AR
Arkansas House Bill HR1074

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HR1074

Introduced
3/10/25  
Refer
3/10/25  
Report Pass
3/17/25  

Caption

To Recognize The Conway Kiwanis Bookcase For Every Child Project For Increasing Literacy And Student Retention Rates By Building Personalized Bookcases As Gifts For Children Enrolled In The Federal Head Start Program.

Impact

The resolution serves to highlight the positive impact that local community initiatives can have on educational outcomes. By recognizing the Conway Kiwanis project, the State of Arkansas aims to not only celebrate the achievements of this grassroots effort but also to encourage similar community-driven programs within the state that address literacy and educational challenges faced by underprivileged children. This recognition may also promote increased funding and support for such initiatives as community organizations and local governments come together to improve literacy rates.

Summary

House Resolution 1074 (HR1074) is a legislative acknowledgment of the Conway Kiwanis Bookcase for Every Child project, which aims to promote literacy and improve student retention rates in young children. The project specifically targets children aged four and five who are enrolled in the federal Head Start program, providing them with a personalized bookcase and a starter set of books. This initiative has been in place since 2005 and has delivered 1,000 bookcases to children, aiming to instill a love for reading among pre-schoolers from low-income households where book access is limited.

Contention

While HR1074 is primarily a recognition resolution, it does surface discussions related to funding and resource allocation for literacy programs. The ongoing challenge of ensuring equitable access to books and educational resources in low-income communities remains a debate among policymakers and educators. The resolution's acknowledgment of this specific project may also provoke conversations around the effectiveness of federal programs like Head Start, as well as the varying degrees of community support for educational initiatives targeting disadvantaged groups.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR HR1074

To Recognize That Abuse And Neglect Of Children Is A Significant Public Health Problem; To Commend The Important Work Being Done To Combat This Public Health Problem; And To Proclaim April 11, 2023, As "children's Advocacy Center Day".

AR HB1574

To Support Positive Mental Health For Families With Young Children Through The Arkansas Medicaid Program; And To Establish Supplemental Reimbursement Rates For Preventive Services For Children.

AR HR1022

To Recognize That Abuse And Neglect Of Children Is A Significant Public Health Problem; To Commend The Important Work Being Done To Combat This Public Health Problem; And To Proclaim April 17, 2024, As "children's Advocacy Center Day".

AR SR44

To Recognize That Abuse And Neglect Of Children Is A Significant Public Health Problem; To Commend The Important Work Being Done To Combat This Public Health Problem; And To Proclaim April 11, 2023, As "children's Advocacy Center Day".

AR SB346

To Promote Permanency And To Strengthen Kinship Placements For Children In Foster Care.

AR HB1323

To Create Child Mental Health Screening Programs In Schools And Child Care Facilities For Children From Birth To Nineteen Years Of Age.

AR HB1174

To Add Protections For Unborn Children By Allowing Prosecution When A Person Causes The Death Of An Unborn Child; To Repeal Laws That May Allow A Person To Pressure A Pregnant Woman To Get An Abortion; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB294

To Create The Learns Act; To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code As They Relate To Early Childhood Through Grade Twelve Education In The State Of Arkansas; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR HB1747

To Amend The Law Concerning Rural Medical Practice Student Loans And Scholarships; And To Amend The Law To Include Students Enrolled In Additional Medical Programs As Eligible For Receipt Of Rural Medical Practice Loans.

AR SB458

To Amend The Public School Choice Act Of 2015; And To Amend The Eligibility Of Children Of Active Duty Uniformed Services Personnel To Participate In The Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.