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Board approves $131,845 MOU with Academies of Central Arkansas to expand career academies
Summary
Trustees approved a one‑year Memorandum of Understanding with the Academies of Central Arkansas (convened by the Little Rock Regional Chamber) at $35 per 9–12 student (total $131,845) to continue regional academy programming and partnership management.
The Pulaski County Special School District board voted 5‑0 Aug. 12 to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Academies of Central Arkansas, a regional convening effort led by the Little Rock Regional Chamber and the Academy Foundation. The superintendent recommended the one‑year financial contribution to sustain the program’s partnership and professional development work.
Under the MOU the district will pay $35 per 9th–12th grade student, a total cost presented to the board of $131,845 for the 2025–26 year. Miss Maynard moved to approve the partnership; Miss Potter seconded. The motion passed 5‑0.
Presenters from the academy partnership described a regional initiative, modeled on Ford Next Generation Learning, that brings business partners into classrooms and offers students work‑based learning such as industry tours, job shadows, internships and teacher externships. Speakers reported measurable growth in student participation and certifications over the prior year: examples cited included thousands of partner hours donated, hundreds of industry certifications, increased internship and job‑shadowing activity and more than 3,000 college credits awarded regionally (the presenters attributed more than half of those to Pulaski County Special School District campuses).
Speakers said the chamber and foundation help recruit business partners, secure grants and coordinate professional development so districts do not have to send staff to out‑of‑state training. The MOU funds partnership management, partnership recruitment and data collection aligned with the academy model.
Board members asked for follow‑up on student outcomes and asked the foundation to provide more marketing to local businesses and community leaders to increase participation. The agreement approved by the board authorizes district participation in the regional academy network and the funding described in the MOU for the coming school year.
