The Office for Education Policy in the Department of Education Reform at the U of A is hosting a stakeholder discussion about early childhood education in the state on Tuesday, June 7, in Little Rock.

"What's Next for Pre-K in Arkansas" will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at Heifer International. Early childhood practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders are invited to attend the free event. Registration is required.

The event will bring together a diverse group of practitioners, policymakers and academics to discuss what's working well and opportunities for improvement related to early childhood education in Arkansas. 

Josh McGee and Sarah McKenzie in the U of A Office of Education Policy will chair the workshop. The lead speaker is Rev. Cory Anderson, chief innovation officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

Other speakers include:

• Michelle Barnes, executive director, Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center
• Jamie Ward, president, Arkansas Association for Infant Mental Health
• Tonya Williams, director of the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, Arkansas Department of Human Services
• Jackie Govan, collaboration director, Arkansas Head Start-State Collaboration Office
• Michael Crouch, senior program officer, The Walton Personal Philanthropy Group
• Rep. Megan Godfrey, House Education Committee
• Paul Lazenby, executive director, Arkansas Early Childhood Association
• Olivia Gardner, director of education policy, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
• Sen. Jane English, Senate Education Committee

For more information, visit the event page or reach out to Josh McGee in the Office of Education Policy at JoshMcGee@uark.edu. Registration will close at midnight on Thursday, June 2.