Local Leads Collaboration
Building a Stronger, More Connected Early Childhood System
Local Leads are vital to achieving the LEARNS Act’s strategic vision of increasing access to high-quality early childhood care and education, improving kindergarten readiness, and providing greater support to providers, children, and families. As Local Leads carry out their roles, it’s become increasingly clear how important peer connections, shared resources, and engagement around promising practices will be to their efforts.
In partnership with the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), we are building the collaborative capacity of the Local Leads network to support a more responsive, effective, and innovative early childhood system. By making it easier for knowledge and promising solutions to move across communities and between partners, the Local Leads network can help create the conditions for providers to succeed and for children and families across Arkansas to access high-quality early learning and care.
From Local Experience to Collective Knowledge
Through statewide convenings, working groups, and peer-learning opportunities organized by OEC and the Center for Early Learning Solutions (CELS), Local Leads will explore joint shared priorities, share exchange resources and effective practices, and work through common challenges. These opportunities will combine relevant expertise and research with the knowledge Local Leads bring from their own communities, allowing them to showcase what is working, learn how peers are approaching similar issues, and consider how to adapt strategies to their own local context. We will shape opportunities based on Local Leads’ experiences, questions, and priorities, helping to ensure the work remains relevant and actionable.
Connecting Knowledge Across the Network
We will help build the infrastructure Local Leads need to access, exchange, and apply information and resources that support their work. As the Local Leads network matures, we will work alongside Local Leads and OEC to establish more systematic approaches to communication and knowledge sharing that respond to evolving needs and support ongoing connection between in-person network opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are CELS and OEC working together?
CELS and OEC are working together to develop the Local Leads network to complement OEC’s existing leadership of the Local Lead Organizations. OEC aligns Local Lead organizations to statewide early childhood priorities, supports them in developing their plans, and identifies focus areas for collaborative learning. CELS facilitates opportunities for peer connection, shared learning, and the exchange of resources. Together, we are building the capacity and infrastructure needed for Local Leads to collaborate, elevate community-level insights, and explore shared opportunities.
How will insights from Local Leads reach OEC and other state leaders?
The Local Leads network will create more intentional pathways for community insights to inform state leaders. Through working groups, convenings, and ongoing communication, Local Leads will have opportunities to surface shared needs, challenges, successes, and emerging ideas. We will capture and share this information, ensuring that on-the-ground experience guides statewide learning, decision-making, and opportunities for system improvement.
How could a stronger Local Lead network ultimately benefit Arkansas providers, children, and families?
Over time, stronger coordination and shared learning can help providers access better information and support; help effective approaches reach more communities; and inform system improvements. For children and families, that means an early childhood care and education sector better equipped to meet their needs and connect them with the quality care and learning experiences their children need to be kindergarten-ready.
What could a stronger Local Leads network mean for early childhood providers?
A stronger Local Leads Network can help create a more connected and responsive support system for early childhood providers. As Local Leads share knowledge, resources, and effective practices, providers can benefit from more consistent access to useful information, tools, and support. Over time, this can help reduce barriers, spread effective solutions, and create the conditions needed for providers to deliver high-quality early education and care.