Arkansas Special Needs Resources

Arkansas schools provide services ranging from speech therapy and counseling to specially designed instruction in reading or math. The specific services your child receives depend on their individual needs, not their disability label. Two children with autism, for example, might have completely different services based on what each child needs to make progress.

Services can be delivered in various settings. Your child might get help in the regular classroom from a special education teacher who co-teaches with the general education teacher. Or they might leave class for small-group instruction in specific subjects. Some students need more intensive support in special education classrooms for most or all of the day.

Arkansas emphasizes educating students with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities whenever possible. This is called the "least restrictive environment." The IEP team considers this when deciding where and how your child receives services, always starting with the regular classroom and adding supports before considering more separate settings.

When a child is referred for special education in Arkansas, the school district has 60 calendar days from the date of consent to complete the initial evaluation. This timeline is shorter than the federal requirement of 60 school days, which means evaluations in Arkansas can't drag on through summer breaks. The evaluation must be comprehensive enough to identify all of your child's special education and related services needs, whether or not they're commonly linked to the disability category.

If your child is found eligible for special education, the IEP team must meet to develop an individualized education program. Arkansas follows federal requirements for what must be included in the IEP: present levels of performance, measurable annual goals, how progress will be measured, what special education and related services will be provided, and how much time your child will spend in general education. The IEP should be more than just a form—it should be a thoughtful document that's tailored to your child's unique needs.

Arkansas has made efforts to improve special education services throughout the state, including in rural areas that can be harder to serve. The Arkansas Department of Education provides guidance and resources, and there are regional education cooperatives that help smaller districts provide specialized services. If you're concerned about the quality of services your child is receiving, you can contact the Special Education section of the Arkansas Department of Education, or reach out to Arkansas Disability Rights for advocacy support.