Two North Little Rock School District Pre-K programs have been named among the top 20 in the state by the Office of Education Policy (OEP) at the University of Arkansas.
Out of hundreds of eligible programs across Arkansas, Pike View Early Childhood Center (ECE) ranked 10th and the NLR 6 Academy of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences ranked 12th. In the Central Region, the programs earned the 3rd and 5th spots, respectively.
“We celebrate the educators, students, and families who made this possible,” said NLRSD Pre-K Coordinator Maribel Siems. “It is our honor to create lifelong learners, arming our students with the academic and social skills needed to thrive in school and in life.”
While the OEP traditionally highlights K-12 schools for high growth on spring summative exams (like the ATLAS exam) in low-income communities, this marks the inaugural year that the organization has placed a spotlight on infant/toddler and Pre-K excellence.
To be eligible for this new OEP ECE recognition, programs must be state-licensed or registered as a Child Care Center, Family Child Care, or Early Intervention Day Treatment facility serving children from birth to age 5.
Additionally, programs must have at least two CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observations reported by the Arkansas Department of Education. These evaluations, conducted by certified observers from the Office of Early Childhood, score programs based on emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support. Out of 537 locations where observations were conducted statewide, only 295 met the strict criteria of having at least two reported observations.
The OEP researches educational issues across Arkansas, sharing its findings and best practices with educators and policymakers. By recognizing exemplary programs and professionals, the OEP aims to elevate program quality and improve student outcomes statewide.
The North Little Rock School District has six Pre-K sites. Please click on this link to learn more about our early childhood program.