Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced a new higher education bill, named Arkansas ACCESS, which aims to address various aspects of higher education such as funding, diversity initiatives, admissions policies, scholarships, and course credit. The bill, which will be roughly 100 pages long, is expected to be filed on Monday by state lawmakers. The goal of the legislation is to simplify the path to higher education for students and make it more accessible to everyone.
One of the key initiatives of the bill is to remove what Sanders calls “indoctrination” from higher education, promoting a free and unbiased learning environment for students. The bill also includes provisions to standardize weights for concurrent credit, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, broaden college-level coursework, and expand scholarship opportunities for students.
Education Secretary Jacob Oliva emphasized the importance of providing accelerated pathways for high school students and removing barriers to higher education. The bill proposes expanding admission exams, implementing a statewide universal college application, offering in-state tuition to Arkansas military families, and standardizing course numbers at state-supported institutions.
The Arkansas ACCESS bill also aims to amend the funding model for higher education institutions to focus on return-on-investment and create a funding model for non-degree credentials. Ultimately, the provisions of the bill are designed to increase opportunities for students and maximize their outcomes for success. This press release is part of the Arkansas Advocate, a nonprofit news network dedicated to providing independent journalism.
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