The Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program was created in 1991 to offer high quality early education services to children birth to five exhibiting developmental and socioeconomic risk factors. In 2003, the Arkansas General Assembly made a commitment to expand early childhood education funding to serve low-income three and four-year old children with high quality pre-K services. This expansion, known as Arkansas Better Chance for School Success (ABCSS), program offers free preschool to children ages 3 and 4 with qualifying household incomes. They must be 3 or 4 by August 1st. ABCSS has become the state pre-kindergarten program.

Mission Statement:
As good stewards of the public trust Northeast Arkansas Education Cooperative Early Childhood ABC Programs will support and advise the Division by ensuring that all Arkansas Children and families have access to a safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate (nurturing learning) environment (and) by educating and assisting parents, families, child care providers, and communities to prepare our children for future success.

2025-2026 Federal POVERTY GUIDELINES

2025-2026 ABC Parent Handbook

2025-2026 ABC SCREENING INTAKE

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Our Pre-School Locations