New Education Reform Book Traces Arkansas' Education Evolution

A new book from the College of Education and Health Professions' Department of Education Reform examines the evolution of Arkansas' educational landscape.

Coming in November and co-edited by Harry Patrinos and Kristen Scott, The State of Education in Arkansas draws on original empirical research, statewide longitudinal data and decades of national evidence.

"I am proud to share The State of Education in Arkansas, a volume that brings together leading research on the opportunities and challenges facing education in our state," said Patrinos, head of the Department of Education Reform. "At a time of significant policy change, the book provides an evidence-based assessment of where Arkansas stands and what it will take to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed."

The new book features work from several Education Reform faculty members and highlights major education policy changes in the state, like the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts, higher teacher pay, universal early literacy and more.

Scott, who serves as a research project analyst for the department, said a motivation for this book was to connect goals with outcomes and policy with practice.

"I am pleased to have contributed to this work because policies are, at their core, well-intentioned plans," she said. "It is their implementation that makes the difference for families, schools, communities, higher education and our state."

Patrinos and Scott make the case that Arkansas now possesses a rare combination of political alignment, financial investment and policy coherence necessary to make real gains, but that outcomes will ultimately depend on disciplined implementation.

"Education partners—families, schools, communities, higher education and the state—share the same goal: educating every learner well," Scott said. "The goal is simple, but achieving it is not."

Patrinos, Twenty-First Century Endowed Chair in Education Policy, is an internationally recognized expert in K-12 education policy and has three decades of leadership experience across various fields. His research centers on the economics of education, especially returns to schooling and education finance. He joined the college following a career at the World Bank, where he served as senior adviser for education.

Scott is an award-winning educator with over 30 years of experience improving instruction and measuring outcomes at the K-12 and collegiate levels. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the U of A, and is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the Oklahoma-Arkansas Teacher of the Year award, among other honors.

Those interested in learning more or placing a pre-order can visit the book's page on the University of Arkansas Press website.