by Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Advocate
July 8, 2025

The Arkansas Department of Education launched a searchable database Monday that allows parents to search for licensed child care providers throughout the state.

Childcare Arkansas includes a range of search options such as county, city, ZIP code and “Better Beginnings” quality ratings. The Arkansas Department of Human Services ranks child care quality on a scale of one to six.

The database also allows searches for specific criteria such as the ages of the children accepted at a facility, hours of operation, whether transportation is provided and whether the provider accepts school vouchers via the LEARNS Act. The search function includes an interactive map of results.

The LEARNS Act is a wide-ranging 2023 education law that includes several early childhood education provisions, among them the requirement for the new “parent-friendly” website. The law also requires “local lead” organizations throughout the state to assess local and regional access to pre-K and what gaps or barriers should be addressed. The Childcare Arkansas site includes a search function for local leads.

“Through the LEARNS Act, which created the Local Leads program, and tools like this website, we are empowering Arkansas families to make informed decisions and helping set our children on the path to success from early childhood on,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in Monday’s news release announcing Childcare Arkansas.

The website also allows parents to file complaints against child care facilities and search the School Readiness Assistant portal, which provides eligible families with “free or reduced childcare at approved state licensed providers, pending the availability of funds,” according to the portal’s website.

Arkansans face more challenges than most accessing child care, report shows

The LEARNS Act also moved the state’s Office of Early Childhood from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Education. The law “codified a commitment to improve access to quality childcare providers and streamlined education from cradle to career,” Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said in Monday’s news release.

In 2023, child care for infants in Arkansas cost only 1.8% less than four-year public college tuition and 22.5% less than the average rent cost, according to a study released earlier this year by the Economic Policy Institute.

Arkansans have historically faced more challenges accessing quality child care than residents of other states, and Arkansas remains one of the worst states for child well-being overall, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com.

The post Arkansas Department of Education creates searchable child care provider database appeared first on arkansasadvocate.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about Arkansas’s new childcare database and related legislation without overt ideological framing. It includes government actions, official statements, and data on childcare costs and challenges, maintaining a neutral tone. While it highlights issues like childcare affordability and access, it does so through citing studies and official sources rather than advocating a particular political viewpoint. The coverage neither criticizes nor champions partisan policies, focusing instead on informing readers about practical developments in early childhood education within the state.

SUMMARY: Using wire brushes to clean grills can be dangerous; tiny metal bristles can break off and become lodged in the body, causing serious injuries. Darby Bybee experienced severe stomach pain due to a wire bristle stuck in his small intestine, which required removal via a specialized camera. In another severe case, a bristle lodged in a man’s throat required removal of part of his esophagus. Testing a wire brush showed over 20 bristles left behind on a grill. Experts recommend alternatives like grill stones or replacing wire brushes every couple of years to avoid injury from these tiny, hard-to-see bristles.

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SUMMARY: Kate Krause, a University of Arkansas student and former camper at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp in Texas, is helping with recovery efforts after severe damage hit the camp. She describes Camp Mystic as a “slice of heaven” and a close-knit community, crediting owners Dick and Tweety for their kindness. The loss of Dick Eastland deeply affected her. Despite being nearly 700 miles away, Kate is raising funds—70% for Kerr County flood relief and 30% for Camp Mystic families—and organizing local business partnerships for fundraising to support those impacted. She has raised about \$450 so far.

Local woman helping collect donations for recovery efforts

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