Better Beginnings is the statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) which is managed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. It operates by connecting Arkansas families with information and guidance that helps their children experience a safe, happy, healthy childhood.

Better Beginnings improves the level of quality in child care and early childhood education for all licensed center-based programs and licensed/registered family child care programs across the state. It functions as a voluntary three-tier system that evaluates programs along five component areas: 1) Administration, 2) Administrator and Staff Qualifications and Professional Development, 3) Learning Environment 4) Environmental Assessment, and 5) Child Health and Development.

The requirements of Better Beginnings are aligned with Arkansas' early learning standards and workforce core competencies for professionals.

• Visit the Better Beginnings website for much more info that parents, families, providers, and teachers can all use
• View Arkansas' profile from Quality Compendium for a complete comprehensive report
• Remember to look for the Better Beginnings star ratings when searching for local child care providers in Arkansas

Arkansas Approved Early Childhood Curriculum List

Arkansas Child Development and Early Learning Standards: Birth through 60 Months (Arkansas CDELS)
(English)  (Spanish)

Arkansas CDELS poster

Arkansas Workforce Knowledge and Competencies (WKC) for Early Care and Education Professionals

Adventures for Toddlers a comprehensive curriculum for children aged 18 to 36 months

Adventures in Learning a comprehensive curriculum for children aged 3 to 5 years old

Association of Measurements: Early Childhood (AOM)

Books and Movement: A Magical Mix (BAMMM!)

Connecting Literature and Math (CLAM) supports teachers by providing math to children aged 3 to 5

Connecting with Infants a curriculum for children birth to 18 months

Creative Adventures with Literature literature and art supplement for teachers of children ages 3 to 5

Developmental Rating Scale: Birth through 36 Months (DRS)
(printable)  (interactive)

Developmental Rating Scale: 19 through 60 Months (DRS)
(printable)  (interactive)

Getting Ready For Kindergarten: A Calendar of Family Activities
(English)  (Spanish)

Infant and Toddler Family Connection activities that connect infants and toddlers to their child care setting and their families

Kindergarten Readiness Indicator Checklist for Parents (KRIC)
(English)  (Eng. interactive)  (Spanish)  (Sp. interactive)

Kindergarten Readiness Indicator Checklist for Teachers (KRIC)
(English)  (Eng. interactive)  (Spanish)  (Sp. interactive)

LINK for Parents

LINK for Teachers

Picture This: A Framework for Quality Care and Education for Children from Three to Five

Picture This: A Framework for Quality Care for Infants and Toddlers

Story-a-Month

Strategies and Activities: Infant Toddler

Strategies and Activities: Preschool

The Family Connection activities that connect children ages 3 to 5 to their classroom and their families

"TOP 10" Basics for Health and Safety in Child Care Centers

"TOP 10" Basics for Health and Safety in Child Care Family Homes

Child Care Aware® of America works with a national network of more than 400 child care resource and referral agencies and other partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. CCAoA leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, conducts research, and advocates for child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. 

View Arkansas Contact Map

Child Care Aware sites in Arkansas

Central and Southeast Arkansas

Central and Southwest Arkansas

Northcentral Arkansas

Northeast Arkansas and Lonoke County

 Northwest Arkansas and River Valley

West Central Arkansas

ATTENTION ARKANSAS CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS:

The below MLR's are the most current version from the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, effective Decemeber 1, 2020. Please check the publication date on the cover page at your center or home and ensure that it's the newest version.

Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers  (rev. 12/01/2020)

Minimum Licensing Requirements for Licensed Child Care Family Homes  (rev. 12/01/2020)

Minimum Licensing Requirements for Out-of-School Time Facilities  (rev. 12/01/2020)

Minimum Licensing Requirements for Registered Child Care Family Homes  (rev. 12/01/2020)

Age-Appropriate Activities

• Activities for Early Childhood Education and Development
• Baby Sensory
• Busy Toddler
• Frozen Flowers and More!
• Homemade Toys
• Science Sound Shakers
• Sensory Obstacle Courses
• The Imagination Tree
• Toddler Approved

Arkansas Department of Education (ADE)

Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE)

• Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential  checklist and application
• Infant Toddler Certificate  checklist and application
• Child Care Licensing

Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education

Arkansas Early Childhood Association (AECA)

Arkansas Education Service Cooperatives

Arkansas Professional Development Registry (PDR)

Association for Early Learning Leaders

Caring for Our Children (CFOC) the most up-to-date source for health and safety guidelines in early care and education programs

• COVID-19 Questions-CFOC Crosswalk
• Chapter 4.2.0.10: Care for Children with Food Allergies
• Chapter 5.2.9.3: Informing Staff Regarding the Presence of Toxic Substances
• Chapter 6.5.2.1: Drop-off and Pick-up
• Chapter 7: Infectious Diseases
• Appendix J: Selecting an Appropriate Sanitizer or Disinfectant 

Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University a multidisciplinary team committed to driving science-based innovation in policy and practice

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Developmental Disabilities
• Developmental Milestones for children ages 2 months to 5 years
• Learn the Signs. Act Early program for tracking children's development

Child Development Associate Credential™ (CDA)

Curricula Concepts

Disabilities

• First Connections an Arkansas program under IDEA designed for families and children, ages birth to 3, with special needs
• iCAN Arkansas' statewide Assistive Technology program
• IDEA from the US Deptartment of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• Office of Special Education Programs for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities ages birth to 21
• Part C of IDEA early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and their families
• Wrightslaw information, laws, and advocacy about children's disabilities for parents and educators

Erikson Institute Technology in Early Childhood Center

Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE)

Health

• Arkansas Children's for community, family, and child health
• Arkansas WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) the special supplemental nutrition program from the Arkansas Deptartment of Health
• ARKids First a health insurance program for children in Arkansas through DHS
• KidsHealth

Hearing

• Communicating With Baby: Tips and Milestones From Birth to Age 5 from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Infant Hearing in Arkansas info from the Arkansas Deptartment of Health
• Your Baby's Hearing and Communicative Development Checklist from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Indispensable Policies and Practices for High-Quality Pre-K from New America

Kindness Curriculum

MyPlate ideas and tips to help create a healthier eating style that meets individual needs from the USDA

National Association for Family Child Care

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

• Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education
• Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
• Early Childhood Curriculum, Assessment, and Program Evaluation
• Learning and Development Resources for Families
• NAEYC Position Statement

National Center for Children in Poverty

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

National Head Start Association

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education

Posters

• Prevent Choking! poster  (English)  (Spanish)
• Prevent Portion Distortion
• Rethink Your Drink
• Sugary Drinks Addiction in America
• Supermarket Secrets

Poverty

• American Psychological Association
• Children's Defense Fund
• Communication Across Barriers
• Search Institute
• Learning for Justice
• Teaching Channel

Safe Sleep for Your Baby resources for caregivers and families

Safety

• ChildSafe Kit request a free kit, a must-have for all parents
• Period of PURPLE Crying® from the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
• Play Safe info about toy safety from The Toy Association, Inc.
• Requesting a Child Maltreatment Registry Check from the Arkansas Dept of Children and Family Services
• Safe Kids Worldwide protecting kids from unintentional injuries
• U.S. Safety Standards safety rules and regulations in the toy industry 
• You Can Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome from the Arkansas Dept of Health 

Safe Sleep for Your Baby resources for caregivers and families

Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA)

TEACH Arkansas Scholarship Program a licensed program of the Child Care Services Association and administered by the Arkansas Early Childhood Association

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention (TACSEI)

TIPS for Great Kids! a useful, practical info for parents that leads to successful outcomes for children ages birth to 5 years from UAMS

Tools of the Mind® helping children become intentional and reflective learners, by creating a classroom in which instruction reflect children's learning capacity, rather than age-level expectations

ZERO TO THREE

• Getting Started with Mindfulness: A Toolkit for Early Childhood Organizations
• Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
• Tips and Tools on Play