Arkansas

Arkansas is a Governing State in the PARCC Consortium

Commissioner of Education Tom Kimbrell serves on the PARCC Governing Board. Melody Morgan, the Director of Assessment at the Arkansas Department of Education, serves as the K-12 Lead for PARCC in Arkansas. Sen. Shane Broadway, Interim Executive Director at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, serves on the PARCC Advisory Committee on College Readiness. Cynthia Moten, Associate Director of Academic Affairs at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, coordinates PARCC-related postsecondary engagement activities in the state.

State Commitment to College and Career Readiness

Arkansas has been active in the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network Since 2005, aligning its standards and graduation requirements with the expectations of postsecondary education and employers. The state adopted the Common Core State Standards in July 2010, and became a Governing State in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers in the fall of 2010. K-12 and higher education leaders in Arkansas helped to shape PARCC’s proposal for a common, next-generation assessment system.

• About the Common Core State Standards in Arkansas

Postsecondary Commitment to College and Career Readiness

The Arkansas State University System, Arkansas Tech University, University of Arkansas System, and University of Central Arkansas have committed to participate in PARCC, help develop the college-ready assessments, and, ultimately, use those assessments as one indicator of students’ readiness for entry-level, credit-bearing college courses. Together, these institutions educate nearly 70% of freshman entering public colleges and universities in Arkansas. See a full list of participating institutions here.

Quick Links

• Arkansas’ State Profile
• Arkansans For Education Reform Foundation
• Arkansas Works