Public News Service

According to Every Library Institute, Project 2025 aims to reduce federal oversight protections and spending as well as reallocating responsibilities to states and localities. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Report warns of Project 2025 effect on AR libraries

Changes could be coming for libraries and the people who work there if Project 2025 goes into effect. The 900 page document outlines how agencies …

According to the Urban Institute, low-income people with medical debt are likely to forgo needed medical care, have difficulty meeting other basic needs and face an increased risk of bankruptcy. <br />(Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Routine medical care out of reach for some low-income AR residents

By Tess Vrbin for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop Rockefe…

Doctors advised a well-child visit is an opportunity to understand your child's health needs better.<br />(Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Doctor visits should be part of back-to-school prep for AR students

Arkansas families have a lot of things on their "to-do" list as they prepare for the start of school. In addition to buying school supplies and new …

Every county in the Land of Opportunity has at least one food desert, putting the state's food insecurity rate at 15.5%, well above the national average of 10.4%. (Danieldzura/Adobe Stock)

AR governor addresses food insecurity among students

By De'Stani Clark for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-…

Various institutions offer resources to promote financial wellness but additional hurdles remain as institutions debate how to extend resources within diverse communities. (kerkezz/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas banks reach out to 'unbanked' residents

By De'Stani Clark for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-…

Brian Burton with the Arkansas Food Bank said children experiencing malnourishment have a tougher time learning in the classroom. (fotokitas/Adobe Stock)

Hunger is another struggle for Arkansas 'ALICE' residents

By Mary Hennigan for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop Rock…

Mental health professionals said therapy can play a crucial role in helping ALICE populations cope with mental health issues. (ibreakstock/Adobe Stock)

Financial strains create mental-health issues for AR ALICE population

By LaGanzie Kale for KLEK-FM.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KLEK-FM-Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation-Publi…

Save the Children works in more than 300 of rural America's most impoverished communities, helping kids prepare for kindergarten and reach grade-level goals. (peopleimages.com./Adobe Stock)

Save the Children works to end 'summer slide' for Arkansas students

During the summer months, children can lose up to 40% of the information they learned in school, in a phenomenon called the "summer slide." The …

In 2023, Arkansas' Farm to School Kitchen Equipment Grant Program increased the capacity to process and serve more specialty crops to students through the school cafeteria. (Cheangchai/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas students learn importance of healthy foods through school gardens

School children in Arkansas are learning how to grow their own fruits and vegetables through the Farm to School and Early Childhood Education program …

The number of Arkansas children living in poverty remained the same as last year. (bonniemarie/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas receives mixed results in annual Kids Count Data Book

Arkansas is ranked 45th in the 2024 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report ranks states on the overall condition …

Bates was born in Huttig, Ark., in 1914, three white men allegedly murdered her mother while she was an infant, which inspired her to fight for civil rights. (Photo Courtesy of Barry Jefferson)

Arkansas civil rights icon Daisy Bates honored with statue at U.S. Capitol

A new statue at the U.S. Capitol honors Arkansas civil rights activist Daisy Gatson Bates. The eight foot bronze statue is in the National Statuary …

The 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation Data Book ranked Arkansas 37th in the nation for education, and said 56% of young children were not in preschool programs to help get them ready for school. (Adobe Stock)

Program gives AR early education workers 'Career Pathways'

The need for child care and early learning is critical, especially in rural Arkansas. One nonprofit is working to fill those gaps by giving providers …

In Arkansas, more than 133,000 people 35-49 years old owe more than $43,000, totaling $5.77 billion. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi)

Student loan debt relief on way in Arkansas

Student-loan borrowers in Arkansas and nationwide could have their debt reduced or eliminated through a new one-time adjustment by the U.S. …

The goal of the biomanufacturing workforce training program is to certify more than 100 workers during the 24-month grant period and place them with biomanufacturing companies in Arkansas. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

Arkansas program preps workers for biomanufacturing jobs

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Arkansas News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Co…

Asian or Pacific Islander adults are the fastest-growing group in Arkansas, and in 2022 had a degree attainment rate of 52.3%. (Xavier Lorenzo/AdobeStock)

Report: AR near bottom in number of adults with post-high school credentials

New data show how many people pursue degrees or other credentials after high school, and the numbers show Arkansas has some work to do to improve…

In Arkansas, an estimated 467,550 people do not always have enough nutritious food for regular meals. Almost 135,000 of them are children. (Allistair F/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas expands summer food access to combat childhood hunger

Arkansas wants to tackle childhood hunger this summer, by opting into a summer food program for kids. One in five children in the Natural State …

Arkansas ranked low in such measures as the percentage of rural, school-aged children who lack health insurance, which was nearly 6.5%. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)<br />

Rural Arkansas schools see challenges in education compared with nation

The National Rural Education Association's latest report, "Why Rural Matters 2023," finds Arkansas is a critical state - due mostly to funding for …

Report: 72% of jobs will require postsecondary education in 2031

In Arkansas and across the country, getting a college degree will become increasingly important in the job market of the future. A report from …

A shared community activity building would provide educational services for Bentonville residents, students and members of the school district. (Allison/Adobe Stock)

Bentonville Schools tackle affordable housing for teachers, staff

The Bentonville School Board has taken a significant step to address Northwest Arkansas' pressing issue of affordable housing for teachers and staff m…

The American Library Association says challenges to books in public libraries accounted for 49% of cases documented by its Office for Intellectual Freedom from Jan.-Aug. 2023, compared to 16% in the same time period last year. (Photo courtesy Patty Hector)

Arkansas librarian out of a job for not 'banning books'

In Arkansas and across the nation, book bans are becoming more common. The American Library Association says there were almost 700 attempts to censor …

University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis announced the launch of the UCA Commitment. Incoming Freshman students will start fall 2024. (University of Central Arkansas)

One Arkansas school offers ‘debt-free pathway’ to graduation

By Olivia Sanchez for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

Arkansas is the 32nd largest school system in the U.S., serving more than a half million students between public and private schools. (Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Navigating Back-to-School Challenges in Rural Arkansas

More than a half million Arkansas kids are back at school for the fall, and districts across the state face different challenges. For some in rural …

In an average year, 549 people die by guns in Arkansas. With a rate of 18.1 deaths per 100,000 people. (AndriiKoval/AdobeStock)

Survey: Young Arkansans Want Stricter Gun Laws

In Arkansas and across the country, 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and 60% want to see stricter gun laws…

The SAVE plan would forgive loan balances after 10 years of payments, instead of 20 years, for borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

SAVE Plan Could Mean Lower Payments for Student Borrowers

A new student-loan forgiveness plan could lower monthly bills and reduce the amount these borrowers have to pay back over the lifetime of their loans…

Researchers from the Equal Justice Initiative have documented 4,075 racial terror lynchings of African Americans in 12 states, including Arkansas, between 1877 and 1950. (Neirfy/Adobe Stock)

AR Racial Justice Essay Contest Open for Pulaski County Students

Summer learning is underway in Arkansas, and there's a unique opportunity for a history lesson open to high schoolers in Pulaski County. The …

A College Futures Foundation report found in higher education, Black, Latino and Asian American college students consistently experience racial microaggressions when their academic abilities are questioned or their presence is ignored. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

AR Addresses Rising Demand for College Mental Health Services

In Arkansas and across the country, student mental health has been the focus of increased attention on campuses. A recent report from the College …

The Kids Count Data Book reports in 2020-21, 15% of children from birth to age 5 in Arkansas lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job because of problems finding or affording child care. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Ranks 43rd in Child Well-Being

A new report found Arkansas consistently ranks toward the lowest 10 states for child well-being. The annual Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

More than 470,000 students are enrolled in K-12 schools in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Education Data Center. (Kawee/AdobeStock)

Group Urges Arkansas Schools Districts To Focus On Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a national education advocacy group wants school districts in Arkansas to continue focusing on and investing …

The EPA said the spread of Lyme disease, carried by black-legged ticks, is influenced by changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/AdobeStock).

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

A new report revealed a steady decline of enrollment and completion among Black learners across all sectors of higher education since 2011, threatening decades of economic gains and the vitality of Black families. (Daniel Ernst/AdobeStock)

Arkansas College Works to Retain Black Students In Higher Ed

A new report from the Lumina Foundation called "Level Up" report showed a steady decrease in enrollment and completion rates among Black students nati…

In Arkansas, more than 400,000 people face hunger, and 138,410 are children, according to Feeding America. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

March is 'School Breakfast Month' in Arkansas

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as Arkansans recognize March as School Breakfast Month. Research has proven providing …

In 2021, Arkansas had about 27,900 people working as registered nurses, which is about 76% of the number required (36,900) to provide the national average level of care. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Needs More Healthcare Workers

A new report reveals hospitals in Arkansas are having critical staffing challenges for some occupations. The problem is not new, and it is getting …

In Arkansas, completing a bachelor's degree is the first step to becoming a licensed teacher, according to the Arkansas Department of Education website. (Iofoto/Adobe Stock)

AR Partners with Nonprofit University to Train More Teachers

Arkansas is working to overcome the state's teacher shortage, especially in rural areas, with a new residency-based program for would-be educators…

The State of Black Students at Community College report says 70% of African American college students experienced food and housing insecurity or homelessness during the pandemic. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

AR School Works to Attract More Students to Higher Ed

A new report on Black students in the community college system found fewer are signing up to attend two-year schools, and the college enrollment …

In April 2021, the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Elementary and<br />Secondary launched an Academy to Address Critical Teacher Shortages in Special Education. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)<br />

Arkansas Teachers Spend Their Summer Asking for Pay Raises

When the new school year starts mid-August, many Arkansas teachers will have spent the summer in a frustrating bid to convince legislators they …

The government is allowing all federal loan repayments to count toward PSLF requirements, regardless of the payment plan, for those who have applied to the program before Oct. 31, 2022. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Touts Benefits of Federal Student-Loan Forgiveness

A report from the Center for Responsible Lending says women with student loans to repay were hit hard by the pandemic. An Arkansas nonprofit wants …

More than half of all unenrolled adults report that the cost of a college degree is a major factor in why they have not continued their education. (Adobe Stock)

'Emotional Stress' Impacting College Students, Report Finds

In the wake of disruptions and losses due to COVID-19, research showed the majority of college students in Arkansas and beyond who left school over …

Arkansas researchers say face masks, combined with vaccinations and proper handwashing, can help keep COVID cases down in school settings. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Face Masks in AR Schools Meant Fewer COVID Infections

As school districts and local governments lift COVID mask mandates amid waning case numbers, a new study found the masks have been effective in …

Due to the adoption of the child-nutrition waivers, an estimated 90% of Arkansas school districts were able to continue to provide meals to kids during the pandemic shutdown, according to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Extend Child-Nutrition Waivers Past June 30

Children's advocates are sounding the alarm about the expiration of a program they say has been key to keeping low-income children fed during the pand…

Books that some Jonesboro Public Library board members have previously attempted to remove from the children's section include

Proposal to Move LGBTQ Kids' Book Sparks Censorship Fears

Efforts to move children's and young adult books with LGBTQ content to the adult section of a Northeast Arkansas public library have some local reside…

The grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Arkansas' workforce training program also covers support services for students, such as day care, transportation and internet access. (Adobe Stock)

AR Offers Career Training for Job Seekers Affected by COVID-19

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A training program in Arkansas is helping people jumpstart new careers after feeling the economic impacts of COVID-19. The …

Last school year, 68 out of the 262 public school districts in Arkansas reported not having a single teacher of color on their staffs. (Adobe Stock)

"Teach Plus" AR Fellowship Aims to Increase Educator Diversity

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Twenty educators from across Arkansas will meet throughout the next year to learn how to advocate for education policy changes…

Total student-loan debt across the United States is about $1.71 trillion, including federal student loans. (Adobe Stock)

Arkansas AG Warns of Potential Fraud, Financial Stress from Student Loans

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Among Arkansans who graduated in 2018, 53% have student-loan debt. State officials say it's important to read the fine print…

Most American students will take, on average, 112 standardized tests from kindergarten to 12th grade. (Adobe Stock)

Should Schools Hit Pause on Standardized Testing?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Critics of standardized testing say the federal government should reduce or pause these tests, since the pandemic has upended so …

Food insecurity and child hunger both have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Child Hunger Climbs in Rural AR, as Groups Work to Deliver Food Boxes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Child hunger is on the rise across Arkansas, and advocates warn families are struggling to access resources in communities far …

More than 50% of U.S. adults age 25 to 64 have earned a degree or other credential beyond a high school diploma, according to data from the Lumina Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Could Certifications Help More Arkansans Find Jobs Post-Pandemic?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Millions of jobs across the U.S. have vanished in the months since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and many Arkansans may …

According to 2018 data from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 26% of Arkansas children live in households with a high housing cost burden. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Even Before Pandemic, AR Child Poverty On the Rise

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Childhood poverty in Arkansas is on the rise, according to data recently released by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Rich …

Dr. Gordon Morgan, the first African-American professor hired by the University of Arkansas, passed away in December at age 88. (Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries)

Collection Highlights Life of U. of Arkansas' First Black Professor

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A new, special collection documents the work of Dr. Gordon Morgan, the first African-American professor hired by the University …

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AR: Education