From birth to age five, children’s brains develop more rapidly than at any other time in life. Research has shown that children’s experiences in the early years directly affect how the brain develops, with early experiences demonstrating a long-term impact on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional skills. 

Children from low-income households typically enter kindergarten behind their peers, and research shows that it is difficult to catch up from there. 

When administered early and meet recognized standards of quality, early childhood education can provide significant developmental gains for children who otherwise may fall behind in school as a result of growing up in poverty. Yet, these children often experience barriers to participating in early childhood programs, such as lack of awareness, high mobility of their families, transportation issues, and the ability to pay for education.

Bentonville is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country, with several Fortune-500 employers. In spite of these strengths, the community has significant economic needs, including high income inequality. The gap between the wealthy and the disadvantaged continues to increase with over 1 in 4 young children living below the poverty line. Access to high quality early childhood education remains difficult for these families.

Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center scholarships remove barriers to ensure children have access to affordable high-quality early childhood education. Access to therapy, case management, and support services help mobilize families experiencing financial difficulty to create a foundation for multi-generational change. In fact, 55% of our children are enrolled in one of our scholarship programs.