Angsty Work Session Yields No Solutions to Arkansas Child Care Crunch

Angsty work session yields no solutions to Arkansas child care crunch

Child care providers are warning that hundreds will lose jobs, dozens of child care centers will close, and both voucher-reliant and market rate-paying parents will find themselves unable to work or go to school because somebody has to watch the kids.

Arkansas child care providers ask state for help after changes to school readiness program

From left: Shelli Henehan and Democratic Rep. Denise Garner, both members of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, listen to Republican Rep. Julie Mayberry during a work session to discuss child care funding on Oct. 15, 2025 in Little Rock. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)Arkansas’ child care system needs additional funding to avoid widespread closures and layoffs due to changes to the state’s financial aid program for low-income families, prov…