IEP Progress Monitoring in Arkansas
How often should you receive IEP progress reports in Arkansas?
Arkansas requires that every IEP describe how a student's progress toward each annual goal will be measured and when periodic progress reports will be provided to parents, consistent with Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §8.08.1, and 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3). Progress must be reported to parents at least as frequently as nondisabled students receive report cards. Arkansas school districts typically issue quarterly report cards, so quarterly progress reports on IEP goals are standard practice. The IEP must specify the measurement methodology for each goal (e.g., percentage correct, frequency data, curriculum-based measurement). For students taking the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment, short-term objectives serve as interim benchmarks against which progress is measured. Arkansas DESE supports districts in developing data-driven IEP goals and implementing evidence-based progress monitoring systems consistent with the Arkansas Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, adopted by DESE as the statewide framework for data-based decision-making in academic and behavioral domains.
What Arkansas Requires
The IEP must describe how progress toward each annual goal will be measured and when periodic reports will be provided to parents (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §8.08.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Progress reports must be provided at least as frequently as nondisabled peers receive report cards (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)(ii)).
The measurement methodology for each goal must be clearly specified so progress can be objectively determined (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)(i)).
For alternate assessment students, short-term objectives serve as interim benchmarks for progress monitoring (Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.10-001, §8.08.1.3).
Progress monitoring data must inform annual IEP goal review and revision at each annual meeting (34 CFR 300.324(b)(1)(ii)).
Arkansas school districts use the state's Special Education Monitoring and Tracking System (MySped) for compliance monitoring; DESE checks whether progress reports are issued on schedule as part of compliance reviews (Arkansas DESE MySped system).
Key Timelines
Progress reports on IEP goals must be provided at least as often as nondisabled peers receive report cards, typically quarterly in Arkansas (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)(ii)).
Annual goals and progress measurement methods must be reviewed at each annual IEP meeting (34 CFR 300.324(b)).