Imagine Academy presenters tell Senate panel digital certifications boost Arkansas students’ career readiness

Microsoft and CertiPort representatives told the Arkansas Senate Education Committee that the Imagine Academy certification program helps students move from classroom learning to paid work by providing industry-recognized credentials.

"Close to, you know, 90% of businesses in The United States run their businesses on Microsoft technology," a Microsoft presenter said, arguing that familiar enterprise software makes the certifications broadly relevant to employers. The presenters described Imagine Academy as a package of curriculum, CertiPort testing and professional development that can be layered onto existing high-school courses.

Mike, an Imagine Academy representative, told the committee Arkansas was an early adopter of a mixed certification model that combines productivity and computer-science titles into a single pathway to align with a governor-led computer-science mandate. "Arkansas is in the top 3 in The US right now in year over year growth in the last 3 years," Mike said, framing the state’s progress as teacher-led implementation.

Brent, another presenter, outlined school-level results from the 2017–18 school year, naming the top 20 Arkansas schools by certifications earned and emphasizing accommodations for students with special needs. He described digital badging as an electronic credential that can be attached to resumes or LinkedIn profiles, allowing employers to verify specific skills.

Committee members asked about program reach and funding. A committee questioner asked whether Imagine Academy is in every district; program staff said site licenses are provided on request and that Arkansas currently has 343 site licenses with a waiting list. Department and program staff said they were examining distribution of site licenses and testing sites to expand access. One senator raised equity concerns about a first-come, first-served distribution and urged the committee to consider targeting unmet needs; Angela Kramer, deputy director of career and technical education, agreed in principle and said state-covered site licensing would address that barrier.

Presenters also cited labor-market numbers and program metrics: the presenters said there are about 2,171 computing jobs in Arkansas with an average computing-occupation salary of $72,085, and they noted that only 19% of Arkansas schools that offer AP programs provide AP computer science. Funding for higher-education participation in the program was described as coming in part from federal Perkins dollars for grades 13–14.

The session included an offer to provide committee members with slides and a legislative-impact report. Presenters left for travel after the hearing; committee members thanked them and moved to the day’s bills.

The committee did not take formal action on Imagine Academy at this meeting; presenters said staff would supply additional materials on request.