Arkansas Pilots ADAPT for Accessible IDEA Data Reporting

AEM is thrilled to announce that the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is piloting ADAPT — the Accessible Data Analysis and Publishing Tool developed by AEM as part of the Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in making IDEA Sections 616 and 618 data more useful, transparent, and accessible for all.

What Is ADAPT?

ADAPT is a web-based reporting solution designed to help states author and publish IDEA data reports that are fully accessible to users with disabilities and those with limited statistical experience. Hosted in a state’s cloud environment and built to rigorous Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 accessibility standards, ADAPT goes beyond baseline compliance to deliver a powerful, user-friendly reporting platform.

Some key features include:

• Prebuilt report templates aligned to IDEA Section 616/618 requirements
• Support for accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.2 and usability testing beyond Section 508 mandates
• Transparent, open-source architecture that can be deployed within the state’s cloud environment
• Greater efficiency for state staff in managing, verifying, and publishing IDEA data

In short, ADAPT is intended to bridge the gap between complex IDEA data and clear, actionable insights for educators, families, and the public.

Assessment Report with Test Data

What the Pilot Will Involve

The pilot phase in Arkansas is expected to span the next 12-18 months. During this period, the following activities will take place:

• Configuration & deployment
  ADAPT will be installed in Arkansas’s cloud environment, integrated with IDEA data pipelines, and tailored to the state’s reporting needs.
• User training & onboarding
  State staff, data managers, and other users will receive training on how to author, validate, and publish reports using ADAPT’s interface.
• Accessibility & usability testing
  Real users (including those with disabilities and varied data proficiency) will test published reports to surface usability and accessibility improvements.
• Public launch of pilot reports
  Arkansas will publish a set of IDEA Section 616 and 618 reports generated via ADAPT, enabling public review and feedback.
  
  

Fred Edora, Co-Director of the Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data, commented::

“The launch of the ADAPT pilot with the Arkansas Department of Education represents a major milestone in our mission to make IDEA data truly accessible. Arkansas’ leadership and commitment will not only benefit their own stakeholders, but also pave the way for other states to transform how they report and share IDEA data.”

What Comes Next & How You Can Get Involved

Over the coming months, AEM and the Weiss Center look forward to documenting the pilot’s journey: successes, challenges, lessons learned, and user stories. We believe in open collaboration with states; the feedback from Arkansas will help inform national expansion and adoption.

If you represent a State Education Agency or Part C Lead Agency and want to learn more, explore demos, stay updated on the rollout schedule, or are interested in using ADAPT in your state please reach out via the Weiss Center at contact@weissta.org. Together, we can make IDEA data more meaningful, accessible, and effective.