The Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative: Phase One Research Results

Since 2006, the Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative has used TANF funds to help eligible parents attend community and technical colleges across the state for education and training to prepare them for well-paying jobs in high-demand industries. This evaluation report from College Count$ details findings showing that over half of participating parents graduated college with an associate degree or technical certificate, which is more than twice the rate of their peers across Arkansas. Additionally, the study suggests that students enrolled in 2011 earned more than $3,000 annually in their first year after degree completion than their TANF counterparts in similar types of jobs.