Earlier this month at the 2026 Heartland Summit, the Arkansas Department of Education and Heartland Forward announced a goal to expand a college and career advising program into 100 schools across the state.

JWCC, the Tracy Family Foundation and GREDF are partnering with rootEd Alliance to help high school students in rural communities create a plan for the future.

Ozarks Technical Community College

Clever High School marked Decision Day by celebrating the Class of 2025, with every senior graduating with a clear plan for their education, finances, and future career.

Teton Valley News

rootEd launched in Teton High School in 2022. Last year, Teton High School saw 87% of the graduating seniors apply for and plan to attend post-secondary education through a college, university, or trade school.

Heartland Forward

rootEd Capitol Day connects students with state leaders to gain first-hand experience in policymaking, leadership and career opportunities.

Christian Science Monitor

Rural students face unique challenges when it comes to enrolling in college.

Axios

rootEd Arkansas is now live for the 2024-25 school year. rootEd Arkansas was launched in partnership with think-and-do tank Heartland Forward and the Arkansas Department of Education.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis

In partnership with rootEd Alliance, the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis has announced the 31 recipients of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship and the rootEd Community College Transfer Scholarship. Both are are “last dollar,” which means they are intended to fill a student’s unmet financial need based on their full cost of attendance after other sources of financial aid are taken into account.

Columbia Missourian

“I feel like a lot of students… think there’s only a couple options of things to do after high school,” says Lydia Kallenbach, a senior at Hallsville High School in Missouri. “I feel like [my rootEd advisor Rachel Sides] makes you realize that there’s a lot more options than just what you have heard of.”

The Source, Washington University in St. Louis

“A lot of our students don’t want to go far away, or they really worry about cost,” said Mary Worthington, a rootEd advisor at Hannibal County Schools. “This sort of early exposure will show them what’s possible.”

Port Isabel-South Padre Pass

“Region One Education Service Center (Region One) has placed dedicated career advisors in four local high schools in partnership with the rootEd Alliance. rootEd is now serving 56 schools across Texas.”

Southeast Missourian

Twin sisters and 2023 graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School were recently named as recipients of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship through rootEd Alliance. The scholarship provides up to $12,000 annually for graduating seniors from rootEd Missouri high schools enrolling in a 4-year college.

Ozarks Technical Community College

Steven Fouse will serve as its first executive director of rootEd Missouri and will guide the next chapter of the successful initiative. Fouse brings to the top role more than 15 years of experience and leadership in public service, customer service, and education.

Lawrence County Record

Samantha Towles, Monett High School academic advisor, was announced the winner at a special ceremony hosted by rootEd Missouri following a statewide nomination and selection process. “This year has been such a fantastic experience for me," she said. "I have some pretty amazing students who make this position easy and fun."

Gasconade County Republican

In an effort to level the playing field for Owensville High students pursuing their post-high school careers, Elizabeth Hinch began a journey last year to establish a rapport and provide guidance and resources to help scholars plan for their futures.

rootEd Alliance

The inaugural award recognizes Stephanie Dotson's exemplary efforts to help high school students in rural communities develop and achieve strong plans for life after graduation. Her advising resulted in nearly all seniors completing a FAFSA, creating a postsecondary plan, and exploring workforce opportunities.

The Missouri Times

According to Missouri Senator Karla Eslinger, “the success of rootEd Missouri has real impact—on the individual graduates, on their families, and on all Missourians. When students graduate with a clear path to a strong career, they unlock opportunities for lifelong prosperity. And when our workforce is highly skilled, our economy thrives, our communities prosper, and our entire state is better positioned for the future.”

573 Magazine

Nancy Strothmann, a rootEd Advisor at Cape Girardeau High School and Missouri Advisor of the Year, discusses how her own life experiences shape how she advises students as they define their plans for life after high school graduation. "I wanted to do more with my life but needed to figure out where to start," she said. "I knew one day I wanted to either be a teacher or go into a field where I could help others."

News Tribune

Renee Maples, rootEd Advisor for the Blair Oaks School District, said completing the FAFSA is a top priority for senior students. "We do everything we can to get the word out to students and parents that beginning Oct. 1, get your FAFSA completed as soon as possible."

U.S. News & World Report

According to Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Margie Vandeven, Missouri has found dedicated college and career advising, when implemented thoughtfully and intentionally, to be an achievable solution for helping to address the postsecondary pitfalls plaguing the nation.

National College Access Network

Since fall 2019, as the rest of the nation has seen declines in college-going rates, schools with rootEd advisors have seen college enrollment rates increase by 7%. Moreover, one-quarter of college-bound students at rootEd schools said they wouldn’t be going to college at all if it weren’t for their rootEd advisor.

Forbes

Despite the continuing enrollment decline at the nation’s community colleges, a problem compounded by the disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, a new, straightforward strategy is proving to be very effective in helping a greater number of rural students enroll and succeed in college: embedded advising.