We are pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Powers from Yale University will present on Behavioral and Social Interventions for Students with Austism/Aspergers, on September 29 & 30, 2008, at the Brewer Hegeman Conference Center, University of Central Arkansas. For Additional information and directions click here.

The Arkansas Department of Education has enhanced its comprehensive co-teaching professional development to include more follow-up support in the form of on-site coaching. For more information and registration materials click here. Deadline for registration is September 22, 2008.

Special Show 2008 was a big success and to view a few of the presentations click here.

The new rules and regulations governing Special Education in Arkansas are now posted on the Policy Section of this website.   The working documents used for training at the Mission Possible Conference are now posted on the Archives Section.

The Office of Special Education Programs in the U. S. Department of Education requires that States report annually to the public on the performance of each local education agency (LEA) on 14 of 20 indicators as compared with targets established by the State in the State Performance Plan (SPP). Arkansas will report performance on indicators 1 through 14 and 20 for each LEA serving children with disabilities (CWD). To review a copy of Arkansas's SPP and Annual Performance Report go to the policy page. To see how your school district, charter school, or early childhood special education program performed go to the Data and Research Section.  

The Annual State Application under Part B (2008) and Interactive Worksheet can be located on the policy page.

The Resource Guide for 10th grade science (biology) is now available.  This information was completed during the summer of 2007 and will be helpful to teachers and parents as they plan for this new assessment.  The other Resource Guides for Grades 3-8 math and literacy, Grade 5-7 science and Grade 11 literacy can be found in the archives section of this website.

In 1991, Act 338 was enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas requiring public schools in Arkansas to identify all children with specific learning disabilities and to provide training for teachers encountering children with these problems in the regular classroom. As a provision of this Act, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) developed Specific Learning Disability (SLD): An In-service Training Manual for Regular Classroom Teachers. Due to more current evidence based research and changes in laws, rules and regulations, the ADE has developed an updated guide to address SLD, specifically dyslexia. It is called a Resource Guide for Addressing Specific Learning Disabilities/Dyslexia. The ADE has compiled this guide to offer information and resources for schools regarding the identification, assessment and instruction of students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), particularly dyslexia. The characteristics of dyslexia are presented in the guide. Information on assessments and programs geared toward SLD/Dyslexia is also included in the appendices.  

If your students are struggling in the area of literacy, check out the Arkansas Literacy Intervention Matrix, a research based literacy intervention tool aligned with the Arkansas frameworks.
  

The State of Arkansas is required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 616(b), to have in place a Performance Plan that must be reviewed and approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education: The Arkansas State Performance Plan (Updated on 01/23/06) was submitted on December 2, 2005. Click here to view the Secretary's letter of approval dated March 10, 2006.
   

Brochures have been developed through the State Improvement Grant (SIG) to help parents work with their children at home to increase their literacy skills.  Focused on home-based activities at the preschool, early elementary, and late elementary levels, these brochures “Ideas to Build Your Child’s Reading Skills” are free and can be printed and shared with anyone who would like this important information.
  

Interested in becoming a special educator? How does someone earn a license in special education? What universities/colleges have special education programs? Are there funds available? Where are positions available?

Find the answers on the Become A Special Education Teacher web-site.

For teachers of 6th and 8th grade Career Orientation classes, a Career Orientation Module on Becoming a Special Educator was created in 2006.  A video, Teach Each One, was developed to use with this module. For the training materials and lesson plans for the module, contact your school counselor.