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Arkansas Early Learning
Northwest Arkansas families..... Head Start is currently recruiting within Benton and Washington Counties for the upcoming school year!
INFANTS * TODDLERS * PRE-K
Working with our communities to serve the needs of our most vulnerable children and families.
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Northeast Regional Office
1901 Woodsprings Rd., Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 931-1172
Northwest Regional Office
2308 SE 28th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 319-6333
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About Us
Who We Are:
Arkansas Early Learning (AEL) was established to serve the most vulnerable children ages birth to five and their families throughout the State of Arkansas. AEL provides a variety of comprehensive services that address individual needs, promote school readiness and future success, beginning with programs for pregnant mothers that continue through the child(ren)s transition into Kindergarten. This is accomplished through parent involvement and parent partnerships to support the development of their child(ren).
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Who We Serve:
Arkansas Early Learning serves children ages 0 to 5 years old in a family-friendly childcare setting. AEL currently operates 24 centers which include 11 partner sites, 13 AEL operated sites, 2 Central Offices, and 1 warehouse for a total of 27 locations. These quality Head Start and Early Head Start programs are located in Bentonville, Bryant, Gentry, Harrisburg, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Marked Tree, Newport, North Little Rock, Rogers, Paragould, Springdale, West Memphis, and Wynne, Arkansas.
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Arkansas Early Learning is a quality early education childcare program and is inclusive of children with disabilities and is licensed under the "Child Care Facility Licensing Act" through the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, and Early Childhood Education.
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To be eligible for HS/EHS, an applicant must be determined age and income or categorically eligible as per the following:
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Age Eligibility:
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Pregnant women (any age)
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Birth to under 3 years old (EHS)
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Child must be 3 years old by the program entrance date (HS)
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Income Eligibility:
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To qualify, a family's gross annual income must be at or below the mandated Poverty Guidelines.
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Categorical Eligibility:
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A family is eligible in any of the following categories, regardless of total gross income:
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An applicant is placed in 24-hour out-of-home Foster Care
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Applicant or family member living with and supported by the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) and is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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Family is experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Our Mission
To build a stronger community by empowering children and families with skills essential to their success...we believe everyone deserves the opportunity for a better life. It's our mission to provide transformational learning programs to help children and families develop the skills essential to their social competency.
Our Vision
Bring a greater degree of social competence in children and low-income families.
Our Services
Arkansas Early Learning provides high-quality early care and education services to children birth to five in center-based, home-based, full-day, or full-year/part-year Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) programs in a family-friendly, childcare setting. AEL will help your child develop reading, writing, and behavioral skills to prepare them for kindergarten and school success. AEL also provides services to pregnant moms with the goal of ultimately providing EHS services to their child upon delivery.
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Types of HS/EHS Services:
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Full-Day - Children are in a center-based class for 6.5 hours per day
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Part-Day - Children are in a center-based class either in the morning or afternoon for 3.5 hours per day
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Home-based - A teacher visits the home once a week for 1.5 hours and works directly with the parent(s) or guardian(s) to provide a program at home. Two socialization are also offered each month for all enrolled children and their parent(s) or guardian(s)
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Other Services:
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Adult Education in the areas of health (including medical, dental, mental health, and nutrition)
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Parent committees, Policy Council, on-site events, and other program activities
Arkansas Early Learning staff are all qualified to provide HS and EHS services to children and families. Staff receives ongoing intensive training in child development, positive guidance, CPR, first-aid, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and a variety of other relevant topics.
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​Arkansas Early Learning Centers
AEL currently operates 24 centers which include 11 partner sites, 13 AEL operated sites, 2 Central Offices, and 1 warehouse for a total of 27 locations. These quality Head Start and Early Head Start programs are located in Bentonville, Bryant, Gentry, Harrisburg, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Marked Tree, Newport, North Little Rock, Rogers, Paragould, Springdale, West Memphis, and Wynne, Arkansas.
Northwest Regional Office
2308 SE 28th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 319-6333
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Northeast Regional Office
1901 Woodsprings Rd., Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 931-1172
Contact Us:
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Click here to contact us by email or call one of the below numbers.