Commissioner's Memos

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education Unit (SEU), has a five-year, federal, State Personnel Development Grant. Goal Four of the grant is to support efforts to recruit and retain qualified, fully-licensed special education personnel to work in Arkansas’ public schools.  One objective within this goal is to recruit paraprofessionals interested in advancement toward earning a special education teaching license. 

A one-time, non-renewable stipend of up to $1,000 will be awarded to 20 prospective  paraprofessionals each year who (will) work in an Arkansas school district; with the highest number of special education teacher vacancies; the fewest number of fully-licensed special education teachers; identified by Title II with hiring inequities; and/or high attrition rates of licensed special education teachers.  The stipend will help defray tuition and incidental costs for obtaining the state-required coursework or experience needed to become fully qualified.

Priority will be given to paraprofessionals who:

• Are currently employed by school districts/cooperatives
• Are currently enrolled in education related courses
• Agree to work in an Arkansas public education agency, in special education, at the completion of this signed program for a period of time not less than the same length of time stipends were provided
• Are listed on the ADE Paraprofessional Registry as having completed the CORE Training Requirements (Foundations of Special Education, Behavior, and Special Health Care Needs)