LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Education is pleased to launch the StatewideCommunity Resources Portal, a website that connects schools and communities with much needed information about available support services around the state.As a result of COVID-19, many students and families were in need of essential support services, or “wrap-around”... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Earlier this week state legislators were sworn-in at the Capitol for the 93rd General Assembly for the State of Arkansas. Congratulations to these men and women who have been elected to represent Arkansans at the State Capitol. Below is a list of State Senators and State Representatives who represent Pulaski County: State Senator Will Bond... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- The Arkansas Foodbank is looking for Hunger Heroes in Pulaski County. Hunger Heroes are kids and teens who want to give back to the community and are interested in helping to fight childhood hunger. The group helps to raise funds for the Arkansas Foodbank’s Food for Kids Program, including the backpack program. This year the Hunger Heroes... READ MORE >
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK.– UA – Pulaski Tech’s annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be a virtual event featuring bestselling author and distinguished professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 at 6 p.m. Mayo Johnson, UA-PTC computer science faculty and member of Chancellor’s task force on diversity, equity and inclusion, will... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (THV11) - Some school districts are returning, like normal, while others are working on what they can do next to ensure the safety of their students and faculty.Many students and teachers across the state returned to the classroom on Monday. With traveling families back home and local COVID-19 cases high, all of that that has gotten some... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Winter break is looking a little different for many of us this year. We may not be able to visit with family we usually see, or travel, or do some of our “normal” traditions. But maybe we can all look at it as a time to start new traditions! Here are a few fun activities to do as a family during this winter break: Graham Cracker... READ MORE >
Here is the Winter Challenge for Oakbrooke Elementary students! Have fun and enjoy the holiday break! READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Pulaski County Special School District will receive 36,480 disposable masks from the Ford Motor Company for staff members. “During the height of the pandemic,” said Superintendent Dr. Charles McNulty, “such support for our students and staff is deeply appreciated and a blessing.” The Ford Motor Company has been making disposable masks to... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- The Little Rock Zoo is opening their Zoofari Virtual Winter Break Camp this December so that students can continue learning while away from school for a couple of weeks. Fun daily themes are available on December 21, 22, 29, 30, 31 and January 4 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Students can join just one day or all of them. Activities include guided... READ MORE >
PCSSD district administrators have decided to shift all schools - students and staff - to virtual learning next week. This will take place on Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24. The first day back on campus for all students and staff will be Monday, November 30 unless otherwise instructed. All students should connect with their teachers for instruction... READ MORE >
SHERWOOD, Ark. -- Oakbrooke Elementary teachers used Answer Garden during Red Ribbon Week. This year’s theme was “Be happy. Be brave. Be drug free.” Students answered questions like “what makes you happy?” and “why should you be drug free?” and the answers were entered into the Answer Garden program to create the graphics below. Click through the names below to... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Election Day 2020 is quickly approaching. In fact, many Arkansans have already cast their vote during early voting. For first-time voters, the voting process can be confusing and intimidating. To help alleviate confusion and stress, Pulaski County Special School District wants to make sure our families know the steps to ensure their voices... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. — Pulaski County Special School District announces an all-new school opening in 2021. It's an all virtual district conversion charter school is coming at a convenient time, but this school has been in the works for 5 years. It will work much differently than virtual learning happening now. "We are so excited to open Driven Virtual... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Pulaski County Youth Services is partnering with Dr. Danielle Jackson to present another program for parents to better communicate with their children about the current COVID-19 pandemic. Social and emotional learning (SEL), also called social and emotional wellness (SEW), is the process through which children and adults understand and... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. - Governor Asa Hutchinson and Education Secretary Johnny Key announced Wednesday the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) extended the USDA waiver allowing all school students to be served meals free of cost for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. PCSSD began the free meal distribution on September 3 after the initial commissioner... READ MORE >
For National School Principal Month, we asked principals what they've learned during the pandemic. Dr. Kim Truslow is the principal at OAKBROOKE ELEMENTARY and we're so thankful for her amazing leadership! READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- The Division of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) is presenting a new educational tool for families and teachers called SMACtalk. The Social Media Awareness Campaign (SMACtalk) was created to ensure we all work together to keep our students healthy and safe while they learn and socialize online. For parents, SMACtalk offers resources... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Pulaski County Special School District is unable to host onsite flu clinics for the 2020-2021 school year. However, the following local Health Units will offer flu vaccinations at their clinic for PCSSD students and staff. Jacksonville Health UnitNorth Little Rock Health UnitPulaski County Health UnitSouthwest Little Rock Health... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 21, 2020)– McFarland Eye Care is pleased to announce a day of free eye care at our Pine Bluff and Little Rock locations on Saturday, October 3, 2020. McFarland’s Free Eye Care Day is open to anyone; new or established patients. The purpose of this event is to provide fellow Arkansans with the care they need but have been delaying... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- The Six Bridges Book Festival from the Central Arkansas Library System is joining in the list of local events going virtual this year. The event, formerly called the Arkansas Literary Festival, will be available free and live online October 8-18. The event will feature more than 50 authors and presenters on a wide variety of subjects and... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Little Rock Zoo is excited to launch a brand new, interactive distance learning opportunity for K-8th grade students and I would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can provide with spreading the word.Whether in the classroom or at home, these interactive programs are affordable, educational and entertaining! Teachers with students... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (THV11) — Schools across the state aren't having much of an issue getting kids to wear a mask, but instead many are going to school with a dirty one. "Kids have really cute masks, some of them are really personalized to them,” said Stacy Bottoms, the Principal of Crystal Hill Elementary. But if you take a closer look at some masks, you... READ MORE >
SHERWOOD - In light of Hurricane Sally, students at Oakbrooke Elementary recently researched hurricanes. Mrs. Middaugh’s digital Alpha class studied the natural disasters and how they affect the coast and beyond. After studying the engineering design process, students created prototypes that could help before, during, and after a hurricane. Piper made The Room... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Steve Landers Auto Group is proud to introduce ‘Do Good, Feel Good’ here to provide service and recognize local community members that go above and beyond. They have chosen a group that needs support this year more than ever - Classroom Heroes!Classroom Heroes awards the best of our state’s teachers. Each month, Landers partnering with KARK... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — As the school year wears on, school districts across Arkansas are doing what they can to control the spread of the coronavirus. "We've done a really good job at not having any internal transmission so far, all of them have been outside the community," said Jessica Duff, a spokesperson for the Pulaski County Special School District. Duff... READ MORE >
MAUMELLE, Ark. (KATV) — In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the sanitation staff in the Pulaski County Special School District is taking extra precautions to clean and sanitize their schools. Deep cleaning measures that were once done weekly in the district are now taking place every other day. Custodial and grounds supervisor, Karen Lemmer, said... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. - Governor Asa Hutchinson and Education Secretary Johnny Key announced Wednesday the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) applied for a USDA waiver that would allow all school students to be served meals free of cost through the end of the year. As of Thursday, September 3, PCSSD received word to begin the free meal distribution immediately.... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (THV11) — Contact tracing will be a key part of keeping COVID-19 from spreading in schools and schools districts are preparing for how it will work. Dr. Janice Warren oversees all of the school nurses in the Pulaski County Special School District and is in close contact with the Arkansas Department of Health. She will help get... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (KATV) — Substitutes play a key role in school districts across the state every year. This year, the coronavirus could make finding them challenging. "There are some older people who like to sub because they are retired teachers, and some of those will not come in because of the health risk," said Breanna Hildreth, a kindergarten teacher... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (THV11) — The entire school day will look different this year. For some students, that includes the ride to and from campus. Those who ride the bus will be met with new policies and procedures. Charles Anderson, an operations specialist for Pulaski County Special School District, said – pandemic or not – the school district has one... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK -- Baptist Health Community Outreach is offering back-to-school immunization clinics in Little Rock throughout the month of August. The clinics will be held at the Partnership for a Healthy Arkansas building at 10117 Kanis Road in Little Rock on the following days: Saturday, August 8 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Monday, August 10 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Thursday,... READ MORE >
PCSSD will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the district's application for a conversion charter school. The meeting will be held via zoom. Anyone who wishes to participate can click here on July 27 at 5:30 p.m. for the meeting.AGENDA FOR (VIRTUAL) PUBLIC HEARING Welcome & IntroductionsDriven Academy: District Conversion Charter... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Band, choir and orchestra will be available to students who choose ANY of the three instructional options for school next year. Those options include traditional (full time in person), blended (two days onsite and three days online) or virtual (full time online, not on campus) learning.Students may attend Band, Orchestra, and Choir classes... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- It is the desire of the district to maintain a safe environment for all of our students while providing a rigorous academic experience where students are able to interact with their teachers daily. This will include access to extra-curricular activities while abiding by the guidance and directives set forth by the Governor, Arkansas... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. – Unfortunately like so many things this year, the annual volunteer banquet was canceled this year due to a global pandemic. However, prior to COVID-19 sweeping through our state, we had hundreds of volunteers dedicate their time and energy to students in Pulaski County Special School District. Our PALS, people assisting local schools, are an... READ MORE >
Roadmap to Reopening in PCSSD Community Virtual Meeting July 1, 2020 at 8:30 am Welcome - Dr. Charles McNulty, Superintendent of Schools Survey Results - Jessica Duff, Executive Director of Communications Health & Safety Discussion - Shawn Burgess, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Dr. Janice Warren, Assistant Superintendent for Equity & Pupil... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (THV11) -- We’re only months away from the start of a new school year and Arkansas school leaders are working to figure out the best way to educate our students. Several Arkansas school districts are surveying parents to find out what type of instruction they’d feel comfortable with. One option is having ‘blended’ on-site classes, which... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Superintendent Dr. Charles McNulty discusses the options that PCSSD is exploring for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Parents are invited to provide feedback in a survey sent out on June 24. The survey will close at 5pm on Friday, June 26. READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark -- The Little Rock Zoo is offering both virtual and on-grounds Zoofari camps this summer to provide fun-filled and educational programming for children. The camp is specifically geared toward elementary-aged children, but is fun for the whole family. The virtual program is available June 13 to July 31. One registration allows the whole... READ MORE >
Pulaski County Special School District students, families, professional staff, and community stakeholders, I, like you, am shocked and saddened over the events of last week. The death of George Floyd sparked outrage across this country. Outrage on the senseless brutality of the act. Outrage because of the long years of disparate treatment of our citizens of color... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Since the Arkansas Activities Association released information on May 27 about the return of team sports, many of our school band and orchestra directors received questions about what this means for non-sport activities.The Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association is currently working on guidelines for summer band activities across our... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Superintendent Dr. Charles McNulty and Shawn Burgess, assistant superintendent for human resources, discuss what it will look like for PCSSD to reopen for students in fall 2020. READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Pulaski County Special School District will reopen athletic facilities on a limited basis beginning June 1, 2020. Only PCSSD student-athletes and coaches will be permitted in the facilities. Student-athletes are only allowed to use district athletic facilities under direct supervision of school coaches.At this time, there will be no public... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Pulaski County Youth Services is partnering with Dr. Danielle Jackson to present a program for parents to better communicate with their children about the current COVID-19 pandemic. Social and emotional learning (SEL), also called social and emotional wellness (SEW), is the process through which children and adults understand and manage... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Beginning July 1, 2020 the Special Education Department of the Pulaski County Special School District will start to destroy special education records which are six years old or more. According to State and Federal guidelines, special education records should be destroyed within six years after a student leaves the program. If you are a... READ MORE >
SHERWOOD, Ark. -- Oakbrooke counselors assembled a video to celebrate all 5th graders "graduating" from Oakbrooke Elementary. Congratulations to these students for their hard work this year. READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- In the 2019-2020 school year, PCSSD implemented AVID at all of our elementary schools as well as sixth grade in the middle schools and ninth grade at the high schools.AVID teams are eagerly preparing to implement this system that will increase student engagement, promote classroom collaboration and activate deeper levels of learning in their... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? Pulaski County Special School District employs 27 full time speech/language pathologists and two full time speech/language pathology assistants to provide therapy services to the students of PCSSD. PCSSD also employs one dually certified speech/language pathologist/audiologist who... READ MORE >
Students at Oakbrooke Elementary in Ms. McClung’s class watched a Mystery Science video called “How Old is the Earth.” At the end of some of the Mystery Science videos, there is a bonus video and this time the video was about the re-uses of plastic. The video showed 5 different creative ways people are re-using plastic and Ms. McClung asked the class to send a... READ MORE >
Do No Harm: Impact on Grading Policy GOALCreate a flexible grading system through a credit/no credit option for all students within Pulaski County Special School District. However, after looking at our student database this is not a possibility. OBJECTIVEThe Pulaski County Special School District central office leadership and local school leaders have developed a... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (THV) -- Pulaski County Special School District Superintendent Dr. Charles McNulty joined Ashley King on THV's mid-morning show "The Vine." Dr. McNulty has some words of advice for students as the rest of the school year goes online. READ MORE >
Oakbrook Elementary sure does miss its students right now! A few of the teachers share a special message of encouragement for you all. We miss you! Keep up the good work, students! READ MORE >
https://www.lexialearning.com/resources/press-releases/large-arkansas-school-district-adopts-lexia-core5-reading-districtwideDue to the success that its Pre-K-5 students have experienced with Lexia® Core5® Reading (Core5), the Pulaski County Special School District in Arkansas, in and around Little Rock, has expanded its use of the program to all of its 16... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- In a press conference, Governor Hutchinson closed schools in Arkansas for on-site instruction through April 17, 2020. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has extended all approved 2019-2020 Alternate Methods of Instruction (AMI) applications for an additional fifteen (15) days. For our families, please refer to the... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. (KATV) — As concerns about the coronavirus continue to increase, school districts in Arkansas are taking precautions should there be an outbreak in the Natural State. So far there haven't been any confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arkansas, but if that changes, those with the Pulaski County Special School District say they're... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson declared this week, February 24 - 28, as Arkansas Gifted and Talented Awareness Week across the Natural State. Schools across Pulaski County Special School District will recognize the proclamation with activities among their gifted and talented classes. Arkansas defines Gifted and Talented children and... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Nearly every school in Pulaski County Special School District participated in the annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fair on Friday, February 7 at UA-Little Rock. This was the culmination event of all science fairs for third through 12th grade students of PCSSD. More than 100 students participated in this year’s... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- As cold and flu season continues, Pulaski County Special School District is taking steps to prevent the spread of illness. Good health habits like covering your mouth when coughing and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. According to the Arkansas Health Department,... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AAA) -- The three Hall of Fame organizations under the umbrella of the Arkansas Activities Association have selected their honorees for the 2020 induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame for the Arkansas High School Coaches Association and the Arkansas Officials Association was formed in 1995. The Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Are you interested in working with PCSSD as a substitute teacher? Pulaski County Special School District is partnering with ESS Arkansas (WillSub) for a special hiring event on January 30. The hiring event will be held at PCSSD Central Office from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Check out the event page for detailson how to register and what you'll... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Registration for the 2020-2021 school year is official open. Here are the important registration dates for new and returning students:January 6 – May 1, 2020: Arkansas School Choice Applications acceptedJanuary 13, 2020: Online registration opens for students new to the District in grades K through 12.February 3 – May 1, 2020: Returning... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Do you have a strong passion for science as well as knowledge about the scientific method? If so, we’d love to have you help with the annual Pulaski County Special School District Science Fair!The event will be held Wednesday, February 7, 2020 at UA Little Rock in the fitness center. Students from across the district will present their science... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- This Martin Luther King Jr. Day the UAMS Eye Institute will be providing free comprehensive eye exams and free glasses to students ages 5 - 18 who failed their nurse-administered exam. According to publicly available data, children at schools across the district failed their vision screening without seeing an eye doctor. It is important for... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A school district is rebranding its traditional library format into a versatile library learning center. The library has always been a place to check out books, read and study. But over time teacher librarians, like Traci Matthews, have noticed more needs to be done to accommodate students and ever changing technology. “You see their... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Deputy Superintendent Alesia Smith organized a district reading challenge for all fourth grade students in PCSSD. Students are reading "Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World" by Mildred Walter. As part of the challenge, Superintendent Dr. Charles McNulty and Ms. Smith are incorporating various elements of learning beyond reading the... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Education are excited to announce that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded Arkansas a five-year grant totaling $38 million to improve literacy in the state. The state received the maximum amount allowed under the grant. ADE has received an initial $1.1 million to begin implementing the... READ MORE >
Oakbrooke Elementary created two videos to encourage parents to work with their children at home. The first video focuses on how to help your child be successful at home. Oakbrooke Elementary counselor Kellie LaMonica offers tips on how to help your child be successful at home. The second video focuses on working on emotions. Oakbrooke Elementary clinical... READ MORE >
Pulaski County Special School District school libraries are rebranding from the traditional “library format” into a versatile Library Learning Center. This transformation into user-centered spaces will better support the ever-changing needs of our school communities. While books are still the focus of the space, the Library Learning Centers will provide a space... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Pulaski County Youth Services (PCYS) hosted the 7th annual Champions of Youth luncheon on October 29 and Pulaski County Special School District is the proud recipient of the Partners in Education award. PCYS provides after school and summer programs for several PCSSD families as well as ACT prep for high school students. The "Ready, Set,... READ MORE >
PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. - Pulaski County Special School District wishes to offer condolences to the family of John Walker, a civil rights advocate and lawyer for more than six decades in central Arkansas. He was an integral part of the Plan 2000 Desegregation case with PCSSD since its inception. Walker’s driven dedication and support for civil rights will be greatly... READ MORE >
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) - A new anonymous tip texting platform will soon be implemented in Arkansas public schools. The Rave Eyewitness will be used by public and open-enrollment charter schools K-12 and provide parents, staff, and students a tool to report a variety of behaviors or threats. Safety and Security Facilitator for the Pulaski County Special School... READ MORE >
Both Life Skill classes at Oakbrooke visited the pumpkin patch this week. These classes are made up of students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This group has been learning about pumpkins and farms the past month. They went on a hayride all throughout the patch and even got to see some of the Christmas trees that are growing. They walked through a petting zoo... READ MORE >
State Releases School Report CardThree PCSSD elementary schools improve letter grades. (Little Rock, Ark.) -- The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2019 federal and state accountability reports for public schools. The reports include data from the 2018-2019 school year, including 2019 ACT Aspire results.... READ MORE >
Introducing the new PCSSD app. It's everything PCSSD, in your pocket. Here's a quick tutorial video on how to navigate the app. And don't forget to turn on your notification settings to get important updates and announcements from the district office as well as your child's school. READ MORE >
WatchDOGS Dads Needed to Sign Up!!Reminder: Dads remember to sign up WatchDOG day at Oakbrooke this semester. If you do not have a schedule sticker please call the office or email our watchDOG coordinator Mrs. Scott at cscott4364@pcssd.org and will get you on the schedule! READ MORE >
We celebrated PBIS Kick Off Week September 9 - 13 across PCSSD. Schools dressed up, danced, laughed and encouraged positive behavior through PBIS approaches. What is PBIS you might ask? It stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. It is not a packaged curriculum, scripted intervention, or manualized strategy. PBIS is a framework that helps schools... READ MORE >
We are excited to announce that our new website and app is nearing completion. On Tuesday, October 1, you'll be able to download the app on your iPhone or Android device. This will be your one stop for PCSSD and school news, dining menus, athletics and more! READ MORE >
Pulaski County Special School District will host flu clinics at various sites for all students and staff. Schools will provide vaccinations start October 2, 2019 and continue through November 13, 2019. Central office will offer vaccinations on November 13. The full schedule can be found below. Sherwood flu clinics are served by the Jacksonville Health Unit. The... READ MORE >
Arkansas public schools are required by law to have longer recess periods this year, and it seems students and teachers are liking it. Third-grader Joseph MacDonald loves learning."Just to tell you, I do know most of my countries," MacDonald said.He said recess helps him soak in all his lessons. "I think that's what recess is for, so it'll run your energy down... READ MORE >