Registration is now open for the 1999-2000 Arkansas Schools Are For All Kids (AR-SAFAK) workshops on inclusion, sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education Unit. The AR-SAFAK training was developed from a variety of resources, including the California Research Institute and the Vermont Systems Change Project. It has been identified as a tool for schools to use in meeting the requirements of the reauthorized IDEA, and in the implementation of the Smart Start Initiative. AR-SAFAK can also be used to enhance the development of school COE plans.
The two-level, four-day training will be offered at Little Rock and Fort Smith during the 1999-2000 school year. The dates for the Little Rock site are October 12-13, 1999, and February 17-18, 2000. The Fort Smith training will be October 21-22, 1999, and February 24-25, 2000.
To assist the schools in developing and implementing inclusive policies, school districts are encouraged to identify an AR-SAFAK School Building Inclusion Team to attend the training. This team is expected to identify a specific student around whom the team planning will occur during the training. Schools are strongly encouraged to include the identified student's parent(s) on their teams. The teams must include the building principal or assistant principal.
It is also requested that the coordinator (or another member) of the school's COE team participate. Other suggested team members are general and special education teachers and speech/language pathologists. The teams may also include superintendents, special education supervisors, related service personnel and any other staff involved with the identified student. Team membership should not exceed six members. The same AR-SAFAK School Building Inclusion Team members from each participating district must attend both levels of the workshop, and are also expected to attend both levels at the same site.
The registration fee for the two pre-designated sites will be $45.00 per person, which includes the following:
- 4 days of training
- training materials
- follow-up visits
- 4 lunches
- breaks/snacks on all training days
In addition, any school district, local education agency or cooperative area that is interested in sponsoring a local training may contact Lisa Johnson at the Arkansas Special Education Resource Center (ASERC) at 501-663-3835 for details, such as the minimum number of participants/teams required, etc. If such a local training is arranged, there is no charge for the training materials. The local agency would be responsible for locating a training site and providing any meals or breaks for the training.