IEP Accommodations in Arkansas
What IEP accommodations are available in Arkansas?
Arkansas IEPs must include a statement of supplementary aids and services, program modifications, and support for school personnel as required by Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §8.08.1.4, and 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4). Accommodations enable the child to be educated with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. The IEP must specify individual appropriate accommodations for state and district-wide assessments; accommodation decisions must be consistent with Arkansas assessment guidelines for the ACT Aspire or DLM alternate assessment. If a child will not participate in a regular assessment, the IEP must include a statement of why the assessment is inappropriate and which alternate assessment will be used. The IEP team must consider whether the child's disability requires assistive technology devices and services (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(v)). Arkansas DESE publishes assessment accommodation guidance for both general and alternate assessments. The IEP team must also consider supplementary aids and services before recommending a more restrictive placement.
What Arkansas Requires
The IEP must include supplementary aids and services, program modifications, and support for school personnel, specifying each with projected start date, frequency, location, and duration (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §8.08.1.4; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4), (a)(7)).
Individual appropriate accommodations for state and district-wide assessments (ACT Aspire or DLM) must be specified in the IEP (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)(i)).
If the child will take an alternate assessment (DLM), the IEP must explain why the regular assessment is inappropriate and identify the alternate assessment to be used (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)(ii)).
The IEP team must consider whether the child needs assistive technology devices and services and document the decision (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §8.07.1.2.E; 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(v)).
The IEP must explain the extent to which the child will not participate with nondisabled peers in regular education, extracurricular, and nonacademic activities (34 CFR 300.320(a)(5)).
Supplementary aids and services must be considered and attempted before recommending a more restrictive placement (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §13.00; 34 CFR 300.116).
Key Timelines
Accommodations must be reviewed and updated at each annual IEP meeting (34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Accommodation needs for assessment must be determined during IEP planning to ensure timely implementation before state assessment windows (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)).