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Brett Miracle, 512-567-6803
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Nathan Pittman, 501-773-8005

Little Rock, Ark. – Over two hundred Arkansans converged in Little Rock on November 12 and 13 for the first Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Summit with the goal of creating strategies for improving education and closing the gap in learning opportunities between Arkansas students. The two day event was born out of the shared concern of several organizations, such as the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, and the Schott Foundation for Public Education, regarding the significant “opportunity to learn” gap between low-income and minority children and their higher-income, white counterparts. These affected children are missing out on opportunities to help them succeed in both school and life.

Participants ranged from students, parents and teachers to education and policy experts, philanthropic organizations and policymakers. Attendees had the opportunity to listen to several education experts throughout the event on research proven solutions to improving education opportunities, but more importantly, they were able to bring their own perspectives and ideas to the table.

“The real power of this summit comes from the diversity of those attending,” said Bill Kopsky, Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel which co-hosted the event. “Arkansans from all walks of life have come together in a united effort to make a positive change in our state’s education future. Grassroots communities across the state are organizing to address their local challenges and building partnerships with statewide education advocates to press for solutions at the state legislature.”

“The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation is proud to stand in partnership with our philanthropic colleagues, community organizations, and leaders from across the state in support of the Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Campaign,” said Dr. Sherece West, President and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. “The Arkansas OTL campaign is clearly aligned with WRF’s mission to increase high school and college graduation rates in the state and our Board has responded by authorizing a $200,000 investment in the campaign over the next two years." 

Headlining the event was Dr. John H. Jackson, President and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education. A national expert on education policy, Dr. Jackson emphasized the need to build a unified, statewide Opportunity to Learn Campaign to ensure all the state’s children have access to the resources research shows are needed to have a fair and substantive opportunity learn.  “Arkansas has made significant strides, including being a national leader in early childhood education,” said Jackson. “We’re excited to be a part of this effort to close the opportunity gap in Arkansas.”

Other speakers at the event included Ms. Rosalinda Barrera, Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education, and Ms. Sheila Simmons, Director of the Human and Civil Rights Department at the National Education Association. In addition, Arkansas education experts ranging from school superintendents and higher learning representatives to education policy experts and analysts gave presentations throughout the event.

“The stakes are high when it comes to closing the opportunity to learn gap in Arkansas,” said Kopsky. “Over half of the children in Arkansas are facing large opportunity to learn gaps, robbing them of their chance to realize the American Dream, but the good news is that we recognize some of the solutions. This problem not only affects African American, Latino and low-income families the most; it also robs the whole state of potential. It’s not rocket science, and these solutions will give every kid a shot at a bright future.”

Ideas produced from the Summit will be used to build a state campaign for expanding opportunities to learn. However, equally important is the organized structure that has been created from the event.

“Now we have to build the public will to implement the solutions we know will work.  We are ensuring that everyone is involved and working together, and the response has been tremendous with support from grassroots communities, the Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Rural Community Alliance, several of the state’s universities and many others,” said Kopsky.

The Summit was hosted by the Arkansas Public Policy Panel in partnership with the Schott Foundation for Public Education’s National Opportunity to Learn Campaign, the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

For more information about Arkansas’ Opportunity to Learn Campaign, please visit www.arpanel.org today.

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Event Hosts:
The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, the Schott Foundation for Public Education, and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel

Event Co-Hosts:
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Citizens First Congress, Arkansas Commission on Closing the Achievement Gap, Arkansas Department of Education, ELL Office, Arkansas Education Association, Camden Community Association, Concerned Citizens of the Marvell Area, Desha Grassroots Coalition, Eastside Community Club of Dermott, El Dorado Concerned Citizens, Gould Citizens Advisory Council, Parkdale Community Group, Pine Bluff Concerned Citizens, Rural Community Alliance, Southeast Arkansas Education Coalition, Southeast Arkansas Regional Council, Southwest Arkansas Good Government Commission, Strong Community Leadership Alliance, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Wilmot Concerned Citizens

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About the Panel. The Arkansas Public Policy Panel is a statewide organization dedicated to achieving social and economic justice by organizing citizen groups around the state, educating and supporting them to be more effective and powerful, and linking them with one another in coalitions and networks. The Panel seeks to bring balance to the public policy process in Arkansas. On the web at www.arpanel.org.

About the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. For 35 years, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has worked to make a difference by helping to build and sustain the organizations that serve and strengthen Arkansas. Through grantmaking and strategic partnerships, we are working even harder to help close the economic and educational gaps that leave too many Arkansas families in persistent poverty.  The needle can and must move from poverty to prosperity for all Arkansans.  For more information on the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, go to www.wrfoundation.org.

About the Frueauff Foundation. Frueauff. The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation (CAFF) was founded in 1950 by Charles A. Frueauff, a successful New York attorney who gave his time and resources to many New York charitable organizations. The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation is committed to assisting in areas that we feel can make the most profound impact today and tomorrow—focusing intently on educational, human services and health-related causes around the country. In its 60 years of existence, the Foundation has made grants in excess of $130 million to more than 650 agencies and institutions. www.frueauff.org.

About the Schott Foundation for Public Education. Founded in 1991, The Schott Foundation for Public Education seeks to develop and strengthen a broad-based and representative movement to achieve fully resourced high quality preK-12 public education. Web site: www.schottfoundation.org.