The Arkansas Department of Education's Standards for Accreditation set the foundational requirements for public schools and school districts across the state. These standards ensure that every school provides a high-quality, consistent education that meets the academic, safety, and operational needs of students and staff. By establishing clear expectations and best practices, the Standards for Accreditation uphold the integrity of Arkansas's educational system, fostering environments where students can thrive academically and schools can operate efficiently.

Accessing Standards Information

Accreditation Cycle

Districts will receive monthly Standards for Accreditation exception snapshots on the 21st of each month. Failure to address corrective actions may lead to citation monitoring. Findings from monitoring cycles could result in district citations brought before the State Board of Education throughout the school year. Final Accreditation statuses will be determined on May 1, 2025.

Contact a Standards Specialist

All district communications should now be directed to the contact information below. You will be connected to the next available Standards Specialist and receive a reference number regarding your inquiry. Please save this number for future inquiries to quickly reference previous conversations.

Standards Unit Email: ade.accreditation@ade.arkansas.gov

Standards Unit Phone: (501) 682-4213

Monitoring

Monitoring & Standards for Accreditation identifies districts annually for Tier 3 and Tier 4 monitoring based on programmatic and fiscal risks. The tiered monitoring process is a collaborative approach between Public School Accountability Units and other DESE Offices that uses data to address areas in need of improvement. Through State and Federal Monitoring, DESE supports districts through program recommendations and technical assistance to strengthen program administration and quality.

Resources:

• 2024-2025 Public School Accountability Timeline
• AR TAC Overview and Member Bios
• 2024 State and Federal Accountability Identification, Exit, and Plan Requirements
  

For more information, please contact: