Arkansas Cements Its Education-to-Workforce Pathways with Passage of the ACCESS Act 

Governor Jeb Bush, Founder and Chairman of ExcelinEd in Action, issued the following statement on the passage of the Arkansas ACCESS Act: 

“With the passage of the Arkansas ACCESS Act, state leaders have once again demonstrated their commitment to ensuring student success – this time beyond the classroom. 

“This strong legislation moves Arkansas forward in education-to-workforce pathways by expanding access to college and career opportunities, accelerating student progress and aligning K-12 and higher education to meet workforce demands. By prioritizing industry-valued credentials and real-world learning experiences, Arkansas is setting the standard for how states can empower students with the skills they need to thrive.  

“Thank you to Gov. Sarah Sanders, Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva, Rep. Matthew Shepherd, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, Speaker Brian Evans, Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester and the rest of the Arkansas legislature for your bold leadership and continued commitment to student-centered education policy.” 

Key components of HB 1512 / SB 246, the Arkansas ACCESS Act include:   

• Making higher education easier to navigate for students to increase postsecondary attainment, including clear, statewide agreements on course credits that can be transferred between higher education institutions.  
• Creating a common application system for students to apply to all higher education institutions in one place. 
• Increasing access to postsecondary education by expanding successful scholarship programs such as the Arkansas Workforce Challenge scholarship program and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. 
• Accelerating pathways to college and career in K-12 by investing in and expanding opportunities for students to earn concurrent enrollment, International Baccalaureate and other college credits in high school.  

The legislation now heads to Gov. Sarah Sanders’ desk for signature.