Special Programs

Speak Up, Arkansas! On Taxes
Town criers once rallied citizens with the call “Hear ye, Hear ye!” Similarly, the Arkansas Study Circles Project in partnership with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (CES) called on citizens in 20 counties around the state to be a part of Speak Up, Arkansas! on Taxes in the Fall of 2004. Arkansans were invited to come together for two nights in their community to talk about how taxes and tax funded services affect them and how they can be a part of building a successful tax system. The project was funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation

On November 4, 2004 the Arkansas Education Television Network (AETN) kicked off Speak Up, Arkansas! on Taxes with a live, 2-hour television broadcast. A panel of educators, financial experts, government officials and others discussed the status of the tax system in Arkansas.

Study circles followed the broadcast on November 11 and 18, hosted in 20 communities throughout the state, and allowed groups to share their experiences and perspectives on taxes and Arkansas’ tax structure. Citizens’ ideas and conclusions have been compiled and put into a report which you can view by clicking on the Summary Report and the Supporting Documents Report below.

Each local study circle was guided by a trained, neutral facilitator and a recorder, using a printed guide to structure the discussion. CES faculty prepared an unbiased “Citizens Guide to Arkansas Taxes” that was used in the study circles to help participants better understand the state tax structure and the services supported by taxes. Also, fifteen CES County Agents served as coordinators, facilitators or recorders in the study circle programs in their communities.

These discussions provided a great way for citizens to voice their opinions and hear from others on whether or not we should improve our current tax structure. The Arkansas Study Circles Project staff understands and appreciates that there are many different viewpoints on taxes, and takes no official position in the debate. The only goal of the Speak Up, Arkansas! on Taxes initiative was to give citizens the opportunity to come together to learn more about state taxes and talk with others in their community about what they believe should be done, if anything, to our current tax structure.

For more information on Speak Up, Arkansas! on Taxes, view the documents below.

Speak Up, Arkansas! On Education
Speak Up, Arkansas! on Education is now history. Our first statewide effort at public engagement boasted nearly 6,000 participants at the forums and countless others who watched or listened via television, radio, and the Internet. The event was done in partnership with the Blue Ribbon Commission on Education, the State Chamber of Commerce, and the Arkansas School Boards Association.

The 91 forums generated 1,790 priorities that fell into 107 emergent themes. Of these priorities, approximately one-third fell into the Curriculum/Early Childhood Education category. Most priorities fell within the following themes:

• Teacher Salaries
• Parental Involvement
• Early Childhood Education
• Curriculum
• Basic Skills
• Funding
• Discipline
• Testing
• Smaller Class Size
• Equitable Funding

The conversations began on April 4, 2002 and were just the beginning of the journey. Let’s keep on talking about the children of Arkansas. They deserve all our efforts.

To view the complete report about Speak Up, Arkansas! on Education, click the report below.

Related Links:
Arkansas Study Circles Project
Discussion Guides
Trainings Available
Everyday Democracy (formerly Study Circles Resource Center)

Related Downloads (pdf):
Arkansas Study Circles Project Brochure
Student Achievement Brochure
Family Involvement Brochure
Early Care & Education Brochure
Facilitator Discussion Guide on Taxes
A Citizen's Guide to Arkansas Taxes
Summary Report for Tax Discussion
Supporting Documents Report for Tax Discussion
Final Report for Speak Up, Arkansas! on Education