News and Updates | June 2021
Celebrating Juneteenth throughout Arkansas
The Reform Alliance is celebrating Juneteenth with organizations all over the state! In Forrest City, Denisha Merriweather, director of public relations at the American Federation for Children and founder of the Black Minds Matter movement, will join us to speak at FAC Juneteenth 2021.

We will also be in downtown Pine Bluff from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our team (and information about us) may pop up at other events around the state as well, so keep a lookout for us!

If you can't make it to any of the events, follow our social media pages for photos and videos!
Denisha Merriweather will speak at the Juneteenth event in Forrest City, Arkansas.
Need a gift for Father's Day? Enter our giveaway!
Do you have the best dad ever? Tell us why, and you can win a $100 Lowe's gift card for him for Father's Day!

Every Tuesday (June 1, June 8 and June 15), we will post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and invite you to share your stories and pictures! All you have to do is comment on the post by that Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Comments can include pictures, videos or just words.

We will randomly select a winner from the comments using the ShortStack app every Friday and announce the weekly winner on social media.
Your feedback matters!
If you are a current recipient of the Succeed Scholarship, it is vital that you and your family share your stories and successes. We survey families every year to ensure the program is meeting your children's educational needs. Click the button below to complete the survey!
Virtual Town Hall - May 12
The Reform Alliance hosted a virtual town hall on Wednesday, May 12. We want to thank the moderator (Kanesha Barnes from AR Kids Read) and panelists (Courtney Williams from Compass Academy, Cheri Stevenson from Access Group and Rachel Hubbard from Second Chance Youth Ranch)!

In case you missed it, the video is posted to the left, or you can click here to read about it!
The Reform Alliance outreach in communities
Managing Director Emmy Henley visited with families at the Big Catch in Little Rock.
We recognized military families with free zoo admission to Red, White and Zoo days.
TRA staff and family members handed out information at the Pine Bluff Block Party.
The governor recently met with supporters of the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids program
On Wednesday, May 19, Gov. Asa Hutchinson officially marked the signing of Act 904, which created the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids Program, with supporters.
In April, the Arkansas General Assembly passed legislation for the tax credit scholarship program for K-12 students. Hutchinson signed the bill into law April 26 and met with supporters at the Capitol May 19.
“We are just so glad to be able to offer this opportunity for students that have a need for a different education option,” said Rep. Ken Bragg, the bill’s primary sponsor. “I appreciate everyone that helped work on this bill to get it passed.”
Save the Date: Student Focused Teacher Led 2021
Two-day education conference in Little Rock
Join us for two full days of programming as we learn from some of the nation's leading educators, researchers and practitioners about what it means to be student-focused and teacher-led! More details to follow!

Click the button below and choose "Going" or "Interested" in order to get the latest updates!
Microschools: another option for AR students
A microschool is a group of 5-10 learners who meet in person, usually in the home of their learning guide.

So far this year through private philanthropy, The Reform Alliance has established 11 microschools in Arkansas. Have questions? Let us know!
Kids are growing both socially and academically at Arrows Academy, a microschool in Paragould.
Education News and Headlines
The Year of Educational Choice is here ... and Arkansas is part of it!
By May 25, 13 states have created five new programs and expanded 13 existing programs. Hundreds of thousands of families across the country will become eligible to participate in the next year or two, offering new opportunities that previously were financially out of their reach.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis celebrates after signing a school choice program expansion.
Image Source: Associated Press
Image Source: Nationals School Choice Week
Oklahoma expands school choice scholarship program
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed school choice expansion legislation that makes up to $50 million in tax credits available, with $25 million for public schools and $25 million for private schools.
New technology tool from EdChoice shows public school funding
According to EdChoice’s 2020 Schooling in America survey, 53 percent of Americans think public school funding is too low in their state.

But most people don’t know what public schools spend.
This map from Project Nickel shows the states that have reported information.
Faces of Freedom
These are the voices of Arkansas families who have benefited from Arkansas’s Succeed Scholarship Program:

"We are so grateful to have the Succeed Scholarship for our daughter Cassidy. She is able to attend our local Catholic high school with all her friends, following in the footsteps of her mother and sister. Cassidy loves being a Belle and was even a manager for the varsity basketball team this season. Without the scholarship, I am not sure we would have been able to give this opportunity to Cass so thank you!" - Allan, 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.