Heartland Forward highlights how placing trained college and career advisors in rural schools helps students define clear paths after graduation at the Heartland Summit

Bentonville, Ark. – In rural communities across the U.S., students too often face limited access to college and career guidance – a gap that can leave future opportunities out of reach. In Arkansas, nearly half of all schools are in rural areas, where high schoolers face unique barriers to accessing opportunities following graduation. Today at the Heartland Summit, Heartland Forward’s flagship event, students took center stage to shine a light on a solution that’s working: rootEd Arkansas. 

Heartland Forward, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education and national nonprofit rootEd Alliance, leads rootEd Arkansas, a public-private initiative that trains and places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools. The initiative provides one-on-one support for every senior to help set them on a path to strong career readiness. Since launching in September 2024, 98% of participating rootEd Arkansas students have developed a clear postsecondary plan.

During a special Decision Day celebration, five high school seniors from across the state—all part of the rootEd Arkansas program—announced their post-graduation plans in front of more than 350 policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders. They also shared how their rootEd advisors helped them define their goals and take concrete next steps to make their plans for following high school.

“Arkansas’ rural communities are our engines for economic growth, and their students make up the future of our state,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “That is why my administration is working to make higher education more accessible and affordable, creating a funding model for non-degree credentials, and doubling some of our state’s biggest scholarship programs through Arkansas ACCESS. I am thankful for Heartland Forward and rootEd Arkansas’s investment in our students’ education as we continue to work together to strengthen our job market and make Arkansas the best place to live and work, no matter the size of the community.”

“When we invest in rural students’ success, entire communities and local economies benefit tremendously,” said Angie Cooper, executive director of the Heartland Summit and president & COO of Heartland Forward. “The success of rootEd Arkansas students proves that with the right support, rural students can achieve big goals and bright futures. We’re proud to spotlight a program that’s building a stronger workforce for Arkansas and beyond.”

The students who shared their post-graduation plans on stage included:

• Xander Hammond (Dover High School, Dover, AR): will attend fiber splicing training at University of Arkansas at Hope to begin a career in high-speed internet services
• Madalyn Arnold (Green Forest High School, Green Forest, AR): will attend North Arkansas College
• Henry Aguilar-Orellana (Green Forest High School, Green Forest, AR): will attend the University of Arkansas to study music
• Ty Bates (Dover High School, Dover, AR): will pursue a degree in civil engineering at University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Bailey Damon (Dover High School, Dover, AR): will complete welding training at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton to launch a career in welding

“Thanks to rootEd Arkansas, I was able to guide my student through applications, scholarships and career options every step of the way,” said Tiffany James, rootEd Advisor, Green Forest High School. “Providing that personalized support helped ease their stress and gave them the confidence to make informed decisions about their future.”

National data from rootEd Alliance shows that the program significantly increases the likelihood that students will pursue education and career training. Key outcomes for rootEd students in Arkansas its first full academic year:

• 85% of students said their advisor increased their confidence in their post-graduation plans 

• rootEd AR FAFSA completion rate is 36% higher than the Arkansas state average
• 96% of students had opportunities to learn about career pathways through business tours, job shadowing and career fairs through partnerships with 180 businesses and organizations

“At rootEd, we believe deeply in the extraordinary talent and promise of rural students in Arkansas, and we’re proud to stand alongside Heartland Forward in helping unlock their full potential,” said Byron D. Trott, founder of rootEd Alliance and co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners. “As we celebrate the success of our first year in the state, we honor the graduating seniors from rural communities across Arkansas who are taking bold steps toward their futures. We also celebrate the rootEd advisers whose one-on-one support has been truly transformational. This is just the beginning of your story, and rootEd is honored to be part of it.”

To commemorate the initiative’s success, Heartland Forward and its partners recently hosted rootEd Capitol Day at the Arkansas State Capitol, where rural students met with legislators, explored career paths and learned how policymaking shapes their futures. During the event, Rep. Lee Johnson (R-Greenwood) recognized rootEd students and advisors from the House Floor, highlighting their achievements and the program’s impact on strengthening Arkansas’s workforce.

The initiative builds on Heartland Forward’s broader commitment to building the talent pipeline across the heartland by strengthening education and workforce development as a driver of long-term economic growth. Through its Connecting the Heartland Jobs Board, Heartland Forward also works to transform the job search and career development processes in Arkansas’ broadband sector.

For more information on Heartland Forward, please visit www.heartlandforward.org. 

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About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a 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
Every student should graduate high school on a path to a well-paying job and economic stability. rootEd Alliance places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work one-on-one with all seniors to define and create a plan for their futures, whether through a college degree, work-based learning, or military service. Launched in 2018 and now operating in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Alaska, and Idaho, rootEd advisors currently serve over 20,000 students at more than 200 rural high schools. This approach is working: as a result of rootEd, 29% more high school students are pursuing college and career training following graduation. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists and family and founder-led businesses, convened by BDT & MSD Partners. For more information, please visit: https://rootEdAlliance.org.

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