Little Rock School District proposes four-tier alternative learning restructure to centralize digital programs and expand supports

Dr. Loring presented a proposal at the Little Rock School District board work session on March 13 to restructure the district’s Alternative Learning Environments for the 2025–26 school year, aiming to consolidate digital services and expand supports for students with nontraditional learning needs.

The plan would keep a revised ALE while adding three layers: an Intensive Learning Environment (ILE) for students needing smaller, more intensive settings; a Digital Learning Academy to bring distance, virtual and accelerated learning programs under one administrative umbrella; and a Digital Learning satellite at Southwest High School to serve virtual and newcomer students with additional language supports.

Why it matters: district leaders said the restructuring is intended to make more efficient use of staff, improve access to services such as Metro career/technical offerings, scale accelerated-graduation supports, and expand social-emotional and mental-health interventions for students who are overage, undercredited, newly arrived to the district or otherwise served outside traditional schools.

Current structure and proposed change

Dr. Loring described the district’s existing nontraditional programs: elementary-level ALE (not part of this proposal), a secondary ALE housed at the former Wilson Elementary campus serving middle and high school students, and an Accelerated…