To welcome 2026, Heartland Summit, Heartland Forward announced on Monday that it will expand rootEd and Alliance to Oklahoma. rootEd is a national non-profit organization that assigns trained university and career counselors to rural high schools to work one-on-one with students to help them plan for life after graduation. The options include obtaining a college degree, professional certifications, apprenticeships, serving in the military, or entering the workforce directly.
To date, rootEd consultants have served over 100,000 rural students across the United States, covering Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Alaska, Illinois, Idaho, as well as Oklahoma, which has been added this academic year.
This model has shown strong effectiveness. According to national data, the proportion of students in rootEd schools who choose to pursue higher education or vocational training has increased by nearly 30%, while the number of students opting for low-skilled, low-paying jobs has decreased by 54%. The number of students in these schools who completed the free application form for federal student financial aid ( FAFSA ) also increased by 27%.
Heartland Forward The president stated: "Every student should have a clear path forward upon graduating from high school, whether that means attending college, receiving vocational training, or pursuing a meaningful career." rootEd Oklahoma will connect rural students with opportunities, enhancing Oklahoma's workforce and economy. As a native of Oklahoma, I am proud to help bring this proven model to communities throughout the state. We are grateful to Inasmuch Foundation and George Kaiser Family Foundation for their assistance in making this expansion possible.
rootEd Alliance The Chairman of the Board stated: "Rural communities are filled with a wealth of talent, and we have seen that a dedicated career advisor can have a profound impact on students, schools, and communities. We are delighted to expand our collaboration with Heartland Forward to bring specialized career guidance to more rural students in Oklahoma and Arkansas, helping to ensure they have the support they need to explore career options and take action to build their futures."
After the successful pilot project in Arkansas, Heartland Forward will serve as the implementing partner for this project in Oklahoma. Both parties are jointly sending advisors to some high schools in Oklahoma for the 2026-27 academic year. The planning work is underway, with the goal of having rootEd and Oklahoma enter 10 high schools in 10 rural school districts during the 2027-28 academic year, providing support to over 1,000 students across the state.
This expansion in Oklahoma has received support from Inasmuch Foundation, George Kaiser Family Foundation, as well as local school district partners.
Inasmuch Foundation is funded by Bedrock to support rootEd and Oklahoma. Bedrock is a fund dedicated to supporting transformative projects in Oklahoma. Inasmuch Foundation serves as the President and CEO of Robert J. Ross states: "The existence of Bedrock is to invest in bold ideas and create meaningful, long-term change in Oklahoma. rootEd and Oklahoma will help rural students connect education with real job opportunities. This collaboration will build a stronger workforce and more vibrant communities for generations to come."
George Kaiser Family Foundation Executive Director Ken Levit stated: "The rootEd model has been proven effective in many places and is a way to empower young people to obtain opportunities. We look forward to collaborating with more partners to bring strong one-on-one university and career counseling services to more schools in Oklahoma, helping more students to plan a more prosperous future for themselves, their families, and their communities."
For more information on Heartland Forward implementing rootEd in Arkansas, please visit www.heartlandforward.org / rooted and read the latest rootEd Arkansas impact report.
About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy-oriented organization dedicated to transforming ideas into action in the states of the Central United States and local communities. Its mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the Midwestern region of the United States, and create a $500 million economic impact in the Midwest by 2030. The organization carries out its work through applied research, community-driven projects, policy initiatives, and conference activities, with a focus on regional competitiveness, talent pipelines, as well as health and well-being.
About Heartland Summit
Heartland Summit was co-founded in 2018 by Olivia, Tom Walton, and Steuart Walton with the aim of promoting economic growth and changing the narrative about the Central United States. This summit serves as a platform for candid discussions on common challenges, fostering positive actions, and strengthening connections.
Regarding rootEd and Alliance
rootEd Alliance was established in 2018 as a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping rural high school students achieve career success and strengthening America's skilled workforce. rootEd assigns specialized career counselors to rural high schools to assist students in defining and achieving their career goals, which may include obtaining college degrees, labor market skill certificates, participating in apprenticeship programs, or serving in the military. The organization also collaborates with communities, state governments, and employers to address talent gaps and promote economic prosperity in rural areas. To date, rootEd counselors have served over 100,000 rural students across the United States, covering states such as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Alaska, Illinois, and Idaho, and have partnered with more than 1,500 employers nationwide. In the schools they serve, rootEd there has been an increase of nearly 30% in students choosing college and vocational training.
rootEd Alliance is supported by a group of philanthropists and organized by BDT & MSD Partners. For more information, please visit: https :// rootEdAlliance.org.
