Arkansas
Working families in Arkansas need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Arkansas. But too many working families in Arkansas are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Arkansas economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
In the state, 62% of children have all available parents participating in the workforce, while the average cost of care is $9,178 a year (or $765 per month).
More than 12,500 children ages 5 and under have child care costs subsidized through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), or 21% of those eligible. The average copay with a CCDBG subsidy is $28 a month.
10K children receive care, learning, nutrition, and other services at no cost through Early Head Start/Head Start (or 17% of those eligible for Early Head Start and 19% of those eligible for Head Start).
And 43.4K working families have the cost of their child care offset through the Child + Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).
However, many working parents still struggle to access affordable, quality child care, which costs the state’s economy an estimated $1.2 billion each year in lost earnings and productivity.
Arkansas: In The Headlines
Opinion: Two boys, two paths: Why early childhood education can’t wait
Arkansas Advocate | aPRIL 16, 2026
As the child care crisis shows no signs of abating across the country and in Arkansas, early childhood educators such as myself see a constant divide.
Rising child care costs in Arkansas leaving parents facing tough decisions
4029 News | June 17, 2026
Arkansas parents, especially mothers, are struggling with high childcare costs, forcing many to choose between staying home or working.
Education officials say Preschool Development Grant will be used to improve early childhood education
Arkansas Democrat Gazette | January 6, 2026
A $14.75 million federal grant recently awarded to Arkansas will be used to improve early childhood education and make it more accessible.
Arkansas Resources & News
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