Background

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is excited to introduce statewide implementation of the Launch for Students (LFS) Platform during the 2026-27 SY. The LFS platform is designed to support the development and implementation of Student Success Plans (SSPs) and student-centered academic and career planning aligned with Arkansas law (Arkansas Code § 6-15-2911), including Arkansas LEARNS and ACCESS.

LFS is an important component of Arkansas’s broader workforce and education strategy to connect learners with meaningful career opportunities.

What LFS does:

• Houses the Student Success Plan (SSP)
• Provides tools and resources for career exploration
• Builds employability skills
• Expands access to real-world work experiences
• Connects students to employers, internships, apprenticeships, and postsecondary pathways
• Provides a place for tracking community service hours
• Transfers SSPs and interest inventories with the student

Why it matters:

As part of a statewide effort to support job seekers and strengthen Arkansas’s talent pipeline, LFS helps young people make informed decisions about their future - aligning their interests and strengths with opportunities in the local and regional economy. This work contributes to a more prepared and competitive workforce across the state.

How it supports districts:

LFS is intended to complement the existing work districts are doing by guiding students toward postsecondary readiness through a student-centered portal with streamlined tools for planning, documentation, monitoring student progress, and school-family communication. The LFS platform supports districts and schools by:

• Organizing and documenting Student Success Plans, including community service hours
• Aligning academic planning, career exploration, and postsecondary readiness
• Providing consistent access for students, educators, and families
• Supporting collaboration among counselors, teachers, and administrators

Additional details regarding platform functionality and access will be shared with district leaders as implementation approaches.

CALL TO ACTION - What Districts Should Do Now

While the LFS platform is being finalized this spring (2026), districts should begin with the following preparatory steps:

1. Next steps for district IT coordinators- *Whitelist (see below for explanation) all domains associated with the LFS platform:

• https://dev-0uql1lnuoncua378.us.auth0.com/
• ARLaunch@noreply.arkansas.gov 

2. Identify an LFS Facilitator at the district and 8-12 grade campuses to coordinate implementation efforts [complete this form to confirm the district’s LFS Facilitator].

3. Review current Student Success Plan practices to identify implementation strengths, gaps, and opportunities for alignment.

4. Ensure staff are familiar with and comply with SSP requirements under Arkansas Code § 6-15-2911.

5. Begin planning for the integration of LFS into existing counseling, advising, and scheduling structures.

6. Engage key LFS support staff, including, but not limited to, advisory teachers, career coaches, school counselors, etc., in early conversations about implementation needs, professional learning support, and family engagement.

7. Next steps in eSchool - As implementation expands beyond the pilot cohort, all districts must complete essential preparatory steps to ensure full functionality and a smooth experience for all users. All data powering LFS is pulled directly from eSchool. It is imperative that this spring (2026), districts ensure that:

• District email addresses for all students and faculty/staff are accurately entered in eSchool, as these credentials drive user access, communication, and system notifications.
• The counselor and advisor roles are correctly assigned in eSchool. 

• This document provides step-by-step instructions for completing this process.

• For accurate Pathway selection, audit the eSchool course catalog by marking inactive courses and removing obsolete courses, including outdated or unused course sessions (e.g., old terms, duplicate sections, or sessions no longer offered).
• With the release of the 2026–2027 course code changes, districts should enter all pathway courses they intend to offer into the course catalog, including courses that will not be taught until 2027–2028 or beyond. Having these courses listed allows the ARData and DCTE teams to accurately map the offered pathways for each district.
  • If a new CTE pathway is implemented in the district, ensure that Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 courses are added to the master course catalog in eSchool - this will ensure the pathway is available for students to select in LFS.

*A whitelist is a list of approved websites, applications, email addresses, or digital resources that are permitted to be accessed or used on a school or district network. Only items on the whitelist are allowed, helping ensure student safety, data privacy, and appropriate technology use.

Completing these steps in advance will help ensure reliable data flow, reduce technical issues during implementation, simplify onboarding, and support a successful LFS rollout.

ADE will provide additional information, including timelines, training opportunities, and technical guidance, as the LFS rollout progresses. District leaders and designated LFS Facilitators will receive advance notification prior to the distribution of platform access codes for faculty/staff and students.

Contact Information