Investigating Special Education Law in Arkansas
Within the Arkansas Department of Education, there is a special education unit
that works in partnership with all state public schools, educational service cooperatives,
and other state agencies to ensure that all children with disabilities (ages three to
twenty-one) receive a free appropriate public education as required by IDEA. The unit
works to improve educational results for students with disabilities. The unit’s
responsibilities include ensuring compliance, providing professional development and
assistance to improve special education programs, support efforts to prepare special
educators to meet their students with disabilities needs, manage required information,
oversee budgets and expenditures of special education programs, and maintain an
