Advocates urge delay of child care assistance changes in Arkansas

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families on Wednesday called on the state’s education department to delay changes to the School Readiness Assistance Program, arguing the revisions could reduce access for families in need.

The Arkansas Department of Education announced Sept. 19 that a new sliding-scale reimbursement system would take effect Oct. 1, aiming to “prioritize access for working families and manage program demand responsibly.” The program provides financial assistance for child care to low-income families while parents work or attend school and currently serves more than 16,000 children.

AACF said the changes could make child care less affordable for eligible families, create barriers for providers, and jeopardize program quality. “It is disheartening that these changes were made without transparency and blindsided families and the early childhood care and education community,” the nonprofit said.

The full article is available at ktlo.com.

(Story by Staff Writer, ktlo.com)