Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders previews higher education reform package
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders at a press conference on Friday. Screenshot courtesy the Sanders administration.
Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday revealed more details on a higher education reform package aimed at preparing high school and nontraditional students for the workforce.
The big picture: About 475,000 students are enrolled in Arkansas public schools in any given school year.
- The bill will focus on the transition about 35,000 of those students face as they graduate and provide more resources to people who want to further their education, like working parents.
State of play: The plan is dubbed the "Arkansas ACCESS" bill. ACCESS stands for acceleration, common sense, cost, eligibility, scholarships and standardization. Its goal is simplifying pathways to college, increasing scholarships and expanding access to nondegree credentials.
Though the legislation isn't yet filed, Sanders highlighted some of its points in her announcement:
- High school students who want to take college courses before graduation won't have to pay for classes out-of-pocket.
- Applicants will be able to use a single application for any state-supported college or university.
- In-state tuition will be offered to military families.
- Funding will be increased for the Workforce Challenge and the Academic Challenge scholarships.
- Creation of a funding model for non-degree programs to prepare students for the workforce.
Zoom in: The bill will also remove mandates for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and introduce accountability measures for professors to ensure that students are not compelled to affirm certain beliefs.
- "We hear anecdotally … where [students] are being compelled to adhere, affirm or adopt a certain point of view or a belief," Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said in response to a media question.
- "This is about teaching students how to think, not what to think," he said. "You should engage in debate. You should argue multiple perspectives and multiple points of view."
Context: Senate Bill 3, which will effectively eliminate affirmative action in state government, was passed by lawmakers and delivered to Sanders' desk on Thursday.
Follow the money: Sanders said authors of the bill don't expect the package to use any new funds from the state's general revenue, but that existing funds will be repurposed.
What they're saying: "The system has become too complicated, too woke and far too often, doesn't fully prepare students for the jobs of the future," Sanders said. "ACCESS will fix that."
What we're watching: Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Little Rock) said the 100-plus page bill may be filed on Monday.