Bentonville, Ark. – Today at the 2026 Heartland Summit, Heartland Forward and the Arkansas Department of Education announced a goal to expand rootEd Arkansas to serve 100 schools across the state and extend the program through the 2029-2030 school year, building on the success of a three-year pilot program.
rootEd Alliance is a national nonprofit that places trained college and career advisors in rural high schools to work one-on-one with students, helping them build a plan for life after graduation, whether through a college degree, career credential, apprenticeships, military service or entering the workforce directly. To date, rootEd advisors have served more than 100,000 rural students nationwide including in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Alaska, Illinois, Idaho, and, as of this academic year, Oklahoma.
“rootEd Arkansas is unlocking new opportunities for rural students to identify clear postsecondary pathways for successful careers,” said Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva. “This program has demonstrated real outcomes, not just for students, but for schools, employers and the communities they call home.”
The model has shown strong results. Nationally, rootEd schools have seen a nearly 30% increase in students pursuing postsecondary education or career training and 54% fewer students pursuing low-skill, low wage jobs. rootEd schools also saw a 27% increase in completion of FAFSA.
“Every student should graduate high school with a clear path forward, whether that means college, skills development or a meaningful career. rootEd Arkansas is connecting rural students to opportunities that strengthen Arkansas’ workforce and economy,” said Angie Cooper, president of Heartland Forward. “Public-private partnerships like this one are how we accelerate growth across the heartland, and we’re proud to help bring this proven model to more Arkansas communities.”
“There’s so much talent in rural communities, and we’ve seen the far-reaching impact that a dedicated career advisor can have on students, schools, and communities,” said Noa Meyer, Board Chair of rootEd Alliance. “We are proud to grow our partnership with Heartland Forward to bring dedicated career advising to more rural students across Arkansas, helping ensure they have the support they need to explore career options and take action to build their futures.”
The Arkansas pilot began in the 2024-2025 school year in 10 rural high schools, grew to 13 high schools in its second year and now reaches 24 high schools in the 2026-2027 academic year. Student reach has grown just as quickly, from nearly 500 students advised in year one to over 1,400 in year two, and now stretching to 2,250 students in year three. The state’s goal would move the program beyond the pilot phase toward statewide reach.
The Arkansas expansion follows strong results from the program’s first two years. Students’ self-reported confidence in knowing the steps needed to reach their post-graduation goals rose from 50% at the start of their senior year to 80% by its end. In Arkansas, rootEd schools had a 71% FAFSA completion rate compared to 54% FAFSA completion rate statewide and rootEd students are offered twice as much financial aid, critical supports to ensure that financial barriers don’t stand between students turning their career goals into reality.
88% plan to remain in Arkansas after graduation, strengthening the state’s in-state talent pipeline, and 72% of rootEd students are pursuing pathways connected to high-demand industries in Arkansas, including healthcare and skilled trades. To support this connectivity, rootEd has partnered with 215 employers across Arkansas.
To learn more about Heartland Forward’s work implementing rootEd in Arkansas visit www.heartlandforward.org/rooted and read the latest rootEd Arkansas impact report here.
About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.
About the Heartland Summit
The Heartland Summit was co-founded by Olivia and Tom Walton and Steuart Walton in 2018 to kick-start economic growth and help change the narrative about the middle of the country. The Summit is a forum for frank conversation about our shared challenges, creating positive action and strengthening connections.
About rootEd Alliance
Founded in 2018, rootEd Alliance is a national nonprofit that helps rural high school students achieve career success and strengthens America’s skilled workforce. rootEd places dedicated career advisors in rural high schools to support students in defining and realizing their career goals, whether through a college degree, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, or military service, while partnering with communities, states, and employers to close talent gaps and drive rural economic prosperity. To date, rootEd advisors have served more than 100,000 rural students nationwide including in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Alaska, Illinois, and Idaho, and has partnered with more than 1,500 employers nationally. At the schools it serves, rootEd has led to nearly 30% more students pursuing college and career training.
rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists, convened by BDT & MSD Partners. For more information, please visit: https://rootEdAlliance.org.