Welcome to the Special Education Services section of the website. On this page, you will find resources to help personnel and students and their families to connect with our department. We hope that this page continues to grow and to be as interactive as possible.

Child Find Procedures are put in place to help identify any student with disabilities, attending public or private schools. These procedures make sure students are located, evaluated and provided a free and appropriate public education.

State of Arkansas has 12 specifically defined disabilities which students can be classified for special education services.

The goal of Special Education is to bring students we serve as close to grade level performance as possible. We  have learned to write goals and objectives for students based on grade level essential standards that have been identified by PLC teams. Special Education students are served in a least restrictive environment and are included in the general education classroom as much as possible. 

The results for the past school year have been as follows:

• All Special Education students in grades 9-12 have a functioning transition plan.

• All seniors now have a Summary of Performance.

• All Special Education students have an IEP that was developed with relevant data.

• All Special Education teachers serve the students based on their individual needs.

The ADE:DESE Special Education Unit collaborates with local school districts, educational service cooperatives, and other state agencies to ensure that all children with disabilities (ages 3 to 21) in Arkansas receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Special Education Unit is committed to improving educational results for students with disabilities through statewide leadership, support, and service to schools, educators, students, families, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring compliance with program and fiscal requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and related state laws and regulations;

• Professional development and technical assistance outreach to improve special education programs;

• Supporting efforts to ensure special educators are adequately prepared to meet the needs of children with disabilities;

• Management of federally required data reporting and analysis;

• Administration and oversight of state and local special education annual applications/budgets and related expenditures; and

• Maintaining an effective system for dispute resolution.

ADE: DESE Special Education Unit