Special-education audit finds gaps in outcomes, recommends district-wide vision and system changes

An external review team presented a special-education audit to the Little Rock School District board that the consultants said should prompt a district-wide vision and structural changes to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

The review found large achievement gaps: for example, the audit presented data showing proficiency differences between students with disabilities and all students in several grades and subjects (presenters noted very low proficiency rates for some grade/subject combinations). The team also highlighted higher chronic absenteeism and suspension rates for students with disabilities and disproportionate representation among students suspended 10 or more days.

The presenters recommended four major areas of work: develop and communicate a special-education vision aligned to the district mission; implement a district-wide plan to assure full implementation; examine funding options (including Medicaid reimbursement and blending funding streams); and design staffing and inclusion coaching to support general-education teachers. The review cited improved Medicaid reimbursements (from about $325,000 in 2022-23 to higher levels in recent reporting) and urged continued billing improvements, while calling attention to the limitations and barriers to billing for certain services.

"Special ed is about civil rights," a presenter said, framing the recommendations as both educational and civil-rights imperatives. The team provided a multi-year view and suggested a continuous-improvement process, job-embedded coaching, and clearer leadership accountability to implement the changes.