Better Beginnings | Arkansas Childcare Information for Parents and Childcare Providers

2012 Outstanding Early Childhood Professional

The Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education and the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission are accepting nominations for 2012 OUTSTANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS.

Promotional Materials

We are happy to announce that Better Beginnings promotional materials have arrived! We have beautiful 6’ x 3’ vinyl Better Beginnings banners for outdoor/indoor display, lapel pins for staff, stress ball stars, and ink pens.

Author Ellen Galinsky Talks About Essential Life Skills

Better Beginnings hosted Mind in the Making author, Ellen Galinsky on Monday May, 9th at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. Galinsky spoke on the importance of early childhood education and the “Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs.”

Celebration Kickoff

The Better Beginnings Celebration, held on Oct. 25 at Philander Smith College, featured an education panel made up of Max Dyson, superintendent of Hamburg School District; Laura Bednar, Ed. D., Assistant Commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education Learning Services; and Walter Kimbrough Ph.D., president of Philander Smith College.

U. S. Secretary of Education Visits Hamburg School District

For the second time in ten years, a United States Secretary of Education has visited the Hamburg School District. Current U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was in Hamburg Thursday as part of a bus tour which included two stops in Arkansas.

What is Better Beginnings?

High quality child care and early childhood education sets the stage for how well our children learn, how they think of themselves and how they interact with their world. Each of us have a responsibility to make sure all of our children have the best experiences they can.
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For Providers

Our children deserve the best early childhood experience we can give them. That's why we're committed to your success in meeting this challenge. Everything you'll need to take advantage of/participate in the Better Beginnings quality rating process is included here.
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For Families

Our main goal is to help you find the best child care available for your son or daughter. Resources include a checklist for selecting a child care provider and guidelines for determining if you are eligible for the Arkansas Early Childhood Credit.
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Public/Private Partnerships

Educators and others in our communities can become Better Beginnings Partners by hosting community forums and workshops on relevant early childhood topics or on ways to improve the quality of child care facilities in the community.
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Frequently Asked Questions

To acquaint you with the Better Beginnings program requirements and how you can participate, we've included answers to some of the most frequently asked questions for providers.
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Additional Resources

We have developed a list of additional Internet resources for parents and providers looking for information about quality child care.
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