Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs Arkansas Access Act higher education bill into law

Yahoo

19-03-2025

Video: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces Arkansas ACCESS higher education reform legislation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Arkansas ACCESS Act into law on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 246, now Act 340, was the governor's signature piece of legislation. In her state-of-the-state address in January, she called for its passage of a bill modifying higher education, which she followed up with a speech announcing the legislation in mid-February.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces Arkansas ACCESS higher education reform legislation
ACCESS comes after the passage of the Arkansas LEARNS Act in the 2023 legislative session, modifying K-12 education.
The bill doubles the amount available for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship from $1,000 to $2,000. It also changed funding to add lottery scholarships for trade school admission.
Higher education institutions are not allowed to have or participate in DEI programs, and restrictions in the form of unexcused absences are now in place to prevent a student from participating in political protests.
Back and forth among legislators about Arkansas ACCESS higher education legislation
It also removes Advanced Placement with accelerated learning programs to increase emphasis on technical training.
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