How to Read an IEP: Arkansas

Arkansas Rules for Special Education (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-101 et seq.) covers special education services for the approximately 70,000 students in the state with IEPs  (~14% of enrollment; OSEP Annual Report to Congress). The state rules closely mirror IDEA, requiring IEP completion within 30 days of eligibility determination and specifying team composition, content, and review procedures. The state has a strong law on dyslexia screening that can impact special education processes and provide students with additional science of reading focused interventions. In 2023, the Office of Civil Rights issued a report on Arkansas with findings on challenges in child find, service provision, discipline disparities, funding, outdated IEP goals, and a lack of behavioral supports for students. Overall, the state has above-average rates of Specific Learning Disability identification (~37%; OSEP Annual Report to Congress).

The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Special Education Unit provides IEP guidance through its special education resources page, including standards-based IEP templates focused on connecting present levels and goals to grade-level standards. DESE also provides forms and resources including required IEP forms and compliance checklists and a dispute resolution guide for parents that includes information on advocacy groups within the state, as well as parent rights and information. 

For parent support, there are supports through the University of Arkansas, the Disability Rights Arkansas organization, and the CP family supports network for Arkansas.

To see what IEPs look like in Arkansas– and guidance on how to read IEPs (and how to know if they are well written!), check out the IEP section guide below.