov