LEARNS Act: Requirements for Early Childhood
LEARNS envisions a seamless early childhood system in Arkansas that ensures:
All children enter kindergarten ready to learn and prepared for lifelong success as a result of their experiences in high-quality early care and education.
The local and state economies benefit from thriving families who are supported to hold jobs, raise children, and participate in their community.
Families can access the resources their child needs on their pathway to kindergarten, regardless of the setting they choose for their child.
Providers deliver high-quality early learning experiences, through a workforce that is prepared to care for and educate young children.
There are enough affordable, safe spots for children, made accessible for families through state, local, and community leadership.
Core Values
Child Centered
Customer Service
Leadership
Collaborative
Important Details
Key Dates from the Memo:
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Local ECE Lead Organizations Charge
The LEARNS Act stipulates that the state appoint and partner with local early childhood lead organizations. These local lead organizations will be charged to:
Vision for Local Leads
Key Responsibility | Description |
Public-Facing Captain | Act as the single entity responsible for oversight of the local early childhood efforts, raise awareness of the benefits of early childhood in their community, and serve as the single point of contact for families and community partners |
Local Stakeholder Engagement | Build relationships, trust, and credibility with community partners and support local adaptation to change, and seek feedback and input on funding decisions |
Strategic Planning | Develop and generate support for a unified community plan that is aligned to the goals and vision of the state, while also accounting for the specific local context |
Data Collection and Reporting | Collect key data elements reported to the state, including a count of children served across age, site, and funding stream (including all funds) |
Fiscal Management | Manage community level resources, understand the fiscal picture of the community, and complete an annual request for funding for B-5 spots by analyzing data to understand the local demand/need and local capacity for B-5 spots |
Coordinated Enrollment | Facilitate an annual coordinated enrollment process to ensure an equitable and streamlined enrollment process for families eligible for B-5 spots |
Local Leadership | Develop innovative solutions at the local level and, as they are ready, begin to work with advocates, city and county governments, and other local leaders to generate new revenue to expand access to and quality of B-5 spots |
Responsibilities will grow over time, first focusing on engaging stakeholders to build a community plan and eventually overseeing data tracking and fiscal management of the catchment area.
Required Documents and Organizational Commitments
Application Package Requirements
Applicants must submit a single PDF with Local Lead Application,, resumes, and support letters by March 2, 2026.
The budget worksheet must be submitted as a separate file.
Both of these documents must submitted for the application to be considered complete.
Community Partner Support
Letters of support are required from school districts, Head Start grantees, early childhood providers, and local agencies.
Organizational Assurances
Organizations must comply with LEARNS Act, collaborate on planning, coordinate CLASS® observations,
Ongoing Engagement and Reporting
Local Leads must maintain accurate data, attend ADE meetings, and engage with community stakeholders continuously.
Expectations
Collaboration with OEC
Participation in regularly scheduled meetings
Local Lead Captain/Director
1.0 FTE for 200 classrooms or more
.5 FTE for Less than 200 classrooms
Child Count
Coordinated Funding Request
Implementation of Local Plan
Collaboration & Planning
Administration & Using Data
Quality Classrooms
CLASS Observations (2 per publicly funded classrooms)
Supporting Families
Innovative Practices for Community Specific Needs
BUDGET CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION |
Salaries | Salary & Benefits for Local Lead Captain (FTE) |
Fringe Benefits | Associated benefits for staff |
Operating Expenses | Indirect costs; approved rates apply |
Travel | Costs for required travel |
Equipment | Necessary equipment purchases |
Contracts | Professional service agreements |
Subgrants | Funds allocated to partner entities |
Questions