CONWAY, Ark. - Conway Cradle Care is one of many childcare providers in the state soon to see changes in funding.

Executive Director McKinley Hess said they’ve provided free childcare to teen moms for years through the state’s School Readiness Assistance Program.

“Our program, and many programs across the state, depend on these essential funds to be able to provide quality care,” Hess said.

Before, the higher quality of care equaled the higher reimbursement to the provider. The quality of care was determined by a system called Better Beginnings.

On Friday, the Arkansas Department of Education said this will no longer be the case.

“No matter your quality rating that you worked so, so hard for, every provider will be receiving the same base rate—except for in Washington and Benton count

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