LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — With four days left before major changes to Arkansas childcare funding take effect, an emergency task force met on Tuesday to try and keep centers open statewide.

In September, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announced cuts to childcare funding, saying the reductions were coming from the federal level.

Those changes are set to begin on November 1, 2025, leaving providers scrambling to stay afloat.

“This is doable, guys,” said Shahid Sheikh, who is the owner of Little Martians Learning Center in northwest Arkansas. “This is a solution that can go into effect immediately.”

Sheikh and others presented possible solutions after spending two hours in the Arch Ford Education Building on Tuesday, as they presented possible alternatives to ADE officials.

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