Yesterday, the Arkansas house education committee made a great step toward improving special education by passing HB1485.  This is important because we have a constitutional obligation to ensure that all children receive the advantages and opportunities afforded by an adequate education. We cannot leave out children who use special educational services.

Nearly 52,000 students  in Arkansas between the ages of 6 and 21 have an IEP (individualized education program) to help them succeed. Special education covers a broad spectrum of needs from helping students with physical, developmental, and behavioral disabilities to aiding students with ADHD and dyslexia.  So, it’s important that students are placed in the right environment and given the right resources based on their specific need.

Our state has made great strides when it comes to special education. Our graduation rate for students using special education services has slightly improved over time. But, there’s still a significant portion of the student population falling through the cracks because they aren’t receiving proper assistance and we must address that.

A recent study from the Civil Rights Project also points out how school discipline practices have harmed students with special educational needs.  The report shows that students with disabilities – particularly children of color – face higher rates of out-of-school suspension nationwide than other groups.

With this in mind, it is critical to know the best practices, use targeted strategies, and ensure that students’ needs are being met so that our state dollars devoted to special education are used effectively. The bill creates a platform to study and address needs in special education in three ways:

1. It includes opportunities for inclusive stakeholder engagement and input
   • The bill calls for a task force comprised of a wide range of voices that includes the Governor, legislators representing all quadrants of the state, special education teachers, parents who have children using special education services, education administrators, advocates for citizens with disabilities, and the Arkansas department of education. So, it will be a collaborative effort where experts with various perspectives can gather and develop strategies to better serve the needs of children using special education services.

2. The efforts of the taskforce include evidence based research of best practices, reflection and analyses on Arkansas’s current practices in special education that will be used as the basis for comparisons and recommendations.
   • All state investments should be grounded in solid research and effective practices. The taskforce will review areas that influence special education like teacher preparation and licensure for special education, requirements for professional development, discipline practices for students in special education, use of outside services and programs, facilities, equipment and instruction.

3. It allows for a sufficient amount of time for the taskforce to meet and submit a substantive report and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Now, the bill moves up to the entire house of representatives to be voted upon. We hope that all members of the General Assembly will share the same sentiment of the education committee and do what is best for learners with disabilities.