Arkansas Department of Education: An Overview

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) serves as the state education agency for public schools in Arkansas. Its mission encompasses a wide array of responsibilities, from assisting schools in curriculum development to overseeing various educational programs and initiatives.

Agency Overview

The Arkansas Department of Education was founded in 1931 and reorganized in 2019. The ADE also contains the Arkansas State Library, the Arkansas School for the Deaf, Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr.

Key Personnel:

Secretary: Jacob Oliva
Deputy Commissioner, DESE: Ivy Pfeffer
Deputy Commissioner, DESE: Stacy Smith
Director, DTCED: Ross White

Headquarters: Four Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201

Annual Budget: US$5,199,164,655

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

The Division of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) is often abbreviated and headquartered in Little Rock. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is administered by the State Board of Education and oversees the 244 public school districts in the state. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education assists schools in developing curriculum, accredits schools, approves textbooks used in state public schools, licenses teachers, provides continuing education programs, and much more.

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Historical Context

The entity now known as the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education was created by Act 169 of 1931 (as amended by Act 127 of 1941) as the State Department of Education, with the director being appointed by the State Board of Education. Act 38 of 1971, which reorganized several sectors of state government, restyled the State Department of Education as the Department of Education and transferred the power to appoint the director from the board to the governor. This act also transferred to the agency control over the Educational Television Commission (which oversees the Arkansas Educational Television Network, later made its own agency, though still partnering with ADE), the State Library Commission, the Arkansas School for the Blind, and the Arkansas School for the Deaf; likewise, the responsibilities relating to rehabilitation services, which had been overseen by the State Board of Vocational Education, were transferred to what became the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) and the Arkansas Department of Career and Technical Education (ADCTE).

Vocational Education

Vocational education fell under the purview of the ADE since its inception; Act 64 of 1981 explicitly divided the department into the General Education and Vocational and Technical Education divisions, and Act 297 of 1995 mandated that the State Board of Education and the State Board of Vocational Education be composed of the same twelve individuals. However, Act 803 of 1997 abolished the State Board of Vocational Education, creating in its place the State Board of Workforce Education and Career Opportunities as well as the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education (ADWE), which assumed responsibility for vocational and technical education in the state. ADWE became the Arkansas Department of Career Education in 2009 (Act 787), and then the Division of Career and Technical Education in 2019 (Act 910) when it was reorganized under the larger umbrella of the ADE.

Structure of DESE

As of 2019, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is composed of five divisions:

Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services
Division of Educator Effectiveness
Division of Learning Services
Division of Public School Accountability
Division of Research and Technology

In 1999, the agency established a Home School Office to aid home-school parents in meeting the requirements of the pertinent laws and regulations.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

The ADE's responsibilities are comprehensive and crucial for maintaining and improving the quality of education in Arkansas. These include:

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Curriculum Development: Assisting schools in developing and implementing effective curricula.
Accreditation: Accrediting public schools to ensure they meet established standards.
Textbook Approval: Approving textbooks for use in state public schools.
Teacher Licensure: Licensing teachers to guarantee qualified educators are in the classrooms.
Continuing Education: Providing continuing education programs for teachers to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Oversight of Public School Districts: Administering and overseeing the 244 public school districts in the state.
Support for Home Schooling: Providing resources and guidance to home-school parents.

Assessments and Standards

The Arkansas Department of Education utilizes assessments to measure student progress and ensure schools are meeting state standards.

Augmented Benchmark Examinations

The Augmented Benchmark Examinations is a test required by the Arkansas Department of Education in support of NCLB. Starting with the 2007-08 school year, a criterion-referenced test mandated by the state was merged with the Stanford Achievement Test, Series 10 to form the Augmented Benchmark Examinations.

Graduation Requirements

Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, twenty-two units are required for graduation. Of these 22 units, sixteen will be specified units. 4 units = Mathematics: All students must take a mathematics course in grade 11 or grade 12. Beginning in 2013-2014, all students in grades nine through twelve will follow these graduation requirements. Twenty-two units will be required for graduation. Of these twenty-two units, sixteen will be specified units. one unit of Choice of: Transitions to College Math, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Trigonometry, Statistics, Computer Math, Algebra III, or an Advanced Placement math.

Current Initiatives and Events

The Arkansas Department of Education is actively involved in various initiatives and events aimed at improving education in the state.

Career and Technical Education (CTE): The ADE promotes CTE programs, emphasizing their role in preparing students for college, the armed forces, or employment immediately after graduation. February is National Career and Technical Education Month! In Arkansas, we have success-ready pathways in place that allow students to enroll in college, enlist in our armed forces, or to be employed as soon as they graduate high school.
School Choice: Governor Sanders issued a proclamation naming January 25-31 as School Choice Week! We celebrate the options Arkansas families have been given through the LEARNS Act and Education Freedom Accounts, allowing them to do what's best for each child. Arkansas is leading the way in education freedom!
Holocaust Education: The ADE supports Holocaust education, recognizing teachers for their efforts in making history personal and relevant for students. Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva joined the Holocaust Education Living Proposal (HELP) Committee to name Malvern teacher Kendra Tallent as the Arkansas Holocaust Education Award Donation (AHEAD) winner. Tallent is being recognized for her creative approach to making history personal and real for her students.
Support for Schools for the Deaf and Blind: The ADE oversees the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, providing specialized education and resources. AR School for the Deaf and Blind held a topping-off ceremony for its new instructional building yesterday.
Recognition of Educators: The ADE recognizes outstanding educators, such as the Arkansas History Teacher of the Year. Pulaski County Special School District teacher Elizabeth Prewett was also recognized at the meeting. Prewett was named 2025 Arkansas History Teacher of the Year and represents our state as one of 53 finalists for the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year award.

Leadership

Jacob Oliva, Secretary of Education

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Jacob Oliva as secretary for the Department of Education. Oliva began as secretary on January 10, 2023. Prior to being named secretary and commissioner, Oliva served in numerous roles at the Florida Department of Education, most recently as interim commissioner. In 2021, he was promoted to senior chancellor, and his responsibilities expanded to include early learning, school choice programs, school safety, and school accountability. Oliva is a graduate of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Flagler College in Florida. He began his educational career more than two decades ago as an elementary teacher for students with special needs.

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