New state law makes many concurrent college credits free, immediately changes GPA weighting and scholarship impacts, district officials say

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — District staff told the Bentonville School District Board on Aug. 19 that Arkansas's new Act 340 of 2025 makes three major changes affecting high school students who take college-level courses: many concurrent-credit classes will be free to families, concurrent courses will carry weighted grade-point-average points immediately, and use of state scholarship funding for more than 29 concurrent credit hours may reduce post-high school scholarship eligibility.

"The quick simple view is 3 major changes," Dr. Morrow told the board in an informational presentation. "Concurrent credit college classes are now free to families. Number 2, concurrent credit classes earn weighted GPA points starting immediately. Number 3, state scholarship funding used in high school for more than 29 credit hours will reduce the state scholarship funding that's available to you after high school."

District staff described which programs the law affects and which it does not. The district said the law covers traditional concurrent-credit programs — the courses that appear as part of a student's regular high-school schedule…