Washington County Local Leads

10/07/2026

Please Register for our November 7th Free mini-conference!

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

Neat opportunity!

October is National Farm to School Month, and we’re bringing the celebration to Arkansas’s littlest learners!

The Arkansas Farm to ECE Coalition created a FREE Farm to ECE Guide with simple, fun ways to connect young children with local food, agriculture, and the people who grow our food.

Inside you’ll find:
🌾 Farm to ECE BINGO
🌾 Farm-to-Home Scavenger Hunt
🌾 Book recommendations
🌾 Songs & movement ideas

Want the guide? Join our new Arkansas Farm to ECE mailing list and we’ll send it straight to your inbox!

Sign up here: https://curriculaconcepts.ac-page.com/farm-to-ece?test=true

Providers, farmers, families, and community partners—we’d love to have you join us!

Share your Farm to ECE adventures with ❤️

10/07/2026

ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF OUR 2ND LOCATION!!!!!!!!

It is with great joy and many blessings that Jeff and I are excited to announce the opening of our second Peek-A-Boo Childcare location — Peek-A-Boo Childcare Arrow & Oak at:
📍 2129 N. Center St., Ste. F, Fayetteville, AR 72701
(Located behind Simple Simons)
For the past 9 years, we have been blessed to serve families at our original location at 850 Shoffner Ln. in Elkins, providing a loving, nurturing environment where children are cared for like our own.
At Peek-A-Boo Arrow & Oak, we are committed to bringing that same level of love, dedication, and exceptional care to every Little who walks through our doors.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLING & WOULD LOVE the opportunity to welcome your Little into the Peek-A-Boo family — a place where they will be loved, nurtured, encouraged, and cared for just like our own. ❤️
Peek-A-Boo Childcare See less

10/07/2026

Great Math training near you!

Young children build foundational math knowledge in the early years that has a lasting impact on academic outcomes in elementary school and beyond. Learn to use everyday math interactions as an important way to support preschoolers' mathematical understanding during this critical period of development in Early Math and Numeracy!

EMN meets online from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, and 2/18. Registration for this course closes January 8th at 9:00 am or when all seats are full.

This course requires virtual meeting attendance on the dates/times listed.

Learn more about this course on PDR (https://pdr.ade.arkansas.gov/), Course ID # 86425.

To register for this course, go to http://ecep.uark.edu/online and select the red button that says "Register Now! LIVE Training".

10/07/2026

If you are interested to learn more about Brightwheel, then you should keep reading!

📣 Early childhood providers in Northeast and East Arkansas — this opportunity is for you!

What if you could spend less time managing paperwork and more time supporting your staff, families, and children?

Through the Center for Early Learning Solutions at Forward Arkansas, eligible early childhood programs can receive FREE access to brightwheel™, the #1 childcare management software.

Brightwheel brings everyday program operations into one place, helping providers simplify:

✓ Enrollment & attendance
✓ Tuition, billing & payment tracking
✓ Family communication
✓ Classroom management
✓ Recordkeeping & reporting

We’re currently making a strong push to connect with providers in Northeast and East Arkansas. If your program is in one of these regions, now is a great time to learn more and see if you’re eligible.

👉 Northeast & East Arkansas providers: Learn more and get started:
https://info.mybrightwheel.com/forward-ar

📍 Located elsewhere in Arkansas? Let us know if you are interested, too! Complete our CCMS Interest Form to help us understand demand as we work to expand access to licenses across the state:
https://form.jotform.com/261735692942063

10/07/2026

👉 Learn more and apply:
https://form.jotform.com/262675015270050

📣 Applications are open for Arkansas’s 2027–28 Early Learning OER Pilot!
Approximately 20 licensed early childhood classrooms will participate during the 2027–28 school year. The pilot will primarily include classrooms serving four-year-old children, with limited space for mixed-age classrooms serving three- and four-year-olds.
Selected programs will receive, at no cost:
📚 Focus on Early Learning curriculum materials adapted for Arkansas
🎓 Professional learning to prepare educators for implementation
🤝 Coaching, ongoing support, and opportunities to collaborate with other educators
The Center for Early Learning Solutions at Forward Arkansas, in partnership with the Arkansas Office of Early Childhood, is looking for programs ready to learn alongside the project team and help strengthen this resource for early childhood educators across Arkansas.
Applications are open through November 6.
👉 Learn more and apply: LInk in comments

10/07/2026

📣 Applications are open for Arkansas’s 2027–28 Early Learning OER Pilot!
Approximately 20 licensed early childhood classrooms will participate during the 2027–28 school year. The pilot will primarily include classrooms serving four-year-old children, with limited space for mixed-age classrooms serving three- and four-year-olds.
Selected programs will receive, at no cost:
📚 Focus on Early Learning curriculum materials adapted for Arkansas
🎓 Professional learning to prepare educators for implementation
🤝 Coaching, ongoing support, and opportunities to collaborate with other educators
The Center for Early Learning Solutions at Forward Arkansas, in partnership with the Arkansas Office of Early Childhood, is looking for programs ready to learn alongside the project team and help strengthen this resource for early childhood educators across Arkansas.
Applications are open through November 6.
👉 Learn more and apply: LInk in comments

10/02/2026

⚓💙 Anchored in Collaboration. Focused on Arkansas Children. 💙⚓

A big THANK YOU to the leadership at the Office of Early Childhood for taking time to meet with some Local Lead “Anchors” today! (Shasta Turner Pentecost...we need to photoshop you in!)

We are grateful for the positive communication, genuine collaboration, and thoughtful conversation as we continue working together to strengthen early childhood education across our state.

The best part? No matter the topic, Arkansas children remain at the forefront of every conversation and every decision. ❤️

Faulkner County Local Lead is thankful to be part of a team committed to listening, learning, problem-solving, and moving this important work forward—together!