Technical Assistance

for Teachers & Schools

Arkansas Local Education Agency Resource Network (AR LEARN)


Welcome to the Arkansas Local Education Agency Resource Network, your new state wide partner to assist in meeting the challenges of providing 21st century special education services. The mission is to promote sound research-based building and classroom educational practices to achieve the educational results required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA ) and the Arkansas Department of Education. It is the mission of AR LEARN to respond to statewide needs as well as those of individual school districts. In the near future, customized technical assistance will be delivered on-site by independent special education consultants who can assist in helping any school district meet required IDEA State Performance Plan targets. The state wide professional development program is designed to build the capacity of local special education personnel and, to the extent appropriate, that of general educational professionals as well. Professional development credit will be awarded by the Dawson ESC for any training attended.
School Based Mental Health


The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has fostered the development of a network of approved school-based mental health programs within the Arkansas public school districts. The ADE recognizes the relationship between mental health needs and school performance. Addressing these mental health needs through best practices will promote higher achievement in the education setting for Arkansas students. Please feel free to explore the School-Based Mental Health Policy and Procedures Manual for information and guidance related to the School-Based Mental Health Network. The development of the School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) Network is supported by the ADE's willingness to promote mental health services with professionalism, quality, and accountability, without regard to student or family Medicaid or third-party enrollment.
State Improvement Grant


The primary focus of Arkansas' State Improvement Grant is to increase students' academic performance and success in reading and to increase their interpersonal, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills. While we are specifically targeting students with disabilities, we also hope to increase all students' skills in these areas so that fewer students will need special education support. In addition to this primary focus, we want to help all schools to create and maintain a positive and safe school climate, and to coordinate and integrate appropriate mental health services - from within and outside of the school - for those students in need of these supports. Finally, we want to increase the number of skilled special education teachers across the state by supporting our existing teacher training programs, by encouraging skilled paraprofessionals to "move up the job ladder" to get their Bachelor's degrees and special education licensure, and by attracting already-certified special education professionals to Arkansas from other states.
 
Dawson Education Service Liaison Group


The Arkansas Special Education, Dawson Liaison Group's mission is to provide technical assistance and materials that support the achievement of students challenged with disabilities in Arkansas public schools.

The staff also provides staff development to school faculty and administrators on the following topics:

  • Organization and instructional strategies that support student learning in least restrictive settings
  • Intervention strategies that assist schools in managing student behavior and enhancing academic achievement of low performing students
  • Assessment and identification of students potentially in need of special education services Autism Spectrum Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Arkansas Special Education Child Find supplies materials and assistance in finding the services needed to help Arkansas' youth find assistance in identifying students with learning disabilities.
Local Education Agency Support Services for the Hearing Impaired

(((( LEASSHI

The Local Education Agency Support Services for the Hearing Impaired (LEASSHI) provides technical and consultative assistance to local school personnel regarding students with hearing impairment.

LEASSHI provides services for children, birth - 21, deaf or hard of hearing by ensuring that they:

  • Receive needed communication options, equipment and educational services near their homes
  • Benefit from professionals who are aware of and open to differing educational philosophies
  • Transition successfully into adult world
Arkansas Children's Hospital


Arkansas Children's Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States serving kids from birth to age 21. Our health care facility boasts an internationally renowned reputation for medical breakthroughs and intensive treatments, unique surgical procedures and forward-thinking medical research - all dedicated to fulfilling our mission of enhancing, sustaining and restoring children's health and development. In other words, we're changing children's lives for the better.
Juvenile Education Initiative

The JEdI solution is available to school districts and non-traditional education programs on a cost-share basis with the Arkansas Department of Education. It ensures the following:


·         A Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in every Arkansas Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF)
·         That mathematics and reading be given priority-as mandated by NCLB
·         That students in the juvenile detention environment be physically tracked throughout their education
·         Continuity of instruction as students pass into and out of juvenile detention environments by training area teachers
      to use the remediation program to assist students in transition  

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