Forward Arkansas, a statewide nonprofit organization, partnered with the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and launch Teach Arkansas, an initiative to increase the number of qualified, certified, and diverse teachers in Arkansas.
Forward Arkansas is focused on accelerating the innovative and equitable transformation of Arkansas’s education system to deliver excellent outcomes for all students. We work to ensure that every student has equitable educational opportunities and resources and graduates prepared for success in life and career.
Every Arkansas student deserves an effective, qualified teacher, but unfortunately, this is not the reality for many of our students. A TNTP report published in 2021 entitled “Missing Out: Arkansas’ Teacher Shortage and How to Fix It” found that many Arkansas school districts are facing severe teacher shortages. This shortage is concentrated in the Southern and Eastern regions of the state and is due not only to a lack of qualified teachers but also a lack of diversity in the teacher workforce, resulting in widening educational equity gaps for students.
Through the Teach Arkansas initiative we are building awareness of the multiple pathways to teaching and related financial incentives that currently exist in the state. We want more Arkansans to understand the opportunities and benefits of becoming a teacher and encourage more to enter this rewarding and fulfilling profession.
We hope you will join us in our efforts to improve education for all Arkansas students.