Arkansas Meaningful Access and Participation
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Meaningful Access and Participation
The Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Special Education (DESE-OSE) partners with districts to support selected project schools in building collaborative cultures supported by sustainable systems, structures, and effective practices to ensure every student has meaningful access to and engagement in grade-level learning.
The Meaningful Access and Participation (MAP) Project is evolving into an Academy model designed to strengthen instructional and organizational practices so that students with disabilities experience meaningful access to grade-level core instruction and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) alongside their peers. Participating schools engage in a collaborative evaluation process aligned with the DESE State Improvement Plan, using student outcome data, educator practice data, and professional learning measures to guide continuous improvement.
To learn more about the Academy, watch the recorded webinar below.
Arkansas Meaningful Access Project Presentation Slides
Projected Timeline
| Informational Recording | March 16, 2026 |
| Request for Application | March 16–March 27, 2026 |
| Applications Emailed to Point of Contact | March 16–March 27, 2026 |
| Application Due | April 17, 2026 |
| Evaluation Period | April 20–May 1, 2026 |
| Finalist Interviews | May 4–May 15, 2026 |
| Notification of Award | May 18, 2026 |
| Tentative Project Start | July 2026 |
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2024-2025 Cohort:
- Crossett Middle School (Crossett School District)
- Lake Hamilton Jr. High School (Lake Hamilton School District)
- Sheridan Intermediate School (Sheridan School District)
- Southwest Jr. High School (Springdale School District)
2023-2024 Cohort:
- Bayyari Elementary School (Springdale School District)
- Bearden Elementary School (Bearden School District)
- East End Middle School (Sheridan School District)
- Jacksonville Middle School (Jacksonville North Pulaski School District)
- J.F. Wahl Elementary School (Helena-West Helena School District)
- Osage Creek Elementary School (Bentonville School District)
- Palestine Wheatley High School (Palestine Wheatley School District)
- Sidney Deener Elementary School (Searcy School District)
2022-2023 Cohort:
- Cutter Morning Star Elementary School (Cutter Morning Star School District)
- East Pointe Elementary School (Greenwood School District)
- Magnet Cove Elementary School (Magnet Cove School District)
- Main Street Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School (Hot Springs School District)
- Northside Elementary School (Rogers School District)
- Ridge Road Elementary School (North Little Rock School District)
- Warren Middle School (Warren School District)
- West Side Elementary School (West Side School District)
2021-2022 Cohort:
- Carroll Smith Elementary School (Osceola School District)
- Waldron Elementary School (Waldron School District)
- Caldwell Elementary School (Benton School District)
- McNair Middle School (Fayetteville School District)
- Rivercrest Elementary School (Rivercrest School District)
- Lakeside Junior High School (Lakeside School District – Hot Springs)
- East Hills Middle School (Greenwood School District)
2020-2021 Pilot Cohort:
- Prescott Elementary School (Prescott School District)
- Angie Grant Elementary School (Benton School District)
- Grace Hill Elementary School (Rogers School District)
- Orr Elementary School (Fort Smith School District)
