The Arkansas State Board of Education approved the addition of an Alternate Pathway to Graduation for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. This new pathway is intended to positively affect teaching and learning for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.  Below are resources to help educators, parents, and students understand the new pathway.

• Commissioner’s Memo LS-19-069
• NCEO Brief explaining the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements
• Arkansas Alternate Pathway to Graduation Course Requirements and Standards
• K-12 Course Code Chart for Special Education Classes
• Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Definition
• Assessment Decisions and Graduation Requirements for Students with IEPs video recording (November 2022)
•         Presentation Slide Deck (Fall 2024)
• Q&A Document (New Information added 2/5/25)
• Form for entering questions
• Arkansas Alternate Pathway to Graduation Informational Document

• One Pagers: 
  • Five Things Administrators Need to Know
  • Five Things Teachers Need to Know
  • Five Things Parents Need to Know
• ESSA High School Graduation Rate Non-regulatory Guidance

For more information, please contact:

Becky Bell
Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 450
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-4225
Email: Becky.Bell@ade.arkansas.gov

Tabitha Riendeau
Educational Support Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 450
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-4225
Email: Tabitha.Riendeau@ade.arkansas.gov