Changes coming to educational cooperatives

By Dale Gathright, Jr., 03/14/24 9:52 PM

LITTLE ROCK – There are impending changes coming to the Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative, based in Hope, and the other cooperatives across the state gr the 2024-25 school year.

 

In a recent update from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Cooperatives were informed of changes to certain granted positions for the upcoming school year.

 

Under the changes, the existing literacy specialist positions within the cooperatives will undergo a transition, evolving into state literacy coach positions. The literacy specialists employed by the cooperatives have the opportunity to apply for the state literacy coach position.

 

As part of the restructuring, each cooperative throughout the state will be granted one dyslexia specialist, one math specialist, and one science specialist. This allocation will lead to some cooperatives experiencing a loss of math and science specialists.

Furthermore, the part-time gifted and talented specialist position within the cooperatives are slated for a transition to state regional positions. The gifted and talented specialists will have the opportunity to apply for the state gifted and talented regional positions.

In a statement, the Education Service Cooperatives said, “They value our relationship with DESE and look forward to our continued partnership. We are committed to serving member districts and ensuring every student receives a quality education.”

 

The Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative serves Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, and Lafayette from a facility on the UAHT Hope campus.