For Local Leads & Community Partners

This page is designed for Local Leads and community partners who are supporting the Early Development Instrument (EDI) in their communities. Whether you're coordinating school district participation, engaging local stakeholders, or using EDI data to inform planning efforts, you'll find resources here to support your work. Explore tools, examples, and guidance to help you recruit effectively, communicate clearly, and translate data into meaningful local action.

Local Leads

As part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act (2023), local early childhood-led organizations are charged with building strong, community-informed plans that improve early learning outcomes. Local Leads are responsible for:

• Supporting access to early childhood programs
• Identifying service gaps
• Fostering partnerships across sectors
• Aligning public/private efforts
• Developing comprehensive early childhood plans

Local Leads also play a vital role in recruiting school districts to participate in the EDI. We've developed a [Recruitment Toolkit] to support outreach efforts with sample messages, timelines, and step-by-step guidance. Beyond recruitment, EDI data can inform community planning by helping Local Leads:

• Understand neighborhood-specific assets and needs
• Track developmental trends over time
• Build consensus among partners
• Strengthen and sustain local coalitions

The EDI serves as both a catalyst for recruitment and a foundation for strategic planning—helping Local Leads anchor their vision in real-world data.

Community Partners

From early childhood nonprofits to health coalitions and local libraries, community partners are vital to creating supportive environments for children and families.
Whether you're advocating for early childhood systems, supporting family outreach, or facilitating strategic conversations—EDI data can help ground your work in a shared, community-wide picture of child well-being.
Community partners can use EDI data to:

• Support grant writing and storytelling
• Facilitate cross-sector collaboration
• Bring data into coalition meetings and strategy sessions
• Identify opportunities for program expansion or alignment

Many community organizations are already using the EDI as a conversation starter—a way to bring partners together around a common goal: ensuring every child in Arkansas thrives.

Success Stories

Hear from education leaders across Arkansas who are using the EDI to deepen understanding, strengthen partnerships, and create better learning environments for all children.

Local Lead Perspective: Anne Cowie on Systems Change and Community Planning

Anne Cowie, a LEARNS Local Lead Captain, shares her firsthand experience using the Early Development Instrument (EDI) as a catalyst for systems change in her community. In this video, Anne discusses how EDI data empowers local leaders to identify gaps in services, align cross-sector partnerships, and make data-informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of young children. She explains how the EDI helps anchor conversations in measurable need—whether that's guiding coalition meetings, securing funding, aligning initiatives, or creating more equitable access to early childhood programs.

Toolkits & Resources to Support Your Work

• EDI Recruitment Toolkit
• Parent Engagement Toolkit
• Understanding the EDI
• Why EDI in Arkansas
• Example Community Report