The access to Child Find has been changed. Effective immediately, all orders for Child Find Brochures or materials should be sent to the online address

https://www.ark.org/dccece_frs/app

Should it be necessary to speak to someone personally, call 501-682-4221 and ask for Michala Acklin.

In accordance with federal regulations governing Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as amended in 2004, the Annual State Application under Part B from the Arkansas Department of Education is available for public review from March 1, 2010, through April 29, 2010. Written public comments will be accepted from March 15, 2010 through April 13, 2010.

To review a copy of the FFY 2010 Application and Use of Funds Worksheet, go to the policy page.

Written public comment should be submitted to: Marcia Harding, Director, Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Division, 1401 West Capitol Ave., Suite 450, Little Rock, AR 72201. the Departments’ Special Education website.

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 Graduate Certificate Program in Autism Spectrum Disorders will enable current teachers and education professionals to gain much needed information and skills that will translate into a positive impact on the education of students with autism spectrum disorders. Professionals will enroll in the proposed program to learn specific knowledge and skills that will greatly facilitate their ability to effectively identify and educate students with autism spectrum disorders.

This recognizes students who take a concentrated core of courses focused on autism spectrum disorders. Students who earn the certificate develop knowledge and skills in the areas of characteristics, assessment, and educational interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. This fall the University of Arkansas Special Education Program will be offering the following two courses on line through Distance Education.

• CIED 6803 Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders - This course provides students with an understanding of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. The course provides a life-span perspective by focusing on preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. Students will study the characteristics of these individuals and general educational strategies for their education.
  
• CIED 6823 Instructional Methods for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders - This course is designed to assist professional educators in planning and implementing instructional and support services for students with autism spectrum disorders. Students will learn how to participate in collaborative family, school, and community partnerships.

Arkansas Guidelines for Assessment Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

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 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.
  

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.