Approved Arkansas ESSA Plan, updated April 22, 2022

Please read the updated and approved Arkansas State Plan.

2023 ESSA School Index Reports - posted September 27, 2023

For more information about navigating the school reports, please view the following video:  2023 ESSA School Index Public Viewing.  FAQS are also available on My School Info.

2023 School Report Cards - posted

The 2023 School Report Cards are posted on My School Info.  The public may access school, district, and state data on the report cards. To learn more about the report cards go to https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/school-performance/report-card. 

2022 School Report Cards - posted

The 2022 School Report Cards are posted on My School Info.  The public may access school, district, and state data on the report cards. To learn more about the report cards go to https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/school-performance/report-card. 

2022 ESSA School Index Reports - posted November 9, 2022

For more information about navigating the school reports, please view the following video:  2022 ESSA School Index Public Viewing.  FAQS are also available on My School Info. 

Second Addendum to the Approved Arkansas ESSA plan – approved April 22, 2022

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requested a second addendum to the Arkansas ESEA Consolidated State Plan due to the COVID-19 National Emergency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. James Lane, Senior Advisor, sent a letter of approval for the second Addendum to the Approved Arkansas ESSA Plan. The addendum was approved April 22, 2022.

2021 School Report Cards - posted

The 2021 School Report Cards are posted on My School Info.  The public may access school, district, and state data on the report cards. To learn more about the report cards go to https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/school-performance/report-card.

2021 ESSA School Index Reports – posted October 15, 2021

For more information about navigating the school reports, please view the following video: 2021 ESSA School Index Public Release. FAQs are also available on the My School Info. 

Federal Funds Waiver – approved August 25, 2021

On July 2, 2021, Ian Rosenblum, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs, U.S. Department of Education, released a letter offering flexibility regarding federal funds due to COVID-19. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Education is offering: 

(1) a waiver for an SEA to be able to approve a local educational agency (LEA) to carry over more than 15 percent of its fiscal year (FY) 2020 Title I, Part A funds (i.e., the Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds on October 1, 2021), even if the LEA has received a waiver from its SEA to exceed this limitation for its FY 2018 or FY 2019 Title I, Part A funds; and 

(2) flexibility to each SEA to be able to extend for itself and its subgrantees the period of availability of FY 2019 funds for programs included in the state’s consolidated state plan to allow additional time to obligate those funds. 

DESE requested public comment as noted in the Commissioner’s Memo COM-22-004.  On August 9, 2021, the DESE submitted these waivers.  On August 25, 2021, the DESE received an approval letter from Ian Rosenblum, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs approving the waiver request for Arkansas.

Revised Addendum to the Approved Arkansas ESSA plan – released for public comment on May 4, 2021, approved August 20, 2021

During the Vision for Excellence in Education and Arkansas Accountability System (ESSA Steering Committee) meeting held on April 28, 2021, the committee passed a motion to release the Revised Arkansas Addendum to the ESEA Consolidated State Plan due to the COVID-19 National Emergency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act for public comment. Please see Commissioner’s Memo COM-21-124 for more information. The draft revised addendum can be viewed at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hQ5tfOrKttBQCRMu9txjdavkCYaQmPWGwdPoxIibK1I/edit?usp=sharing.
Submit a public comment to ade.essacomments@ade.arkansas.gov. On August 20, 2021, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs sent a letter of approval for the Revised Addendum to the Approved Arkansas ESSA Plan. 

Federal Funds (Title IV) Waiver – approved

On December 1, 2020, Frank T. Brogan, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, released a letter offering flexibility regarding Title IV funds due to COVID- 19. Please see Commissioner’s Memo COM-21-056 for more information. DESE received approval on January 24, 2021, to implement these waivers.

Addendum to the Approved Arkansas ESSA Plan - released for public comment on November 23, 2021

During the Vision for Excellence in Education and Arkansas Accountability System (ESSA Steering Committee) meeting held on November 18, 2020, the committee passed a motion to release the Arkansas Addendum to the ESEA Consolidated State Plan due to the COVID-19 National Emergency under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act for public comment. The draft addendum can be viewed at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JSO5tOZ-U7dXBVlJfv1RyUxM2DosfRN0gDZbX-XQEX4/edit? usp=sharing. The addendum is for the 2020-2021 school year only. Please see Commissioner’s Memo COM-21-049 for more information.

Submit public comment to ade.essacomments@ade.arkansas.gov.

Federal Funds Waiver – approved April 21, 2020

Understanding the Federal Waivers – posted April 16, 2020

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has developed a document to explain the impact of the federal waivers.  DESE will update the document as more information becomes available.  The document is available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N0fOukqQiuXGui7kmUUUFHysBJ02LCGL757LHKGwGSQ/edit?usp=sharing.

Assessment, Accountability and Reporting Waiver – approved March 27, 2020

2019 School Report Cards - posted

The final 2019 School Report Cards are posted on My School Info.  The public may access school, district, and state data on the report cards. To learn more about the report cards go to https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/school-performance/report-card.

2019 ESSA School Index Reports – posted October 9, 2019

Please watch this short video to learn how to access your school’s ESSA School Index report.

Approved Arkansas Plan, amended March 11, 2019

Please read the amended and approved Arkansas State Plan.  

Arkansas' ESSA Plan Amendment Request Submitted to Secretary DeVos - Approved March 11, 2019

On January 8, 2019, the Arkansas Department of Education submitted a letter to Secretary DeVos requesting an amendment to Arkansas’ ESSA plan regarding long-term goals. This is a request to revise reporting only, no request to change accountability. The letter and the redline amendment request are available at Arkansas Letter to Secretary DeVos and Arkansas ESSA Plan with Amendment Request. The amendment was approved on March 11, 2019: Amendment Approval Letter from Frank T. Brogan, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.

Approved Arkansas State Plan - January 16, 2018

Please read the final plan and submission letter: Arkansas State Plan (Original).

Our plan has been recognized as one of only seven in the nation to receive a strong rating in three major categories for its new accountability system. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2moTdoc.

Informational Documents

Guide to ESSA Plan and a flyer about the differences between No Child Left Behind and ESSA are now available.

Please read and share informational documents related to the Every Students Succeeds Act.

Topics include Vision for Excellence in Education, Arkansas Academic Standards, School Quality and Student Success, State Assessment System, and What is ESSA?

Archive of the Arkansas State Plan Process

Arkansas’ federal education accountability plan reflects more than a year and a half of ongoing collaboration, input and feedback provided by educators, parents and students around the state. The plan was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education on September 15, 2017. To learn more, visit the Stay Informed Archive page. The ADE Facebook Live Series: Understanding ESSA can be found on the archive page.

What is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, and reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s education law that provides an opportunity for all students. Read the Every Student Succeeds Act at http://bit.ly/1TFr29X. 

As part of the Vision for Excellence in Education, Arkansas is defining the  Arkansas Accountability System. Arkansas is committed to transparent communication with all stakeholders. ESSA Summary. Please see the log of meetings and presentations at http://bit.ly/2aKz0ma.

What is my role as a stakeholder?

1. Stay Informed. We invite you to visit this webpage often for new information. Stakeholders may click here to sign up for the Stay Informed newsletter to receive the most current information about the ESSA process.
2. Get Involved. Sign up to be an Ambassador and share the latest ESSA news with your colleagues, community members, friends, and family. If you are interested in learning more about being an ambassasor, please complete the requested information, and Ms. Tina Smith will be in contact with you. Thanks. View the list of Ambassador Hosted Community Listening Forums.
3. Advocate for Students. Committees will be asked to review the Arkansas Accountability System with the lens of student’s subgroups-English Language Learner/Title III, SPED, Economically Disadvantaged, Race/Ethnicity, Foster Children, Military Dependents, Homeless, Equity for All Students. To access the application to be a student advocate, please go to http://bit.ly/2b9yUlC.  
4. Tune In. Watch the Steering Committee Meetings. The meetings were open to the public, live streamed, and recorded.
5. Access the Steering Committee agenda.
6. Learn more about the ESSA Steering Committee members.
7. View Steering Committee agenda, minutes and videos.
8. Submit Public Comment. Submit comments, questions, concerns and celebrations regarding ESSA.

• The Commissioner's Memo COM-21-069 2020 School Report Card Released.
•  The Alliance for Excellent Education website offers one-page fact sheets, five-minute videos and a side-by-side chart comparing No Child Left Behind(NCLB) and ESSA.
•  The U. S. Department of Education website offers the full ESSA Act, resources, and opportunities to sign up for federal updates.
•  The USDOE updated the Transitioning to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Frequently Asked Questions on June 29, 2016.
•  The National PTA website offers resources for families on the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) at pta.org/ESSA.
•  Spanish translations of “Family Engagement Provisions in ESSA” and “ESSA: What does this new law mean for my child?” are available at 

For more information, please contact: