Arkansas Childcare Ranking not Care for Alarm, Advocate says

An advocacy group for children and families says a national group's ranking of Arkansas at 42 in childcare standards does not give a complete picture of the efforts to improve the quality of childcare.

Rich Huddleston of the nonprofit organization, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, says the report shouldn't cause undue alarm.

The state-by-state comparison was compiled by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, based in Virginia. Idaho came in last overall.

U.S. Defense Department services, which were included in the comparison, ranked at the top. While Arkansas ranked 42 overall, it excelled in standards enforcement, ranking 16th in the nation.

Huddleston says the report is a reminder that every state should reassess its standards every couple of years.