House approves bill requiring 15-hour core and American history/government courses at state colleges

The Arkansas House passed House Bill 16-96, titled the "Strengthening Arkansas Education Act," which establishes a mandatory 15-hour requisite core for students at state-supported two- and four-year institutions and requires that college students complete American history and American government coursework.

Representative McAlinden, sponsor, told colleagues the bill emerged after months of work with higher-education and K-12 officials to reduce excess general-education hours and improve transferability: "This core consists of 2 English or English equivalent courses, 1 math or math equivalent course, 1 3 hour American history course, and 1 3 hour American government course," she said on the floor, adding the change also removes a prior rigid 35-hour requirement for the general-education core.

Supporters argued the change helps students graduate sooner and saves tuition costs by streamlining required course hours while also ensuring a baseline of civic education. The bill requires institutions to maintain academic standards while giving them flexibility to tailor other elements of their general-education requirements.

Vote: The House passed the legislation on a recorded vote.

Why it matters: The measure affects degree requirements at state-supported institutions, aims to improve credit transfer between colleges and reduce time-to-degree for students, and embeds a mandatory civic-education component (American history and government) into the statewide postsecondary core.

Sources: Floor remarks by Representative McAlinden and the recorded roll-call vote in the House transcript.