News and Updates | October 2021
October spotlights learning disabilities
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, so this month we have been sharing stories of families whose educational experiences have been affected by dyslexia. In the video above, Jillian and her mom, Carmen, find hope with the Succeed Scholarship.

It is also Learning Disability Awareness Month, so we will be also be sharing organizations that are dedicated to serving those with disabilities. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Educators gather at Student Focused Teacher Led
Dr. Ruby Payne, author and educator, led the first session about Emotional Poverty in All Demographics.
Teachers, counselors and administrators gathered to learn what it means to be student focused and teacher led.
The conference lasted two days and was held at City Center (315 N. Shackelford Road in Little Rock).
Join us at the Jacksonville Trunk or Treat Oct. 31!
Goblins, ghosts and ghouls, oh my! Halloween is approaching, and TRA is celebrating with the Jacksonville community at Trunk or Treat 2021. Make plans to come by and grab some goodies!

The Trunk or Treat will be held at Dupree Park, 1700 S Redmond Road in Jacksonville, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31.
Education News and Headlines
Merriweather: Don't tell me school choice is racist
"Given the public education system’s unwillingness or inability to educate black students adequately, we need a new system, one that is built by our community and empowered by parents. That is anything but racist."
Big ideas — Microschools versus waitlists podcast
During the pandemic, microschools saw an almost six-fold increase in about a year. While data on student progress is limited, preliminary results suggests that there is "clear evidence of learning gains."
Empower parents, not union leaders
News reports recently revealed that powerful teachers unions had pressured the Centers for Disease Control and the White House to make changes in their positions related to pandemic precautions.
Image Source: The Times-Tribune via AP
Faces of Freedom
These are the voices of Arkansas families who have benefited from Arkansas’s Succeed Scholarship Program:

"The Succeed Scholarship has had a huge impact on our family and has truly been an amazing opportunity to have been chosen for. Without this grant it is very probable that our son, Max, who has learning disabilities, would not be able to attend his current private school that we have come to know and love.

Christ the King is an amazing school with a much smaller student to teacher ratio versus Max having to go to the Fort Smith Public School System. The smaller classroom count is vital in Max having a better learning experience. It can be very hard for him to focus and with a larger classroom count comes more distractions. Christ the King also uses a state approved reading program for children with Dyslexia whereas [the local public school] does not. ..." - Alyssa, Succeed Scholarship parent
The Reform Alliance is proud to manage the Succeed Scholarship at no cost to the State of Arkansas. Even small expenses like the cost of mailing checks to schools are paid for by a private foundation grant. 
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every K-12 student in Arkansas has equal access to a world class education. Our mission is to create a network of parent and community leaders so every policy decision and every conversation about education starts and ends with how it impacts our kids.