Rules Governing the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program, 6 CAR pt. 403

The Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, seeks to amend its Rules Governing the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program. Act 341, the Arkansas Access Act of 2025, Sections 84-87, and Act 429 of 2025, require amendments to the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program, Arkansas Code § 6-85-301 et seq. Currently the award amounts for individuals are capped at $800 at two-year and four- year state institutions. This amendment removes the $800 cap. Awards are now determined based on program costs, workforce demands, credentials of value, and projected wages. The maximum scholarship award a student may receive in an academic year shall be the lesser of the program costs or $3,000. The amendment clarifies in definition the five high demand areas in which certificate programs are offered. The scholarship may now be used at public or private vocational-technical schools and public or private technical institutes pursuant to the passage of the 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue 1. Full implementation is expected by the Fall 2026 semester.

A public hearing was held on March 20, 2026. The public comment period expired on March 30, 2026. The agency indicated that it did not receive any public comments. Jason Kearney, an attorney with the Bureau of Legislative Research, asked the following questions and was provided with the following agency responses: 1) 6 CAR § 403-103(2)(B) – Is there a reason why the definition for “Approved institution of higher education” includes the language “[p]rivate, nonprofit two-year or four-year institution of higher education” as opposed to the language “[p]rivate, nonprofit two-year or four-year college or university”, as it appears in Arkansas Code § 6-85-302(2)(B)? (emphasis added) RESPONSE: Not all private institutions are considered a college or university; therefore, this definition is more accurate. 2) 6 CAR § 403-103(2)(C) – Is there a reason why the definition for “Approved institution of higher education” includes the qualifying language “with its primary headquarters located in Arkansas” for a public or private vocational-technical school, when that qualifying language is not included in the same definition as it appears in Arkansas Code § 6-85- 302(2)(C)? RESPONSE: The divisio

• Rule packet: B.3.b DOE DHE Rules Governing the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program and Act 429 of 2025
• ALC summary agenda Jun 15, 2026
• ALC agenda Jun 15, 2026
• ALC meeting video Jun 15, 2026