AR HB1838

Establishes the Council on Postsecondary Education and Career Readiness with 12 members including state education officials, higher education representatives, and business leaders to develop college and career readiness standards aligned with postsecondary education and employment requirements.

Council must develop a unified strategy to reduce remediation rates among high school graduates entering postsecondary education by at least 50% by 2020 and increase postsecondary graduation and completion rates.

Requires high schools to assess students' college readiness before graduation based on statewide college and career readiness standards and provide transitional courses for students who do not meet the standards.

Students meeting college and career readiness standards are exempt from placement exams at state-supported higher education institutions, and high schools must award the same credit for a full mathematics transitional course as for a fourth-year mathematics course.

Council must submit a written plan by June 30, 2014 with annual goals, action strategies, timelines, and reporting mechanisms to the legislature and school district boards, and provide annual progress reports beginning June 30, 2015.