This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas and we have several upcoming events!
The department, which houses OEP, was established in the College of Education and Health Professions in 2005. Focusing on pioneering research in critical policy areas and intervention programs, the department has worked to improve educational outcomes in Arkansas and across the nation.
We are hosting two conferences in the coming months and hope that you will join us!
Bentonville: October 23-24, 2025
The first conference is Education Reform Then and Now: A Policy Conference on Oct. 23-24 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. The program’s highlights include keynote speakers Eric Hanushek, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and Howard Fuller, an education reform advocate. Panels include Artificial Intelligence in Education, Teacher Quality & the Teacher Pipeline, School Choice and The Learning Crisis in America. Additional information is available on the conference website.
Conference registration is open to everyone. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. Please register here for the Bentonville conference by Sept. 30.
Little Rock: November 12, 2025
The second conference is Data with Impact: Turning Insight into Action for Arkansas on Nov. 12 at Loft 1023. Join us for an unforgettable day of insightful research, real talk about Arkansas education, and collaboration with fellow educators, leaders, and policy shapers from across the state. Gary Ritter, Dean of the School of Education at Saint Louis University and OEP founder will give the keynote. There will be breakout sessions covering Arkansas-focused topics including The State of Education in Arkansas: Update to the 2005 Koret Report, Early Childhood Education, School Accountability, Chronic Absenteeism, Phone-free Schools, Teacher Workforce and Merit Pay, School Finance, School Choice and (of course!) Value-Added Growth. Whether you’re a returning partner or new to Arkansas education policy, you won’t want to miss this!
Conference registration is open to everyone. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. Please register here for the Little Rock conference by Nov 5th.
As always, we are here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at oep@uark.edu with any questions.
