Department of Education

The Arkansas Academic Challenge Program provides scholarships to Arkansas residents pursuing higher education. Funded in large part by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship is available to students regardless of their academic status, whether just graduating from high school, currently enrolled in college, enrolling in college for the first time, or re-enrolling after a period of time out of college.

The Governor's Distinguished Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship offered by the state of Arkansas to graduating high school seniors. The scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement, including GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and rigorous course work. Recipients of the scholarship receive full tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and a $1,000 annual stipend to use for textbooks and other academic expenses. The scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters for students who maintain a 3.25 GPA and complete at least 27 credit hours each academic year. The Governor's Distinguished Scholarship is highly competitive and serves as a valuable tool for the state of Arkansas in attracting and retaining top talent in the state's workforce.

The mission of the Arkansas State Library is to serve as the information resource center for state agencies, legislators and legislative staffs, to provide guidance and support for the development of local public libraries and library services, and to provide the resources, services, and leadership necessary to meet the educational, informational and cultural needs of the citizens of Arkansas. The agency administers state and federal funds appropriated for libraries and library development, including State Aid To Public Libraries funds and federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds (formerly Library Services and Construction Act). The goals of the State Library are to 1) develop access to libraries and information resources; 2) provide library and information services to state government, as well as to citizens statewide; 3) promote the development, use and support of public libraries and information resources; 4) foster the recruitment, training, and education of library personnel; and 5) provide effective leadership and administration needed to improve public libraries and library services.

The Arkansas State Library maintains an online catalog of its collections, which includes books, magazines, newspapers, maps and other materials.

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System is a defined benefit retirement plan established by state law for public school and other public education employees in Arkansas. It is administered as a "qualified" government sponsored retirement plan under the provisions of IRS § 401(a). The state statutes, Arkansas Code § 24-7-201 et. seq., containing the benefit provisions for the plan are supplemented by ATRS Rules and Regulations. These laws and rules describe retirement benefits available and the conditions under which an ATRS member or beneficiary is eligible to receive them. A member becomes eligible for benefits in the ATRS plan by accruing Service Credit and salary with a Participating Employer.

All materials in the Arkansas State Library's collections are fully cataloged and searchable online. All collections are physically accessible to visitors of the Arkansas State Library. Access to a limited number of depository materials is restricted due to the age and fragility of the items. All digital materials from the State Employee Resource and Traveler Statewide Resource programs are available to all patrons onsite using the library's public access computers or WiFi.

The Library for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Arkansas State Library is the local network operator of the National Library Service at the Library of Congress. The National Library Service (NLS) is a free library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Eligible patrons may receive books and magazines in braille or audio format, through free mail delivery or digital download.

The Arkansas Division of Higher Education is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the state's system of higher education, including both public and private institutions. The division works to ensure that Arkansas colleges and universities provide high-quality academic programs and resources to students, and that these institutions are affordable and accessible to all. The division also manages state financial aid programs and provides information and support to students and families as they navigate the college selection and enrollment process. Overall, the Arkansas Division of Higher Education plays an important role in promoting and supporting higher education in the state, which in turn helps to drive economic growth and opportunity.