Arkansas Is Leading

• First state to require CS to be taught in all public high schools
• 460% increase in students enrolled in computer science classes since the 2014-15 school year.
• Only state to adopt Code.org’s 9 policy ideas for computer science.
• Distributed $1M in stipends to Arkansas teachers to be trained to teach computer science courses.
• Allocated $500,000 of CS budget for stipends for elementary and middle school teachers wanting to learn to teach CS. 

100% Statewide Broadband Connectivity

• Only 9th state in the nation to do so.
• Department of Information System's Blog Post
• View APSC Flip the Switch Event

$102 Million Middle Class

• In 2015, Governor Hutchinson fulfilled his top campaign promise by signing the Middle-Class Income Tax Cut of $102M, the largest cut to the income tax rate in Arkansas history.
• This tax cut returned as much as $540 annually to nearly 500,000 taxpayers

$50.5 Million Lower Income

• In 2017, Governor Hutchinson signed the second largest cut to the income tax rate in Arkansas history—$50M. This cut targeted low-income Arkansans.  
• Removed approximately 120,000 taxpayers from the rolls.  
• 90% of the state’s individual income taxpayers will benefit from substantive tax relief legislation since Governor Hutchinson took office in 2015.

Retired Military Tax Cut

• In 2017, the Governor signed legislation eliminating the income tax on military retirement pay.
• Goes into effect starting  January 2018.
• Make Arkansas a more military-friendly retirement destination and improve the economy by encouraging veterans to start their second careers or open a business in Arkansas.   

There's a Tech Job in Arkansas for You!

ARTechjobs.com

Trade Missions

• China, Japan, Cuba, Germany, England, France, Israel and Mexico
• 398 New and Expanded Business Announced 
• $8.47B in Capital Investment 
• 16,850 New Jobs
• Unemployment Rate: 3.5%

(Source: Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Department of Workforce Services)

2015 Consolidations

• Arkansas Department of Rural Services to Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
• Arkansas Science and Technology Authority to Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
• Division of Land Survey to Arkansas Geographic Information Office
• Arkansas Building Authority to Department of Finance and Administration – Management Service

2017 Consolidations

• Office of Energy to Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality - Act 271
• Office of Health Information Technology to Department of Health - Act 270
• War Memorial Stadium Commission to Department Parks and Tourism - Act 269 
• Eliminated 19 boards and commissions

R.I.S.E. Arkansas Goals

• Increase the number of students in grades 3-8 who meet the ACT Aspire reading readiness benchmark by 10% within 3 years.
• Rise above the bottom third in state comparisons within 5 years on the 4th-grade NAEP reading assessment.
• Increase the number of graduates meeting The ACT reading readiness benchmark by 10% within 5 years.