Narrative: d. 2. A.

ARS has updated the agreement with the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit (ADE SEU) that provides transition services to students in public schools. The parties agree to participate in technical assistance and in-service training to assist educational agencies in planning, and to coordinate services to ensure timely and appropriate supports and services are provided to eligible individuals. ARS Transition policy requires ARS counselors to engage school personnel to generate referrals of students to ARS and to develop an IPE for each student determined eligible. ADE is financially responsible for the delivery and coordination of secondary education as set forth through IDEA. ARS is responsible for coordinating Pre-Employment Transition Services and taking applications, determining eligibility, and providing vocational Rehabilitation services for individuals determined eligible for transition services. ARS participates in the state level Arkansas Interagency Transition Partnership (AITP). AITP is a task-force made up of representatives of state agencies, including ARS, Department of Human Services (DHS)—Division of Services for the Blind (DSB), Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education—Transition, Arkansas Workforce Development Board, DHS—Division of Behavioral Health Services, and parent advocates. Consultation and Technical Assistance In order to improve the transition of students with disabilities from school to postsecondary education and employment, the Division of Workforce Services - Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind will support the following transition services to Vocational Rehabilitation personnel, the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit, and the local education agencies by: 1. Providing direct instruction to vocational rehabilitation counselors, school transition personnel, and other persons supporting students with disabilities through group conferences, providing instructional materials and guidelines, reporting forms, training through webinars, and fielding telephone/email communications; 2. Coordinating public speaking and training activities on transition services provided by local education agencies under IDEA; 3. Developing model transition demonstration projects, and establishing or supporting partnerships involving the local education agencies to achieve the goals of improved transition outcomes. 4. ARS will develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) and WIOA partners to provide pre-employment transition services. 5. ARS will expand and increase utilization of pre-employment transition training services at ACTI. ARS will work directly with the Arkansas Department of Education and the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) through intensive technical assistance. NTACT will provide intensive technical assistance and professional development to the state education agency, VR, LEA, and VR service providers to implement evidence based and promising practices ensuring student with disabilities, including those with significant disabilities, graduate prepared for success in postsecondary education and employment.