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
Arkansas child advocates concerned about changes to school readiness program
Arkansas Advocate | sEPTEMBER 24, 2026
Funded through the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant, the program provides financial assistance for child care to eligible, low-income families while parents work or attend school.
Child care costs preventing Arkansas mothers from seeking or retaining full-time work, report says
Arkansas Advocate | maRCH 10, 2026
More than a third of mothers surveyed said the availability of child care providers is a problem.
Education officials say Preschool Development Grant will be used to improve early childhood education
Arkansas Democrat Gazette | January 6, 2025
A $14.75 million federal grant recently awarded to Arkansas will be used to improve early childhood education and make it more accessible, according to state education officials.
Arkansas Resources & News
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