Act 987 of 2021, created the Public School Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Committee (Committee).  The Committee

1. Established guidelines to assist public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools in the process of conducting assessments of public school buildings as required by the Act, and
2. Created an online professional learning course, “Arkansas ADA Compliance Course” {Course), for public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to use in the process of conducting assessments of public school buildings as required by the Act.

The purpose of the Course is to provide guidance, tools, and suggestions for public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to use when accessing their facilities for ADA compliance in accordance with Act 987 of 2021 and the American Disabilities Act of 1990. 

The assessment requires

1. An assessment of all public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools facilities with respect to compliance with the American Disabilities Act of 1990, and
2. An assessment of public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools facilities required in the Act and shall include an emphasis on public school buildings constructed before 2004, and
3. A transition plan establishing the steps necessary to complete changes to public school facilities in order to ensure compliance with the American Disabilities Act of 1990.

Public school district transition plans & assessments shall be included in their facilities Master Plan, due February 1, 2024, under Tab 8. 

Open-enrollment public charter school transition plans & assessments for shall be submitted in written form by February 1, 2024, as outlined in the Course.

Below is the link to the online professional learning course available to all public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools

          https://k12.instructure.com/enroll/HR39CY

The Course training is intended as an introduction and to provide guidance, tools, and suggestions for conducting an ADA compliance audit and is not intended to be fully inclusive of all ADA laws and requirements.  School/Charter staff requiring more detailed requirements should contact Nathan Alderson.

For technical questions regarding ADA law requirements, etc., please contact

          Nathan Alderson

          Nathan.Alderson@arkansas.gov

          (501) 682-5546

For general process questions, please contact

Katharine Eckman

Katharine.Eckman@ade.arkansas.gov

(501) 683-1193

-or-

Kevin Sontag

Kevin.Sontag@ade.arkansas.gov

(501) 683-5659