The Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program was created in 1991 to offer high quality early education services to children birth to five exhibiting developmental and socioeconomic risk factors. In 2003, the Arkansas Legislature made a commitment to expand early childhood education funding by $100 million to serve low-income three and four-year old children in areas at high risk for academic failure with high quality pre-K services. This expansion, known as Arkansas Better Chance for School Success, has become the state prekindergarten program.

There are three different ABC program models: Center-based programs, Home-Visiting programs (HIPPY and PAT) and Family Child Care Homes. Providers are selected by their ability to offer a high-quality program. Targeted areas are selected using data from benchmark test scores, school improvement status, and Head Start enrollment.